Which bank?

[Jase]

Which bank in the UK generally is most adult friendly? Am contemplating opening a retail business selling DVDs and would like to have card processing facilities (obviously for customer present transactions only) but after having spoken to the guys I use for my personal banking (HSBC) and been made to feel like a bit of a leper Im wondering which of the others are likely to be more understanding and adult business friendly. Also would like the best bank in terms of lowest charges etc for account maintenance and what not.

Strange thing is there are no grey areas here - the shop will be council licenced and legal and above board but still they seem not to want the business! Might just have been the poor young girl on the phone sweating cos I was talking about naughty videos but could also be bank policy.

Jase

[JT]

I wouldnt tell the bank specifics about adult etc, that way you wont run into little hitlers

[Jase]

Only problem with that is that to get the merchant facility (and even the standard business account I think) you have to fill in acres of forms and specifically detail what your business will be doing and I would rather not lie if I can avoid it - also they may ask to see a business plan (yawn) and again I cant just put widgets on there as much as I might want to!!!!

[SGS]

Which bank in the UK generally is most adult friendly? Am contemplating opening a retail business selling DVDs and would like to have card processing facilities (obviously for customer present transactions only) but after having spoken to the guys I use for my personal banking (HSBC) and been made to feel like a bit of a leper Im wondering which of the others are likely to be more understanding and adult business friendly. Also would like the best bank in terms of lowest charges etc for account maintenance and what not.

Strange thing is there are no grey areas here - the shop will be council licenced and legal and above board but still they seem not to want the business! Might just have been the poor young girl on the phone sweating cos I was talking about naughty videos but could also be bank policy.

Jase

If you are going to tell them that you are going to be selling adult DVDs you wont find any I am afraid.

[JT]

Only problem with that is that to get the merchant facility (and even the standard business account I think) you have to fill in acres of forms and specifically detail what your business will be doing and I would rather not lie if I can avoid it - also they may ask to see a business plan (yawn) and again I cant just put widgets on there as much as I might want to!!!!


I think you will struggle then. What I will say is after you have told them, there is no going back to saying it isnt adult DVD's after all

[Jase]

I think you will struggle then. What I will say is after you have told them, there is no going back to saying it isnt adult DVD's after all

I simply had a generic conversation with some bird in a call centre so I havent told them anything formally yet - how serious an "offence" is it to lie to a bank to get a merchant account then? Im quite happy to say Im selling DVDs / computer games or some other non adult line of business based around media but obviously it they find out they might not be too happy and I dont want to then end up getting in the brown smelly stuff!

Is it fair to assume that as long as the business doesnt get excessive chargebacks etc that they wont ever check or am I being naive? Surely there are other licenced adult shops out there who have bank provided card facilities?

Jase

[JT]

Is it fair to assume that as long as the business doesnt get excessive chargebacks etc that they wont ever check or am I being naive? Surely there are other licenced adult shops out there who have bank provided card facilities?

Jase

That would be fair to presume. Banks dont investigate businesses, infact actually trying to speak to a business bank manager who isnt based in India is almost an imposibilty these days.

I wouldnt suggest lying, I just wouldnt suggest telling them anything. Its DVD's that you are selling, why tell them any more.

If they ask what type, then Id say, what ever the latest films are :)