The Lemon Fool

Do banks still give meaningful references for nowadays?

I've just been persuaded to apply for a trade account with one of my suppliers (in order to get better prices) and they've given me a form to fill in, that I think was designed back in the 1970s. Asks for two trade supplier references, bank details for a bank reference, and my fax number but not my mobile.

Anyway, I was just wondering what they will make of me. I had no trade references to offer and I doubt Starling Bank would respond to a letter written in quill pen on papyrus. But I'm probably good for the price of a few circuit boards and boiler fans. Ok I'm rambling now....

Id just ask the supplier what they would take given you have no fax.

I'd just give them the Staring details and let them work it out themselves.

You cannot be the only person they deal with in this cituation. OR its a come on to trade with them in the safe knopwledge (from their perspective) that they;ll never have to priovide the "better prioces" but are relying on "Im here now anyway" and you continue to trade with them

didds wrote:Id just ask the supplier what they would take given you have no fax.

I'd just give them the Staring details and let them work it out themselves.

You cannot be the only person they deal with in this cituation. OR its a come on to trade with them in the safe knopwledge (from their perspective) that they;ll never have to priovide the "better prioces" but are relying on "Im here now anyway" and you continue to trade with them

Hey how do you know I have no fax?!!

Mike4 wrote:Hey how do you know I have no fax?!!

ah! i misread your OP! LOL.

That said who does now (except obvs this company and hospitals!)

didds wrote:

Mike4 wrote:Hey how do you know I have no fax?!!

ah! i misread your OP! LOL.

That said who does now (except obvs this company and hospitals!)

Well quite, that's why I found their application form so amusing. It will reveal virtually nothing about me they don't already know, unless Starling Bank spill the beans on how I conduct my business account. But my guess is banks no longer offer worthwhile opinions like "we think this bod is a reprobate loser well worth avoiding", or any such thing. Least of all challenger banks like Starling who operate exclusively using phone apps.

Mike4 wrote:

didds wrote:

Mike4 wrote:Hey how do you know I have no fax?!!

ah! i misread your OP! LOL.

That said who does now (except obvs this company and hospitals!)

Well quite, that's why I found their application form so amusing. It will reveal virtually nothing about me they don't already know, unless Starling Bank spill the beans on how I conduct my business account. But my guess is banks no longer offer worthwhile opinions like "we think this bod is a reprobate loser well worth avoiding", or any such thing. Least of all challenger banks like Starling who operate exclusively using phone apps.

FYI, one of my solicitors emailed another of my solicitors, giving them bank details to send some money to. The second solicitor responded by asking the bank details be faxed to them. I'm assuming it's a security thing, as (I imagine) faxes ae a lot harder to intercept and change.
Maylix

Maylix wrote:

Mike4 wrote:

didds wrote:

ah! i misread your OP! LOL.

That said who does now (except obvs this company and hospitals!)

Well quite, that's why I found their application form so amusing. It will reveal virtually nothing about me they don't already know, unless Starling Bank spill the beans on how I conduct my business account. But my guess is banks no longer offer worthwhile opinions like "we think this bod is a reprobate loser well worth avoiding", or any such thing. Least of all challenger banks like Starling who operate exclusively using phone apps.

FYI, one of my solicitors emailed another of my solicitors, giving them bank details to send some money to. The second solicitor responded by asking the bank details be faxed to them. I'm assuming it's a security thing, as (I imagine) faxes ae a lot harder to intercept and change.
Maylix

That does actually sound like a very prudent and intelligent request!

I doubt faxes would be that hard to intercept techncally, but anticipating the sender and destination fax numbers of such a fax worth intercepting and changing the fax content in real time, would be so challenging as to never happen, I suspect.

About a year ago I had a problem with an illegal payment on a card and I had to fax some documents through as part of the claim. Nothing else would cut it.

Ended up subscribing to Faxtastic which is an online faxing service. Had to buy 100 credits though, although it was only about £12 if I remember.

Still pretty annoying in these modern times and clearly an extra chance for fraud because of the use of a third party rather than emailing a scan directly.