I have to disagree.

I only have two weeks before my job starts to get a loan to find and buy a car. I need to get used to driving it before I start as well - it's my first car, and with it having to be an automatic, it's harder to find a suitable car.

The reason why I have "made a meal of it" is because I want to ensure that there are as few glitches as possible. My options are extremely limited and I want to make the most of the few options I do have. I also do not want to have my credit rating wrecked.

If I had not checked on this, then it may be left too late for me to make alternative arrangements.

Mike2009:

At least I know now that I can apply for the loan.

Is that the answer to my question "What stage is your application at? What/who is the current impediment?"

I think you have made a meal out of this if you hadn't actually made an application. Also you wouldn't have cause for complaint unless you had made an aplication and been turned down in away inconsistent with point of sale inducemnet.

Next time just go for it.

Update: Person has come back with the full terms, which do not bar someone. Basically, in my case it's subject to review and account conduct. Thankfully, file has been noted with details so I can refer staff to it.

At least I know now that I can apply for the loan.

Right. I have been calm, friendly, jovial even, and have put on my best telephone manner. In about 5 minutes that will change to wanting to rip someone's throat out.

In true call center style, I've been passed from department to department, bank to bank (i was given Natwests telephone number and in one case a completely different company), told to go in branch and when I finally did get someone who didn't pass me over to someone else, they didn't have a clue at all. I'm still on hold 10 minutes later.

Mike2009:

You will be ok with RBS customer relations if you speak to them in a calm friendly tone, advising that you would like to make a complaint about the RBS Graduate acccount, which has not delivered the service promissed. The banks customer relations department have more freedom to enter into conversations and are nothing like DL who have to be scripted due to FSA rules

Advise them that you would like to resolve without going to the Financial ombudsman and this is their opportunity to avoid this.

Don't expect an instant answer, as they will need to look into your application and come back to you. Expect them to use the small print, that loans and services are subject to criteria and approval by RBS etc etc.

Huckster

Thanks everyone

At least I know it's not just my own interpretation.

The job is mine, as it were. The management have confirmed my appointment and told HR the start date and to send a contract to me. They've even booked training courses for me. All the checks have cleared (medical, references, CRB etc etc). To me, the contract will be a firm job offer even with the probationary period.

I went to RBS solely because my previous bank would not lift a finger to help me and all other banks would only provide a graduate loan once I had three months worth of pay. RBS did not state that.

Does anyone know what their central customer services are like? I hate call centers with a passion, only becasue I used to work in one (funnily enough for Direct Line - an RBS company) and know how difficult it is to get someone away from scripts and targets. Writing in, which would be most effective, would take too long.

Thanks again all.

Mike2009:

All jobs have a probationary period, which can be up to a year, but with most it is stated as being 6 months in the contract and is subject to review.

So you should complain to RBS that their documentation on the graduate account is not clear and could be subject to referral by you to the FOS. Find their customer relation telephone number and give them a call. You never know they might change their mind. If you went to the FOS, RBS would be charged a fee of £450 and it would cost you nothing apart from the postage. This can be useful bargaining tool, if they are not being helpful.

Huckster

Edit - RBS Customer relations number 0800 015 5035. If you have speech or hearing difficulties and are a textphone user, you can call us on 0800 917 0527 Overseas callers should call 00 44 20 7158 0497. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am (9.30am on Wednesdays) until 5.30pm.

Mike2009:

satisfactory references etc).

However, a bank staff member has told me that if it includes a probationary period, they would not be able to accept it.

Well my reading of the published "legals" is exactly the same as yours. "Probationary" as a term does not appear, anyway I thought jobs had little legal security for 12 months, unless have things improved.

This seems to me a issue you need to tackle square on with the RBS staffer who says no. What stage is your application at? What/who is the current impediment? If it is the staffer, make an appointment, take in the published "legals" and ask where "probationary" is mentioned. If not there where? Focus on the word, not the "daftness" of the word. Don't budge until you get an answer. Remember you are the graduate. By all means also flourish a copy of the complaints procedure, though if you go down that route any outcome is probably months away.

I could say try another bank except that RBS systems are probably as good as you will find.

I've opened a graduate RBS account on the basis that they would provide a loan if I can provide them with a firm job offer, which I was told meant one that had pay, duration (temp or perm) etc in it (as opposed to a letter saying "subject to satisfactory references etc).

However, a bank staff member has told me that if it includes a probationary period, they would not be able to accept it.

I thought the whole point of a graduate loan was to get you started in a job, as they state here:

"In work or got a firm job offer? You can defer your repayments for up to nine months.

Want to see the world? You can defer your repayments for up to 12 months if you're travelling - as long as you have a firm job offer to return to" (taken from their own website).

I don't know of any job that doesn't have a probationary period, and having a graduate loan that you can only take out once you've been in the job for 6 months seems daft to me - isn't it defeating the purpose?

I wasn't made aware of that provisio when I opened the account, and am now a bit peeved.

Can anyone shed any light on it - can I complain and ask them to consider me when I produce my contract of employment?