Bank accounts for Bankrupts - Discussion Thread

StuntmanBob

I opened a Barclays Cash Card account today. The whole process took less than 15 minutes. Two points for this thread:

(1) The card offered is a VISA Debit card (no longer an Electron card - which is limited as to where it can be used) -or- a cash Card

(2) On-Line banking is available (registration required)

These two improvements came as a nice surprise for me, and others too I hope.

--Stuntman Bob

sieve

Thanks SB. What ID did you have to take into the branch with you? Thinking of opening one of these after getting caught out by "available balance" on co-op's internet banking not actually being available...

dvs

sieve

I took passport as ID and drivers licence for address but there are loads of things you can take:

From Barclays website:

To open an account we need confirmation of who you are and where you live, according to government regulations. We need two original documents (not photocopies) from the lists below. To confirm who you are, we need one of the following:

• Full UK passport.
• Full foreign passport.
• Passport in old name (must have supporting document regarding change of name, eg marriage certificate, Decree Nisi with birth certificate or Deed Poll document).
• UK driving licence: Paper version - full licence only. Photocard version - full and provisional.
• Blue Disabled driver's pass (must be current).
• European Union member state identity card.
• Firearms licence (must be current).
• Police warrant card.
• UK Armed Forces ID card.

To confirm where you live, we need one of the following:

• UK driving licence with current address: Paper version - full licence only. Photocard version - full and provisional. (Cannot be used if it has already been used for ID).
• European Union member state identity card (if not used as ID).
• UK bank statement - no older than three months (Internet statements are not acceptable).
• UK credit card statement - no older than three months (Internet statements are not acceptable).
• UK mortgage statement - no older than 12 months (Internet statements are not acceptable).
• Foreign bank statement.
• Gas, water, electric, cable TV or landline phone bill (less than three months old). Mobile phone bills are not acceptable.
• Local authority council tax bill (current financial year).
• Council rent book (must be current).
• Household or motor insurance certificate (no older than 12 months).

isabella01

We are not yet officially BR but en route. I scanned threads in here to see which were the accounts that would be safe after BR..our problem was we wanted the facility to set up direct debits for our household bills and have a debit card and being in a small town there wasn't a recommended bank in the town or anywhere near us. So we looked at setting up an account online or internet banks.
I found a few which I looked into and although there is a monthly fee we have currently chosen Think Banking which is an online bank,with never ever any bank charges,never ever will you be overdrawn and you have a personal money manager. The monthly fee is £12.50 but with no more charges and the bill paying administered by you money manager,each week money is transferred into the bill paying account to cover monthly bills so you will never miss a bill payment and what's left over is yours to do with as you please.
I realise this isn't for everyone but we have been crippled every month by our present bank with charges amounting to as much as £160 in a single month!!!(less than the cost of this bank account for annualy!)
We are happy to have the bank take charge of some of our money in fact for us it will be a nice feeling to have that taken out of our hands and enable us a clear path ahead,no missed bills no bank charges..this past year or so money has become a nightmare spirralling out of control..hopefully now we'll be more in control (with their help)
It is early days so I will post here once we know how it goes.
As I said it may not be for everyone..we just feel if it works in our favour it's a small price to pay...
http://www.thinkbanking.co.uk/index.asp
Izzy

sieve

Thanks DVS. I took my passport and BT phone bill but the lady said she only needed to see my passport as it was a UK passport - apparently they have recently relaxed the rules if the ID is a piece of UK ID and you check out on the electoral role.

Bish bash bosh, account open within 15 minutes - connect card on its way! Job's a good'un

Have a nice weekend all!

Cheers

S

dvs

Hey Sieve

Do we know if Barclays will keep the account open as you have opened this before bankruptcy? Whilst I know they will accept accounts from bankrupts, I wonder if they follow the same procedure most banks do (i.e. freeze and close the account) when they see your entry in the London Gazette? Finger's crossed all will be well.

single+2angel

BUMP!!!
Bumping it up a littlebit to be on the first page.

sieve

Hi dvs,

Hopefully! The person who opened it said they will as it's a basic account - any other account they wouldn't so we shall see.

Besides I don't owe them anything so I should hope they will - I will keep you posted when D-Day comes in 9 days

dvs

sieve wrote: »

Hi dvs,

Hopefully! The person who opened it said they will as it's a basic account - any other account they wouldn't so we shall see.

Besides I don't owe them anything so I should hope they will - I will keep you posted when D-Day comes in 9 days

Good luck for both the day and the account.

sieve

dvs wrote: »

Good luck for both the day and the account.

Cheers!