DMP and Banking

Tally-Ho_2

Hi,

I am new here so please be gentle. I didn't know whether this needed to go here or the banking bit, so I thought I would try here first. If I am wrong, please shoot me lol.

The thing is, since being laid off work due to disability, I got into horrible debt (£16k) and I couldn't pay my ongoing credit card commitment and loans etc. I defaulted on them and was nearly taken to court etc. Fortunately for me my former union helped me and set me up with Payplan, with whom I now have a debt management plan, paying off about a small amount every month for the past year, with about another 7 years to go. Seems ages but at least I am hopefully sorted now.

Anyhow, my reason for posting, obviously my credit file thingy is very bad. Now, when I started with Payplan, I was advised to change banks as I had a £3k overdraft outstanding with the Yorkshire Bank which is now part of the DMP. I opened an account at the Co-op with a cashminder account and got a Visa Electron card where my small war pension, Incapacity Benefit, housing benefit etc is paid into. I have not had any problem with this account and it has always been in credit.

The problem is however, I am hoping to start a part time course at a uni about 30 miles away and I need to travel by train. With my disabled railcard I can find cheap fares on the web but cannot access them as the train company does not accept Visa Electron (or Solo). Also neither does the railway station. It is not always convenient to draw out cash to pay at the station (no local ATM) either. The college do not give travel loans etc either. I have also had one or two embarrassing times when I have tried to use electron only to find it wasn't accepted - such as Tesco on line etc.

So, a couple of questions, would the co-op be amenable to upgrade my account to give me a 'proper' debit card based not on my credit file, but banking history with them (I know it is only a year with them)?.

Looking on the web, although Yorkshire/Clydesdale issue Maestro cards with their basic accounts, as I owe on my DMP to Yorkshire Bank I cannot really use them.

However it seems the basic Lloyds TSB Cash Account gives a Visa Debit card. Is this a 'full' visa debit card (as opposed to electron) and would I be credit checked if I apply and get turned down do you think?. Or do you think I would be okay?

Sorry for the long drawn out post, but I really do need a full debit card if you see what I mean, so any other ideas welcome.

Thanks, Tally

Tally-Ho_2

sorry, a shameless bump.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks

Tally

Ames

The only thing I can think of is that you could get a pre paid credit card and use that, although they cost about £5 a month. Someone else might know of a better solution for you though.

TotallyBrassic

It's surely worth asking the coop if they would consider upgrading you now!
If you have run your account ok for a year I don't think it's any harm to try.
If you explain the problem you are having with the card, then I feel they may be supportive.

Good luck anyway