Can I open 2 bank accounts once BR?

Rylynn

Well I have the co op account, but have no idea on my Nat West one, nothing has come through to say they have closed it? would they write and tell me do you think, it was empty on day of BR in October.

Also I had a letter from Barclays saying the ISA account had been closed, it had less than £7 in it but I declared it on my forms, so the OR has informed them. Oddly Barlcays were my biggest creditors. It says the money has been offset against one of the accounts I had with them.

Also says that if I still require a bank account I may like to apply for a Barclays Cash Card Account. When I can find out if my Nat West one is either open or shut, if the latter I may apply for the Barclay one to just put money aside for things like car tax and mot etc.

My OR seems to have dealt with all these things very quickly which is good news as far as I am concerned. I was not sure if you could have more than one account so nice to have read I can if any one will accept me!:j

philnicandamy

Nothing to stop you having more than one account.....trick is finding someone apart from barclays or the co-op to open one for you while undischarged :rolleyes:

skylight

Rylynn - I too opened my Natwest (Step) one before BR, but back then in the olden years of February, others here advised me to open another as Natwest tended to close them to BRs. But they never have and I am using it to this day and use it more than the Co-Op one because I prefer their online banking (as in transaction appear straight away and they don't in the Co-Op one).

fiveyearplan

I seem to be the only one the coop updates daily on internet banking - my transactions show up in a very speedy manner.

philnicandamy

ohhhh the chosen one

Rylynn

I have not used my internet banking yet I dont know how to! never had it before!

How did you find out if your Nat West one was still open Sky please? I feel very foolish as I dont like to ring them up and say okay did you shut it yet! I stopped all my DDs and told the lady when I called why, she was very very nice. And I like the debit card, solo that the Nat West have as well!

Any comments would be good!

Thanks

Rylynn

skylight

I just carried on using it. I assumed that they would write to tell me and they never have. I did worry about it in the first few weeks, but as I could still log on etc then I eventually stopped worrying about it.

I did not call and tell them I was BR, as the OR told me that they would do that and declare they had no interest in it.

Rylynn

I wonder if I should try to pay some money into the account, ie a fiver and see if it is open? I did not have online or phone banking with the NW one.

I simply took all the money out, but warned them to stop the DDs they were not one of my creditors I did not owe them a penny it was a step account set up prior to IVA in 2005, never did anything wrong either ie there was always money to meet the DDs etc.

She actually asked why I was cancelling them all when I phoned, I did not lie a I did not see the point so said I will be BR this week, she said she was very sorry to hear that, I mentioned that NW do not seem to be BR friendly, she did not comment.

Dont really know how to find out if the account is open unless I bite the bullet and phone them up, surely the OR has written to them, as I have heard as I said in another post that Barclays have closed the ISA account.

Maybe I should wait a while in case NW are slow to send out letters, maybe they dont even send out letters! Barclays letter is dated 5 November.

I would seriously prefer to stay with NW, and not apply to Barclays for an account.

I am pleased you managed to keep yours open Skylight, it means that they are more flexible than I thought.

Rylynn

FACEDUPTOITATLAST

I was made BR on 18/08/08. I have held a step account with Natwest for the past 8 yrs, I also had a first reserve a/c with them too. The OR wanted the first reserve account closed, fair enough! I phoned natwest up regarding my step account as I really didn't want it closed and they were more than happy to keep it open, obviously they weren't one of my creditors and they were pleased with how I have run it recently. I went to pay in a cheque the other week and they asked me if I wanted to upgrade to a current a/c ???!!!!???!! (I didn't by the way!) I have found Natwest to be fab, and would recommend them highly, on another note I have just gone onto a paymonthly contract with TMobile, as it works out cheaper than payg.....how bizarre is that? BR with a contract mobile..doesn't quite make sense!!

Rylynn

Thanks for that, I think I will bite the bullet and phone Nat West and ask is my account still open!