cccs- new bank account

Beccal_3

I had an interview with the cccs yesterday, and they have told me the first thing I should do is switch my bank account to one i don't owe money to.

That's a little tricky, as I bank with n/west, abbey and barclays....

I am having trouble finding a bank that will let me open an account when i have such bad credit history...has anyone else been here and can anyone suggest a bank and account?

x

tattooed_lady

Hiya,

There are quite a few threads about this subject, have a look over at the budeting and current accounts forum. Off the top of my head there is a Co-OP Cashminder acct which a lot of people use. Good luck xx

Northernbird_2

The FSA (Financial Services Authority) provide a pretty good guide to Basic Bank Accounts on their website, with a really useful table so that you can compare them all. It's a pdf document.

Whatever bank you go to, they will probably try and put you through the normal process, which involves credit checking. Just explain that your credit score is pretty bad, all you want is a basic bank account and it will be fine.

Just make sure you don't go to a bank you hold a credit card with etc, and some banks can have different brands of account, so for example, Smile is owned by Co-op, First Direct is HSBC and so on...

jellycat40

The woolwich and co-op do easy to open basic accounts. Also Halifax. A basic account means no credit check so all you need is proof of id and a utility bill or bank statement.

Louise

ozzyfan_2

this link that flaura posted on another thread shows you what banks are linked (look at the symbols on the left)

https://www.justabank.co.uk/pdfs/bank-account-guide.pdf

(just so you don't make the same mistake I did & get linked ones)!

ukrodgers

I had an interview with CCCs just before christmas and they advised me to do the same. I settled on a Cashminder account with the Co-op, it has phone banking and an Electron card facility so I don't have to carry cash around all the time. When I applied they said I would have to produce ID etc to a branch or another nominated organisation, but a few days later all my cards and PIN etc turned up in the post. I suppose still having checkable accounts at another bank helped but whatever, it was as smooth as could be.
You should get a letter etc from CCCS in a few days and that will have a list of accounts and providers so you can see which ones are best for you.
Hope this helps.

Moustacheman

I too was having some trouble/worries in getting a new bank account as I've been speaking to CCCS and they advised me to do the same. I eventually settled for a cO-oP Cashminder account. Its nice and easy and you can apply over the phone. I was told on the phone that I had been approved subject me to providing proof of ID but then 3 days later I recieved my new Cashcard and bank account with no ID checks.

If you are worried about actually going into banks and speaking with someone face to face like I was then the CO-Op cashmider is the simplest and quickets way to get a basic bank account.

Beccal_3

Thanks for this guys - think i'm going to go with the Co-op on this one. Not sure how i will cope without a visa card or cheque book - mind you, cheques are the main reason i'm in this mess, so it's probably the best thing. x