Need new bank account - help please

Addicted2Chocolate

see this leaflet on basic accounts from FSA:
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/consumer/pdfs/bank_account.pdf
it suggests the co-operative bank Cashmider account comes with a debit card, and you would nly be declined is there is a record of fraud.

Grovers

Natwest do a Step account, which is for people with a poor credit rating. You get full DD's and So's, internet banking, and you get a Solo card which is getting accepted in more and more places.

andym

Here is my recent experience of tryin to open a basic bank account

Tried Co-op. No branches near where I live so needed lots of "proof" forms to send off (4, 2 for me, 2 for address). Couldnt use the obvious ones (eg driving licence) as they wanted originals or for them to be signed off by someone. Of the one's I sent, some were rejected coz they had wrong postcode! So I am not me and I dont live where I live. Cool! In end too much hassle so gave up on them. So 0/10 for hassle free. (Pity coz Martin did recommend them on Friday on Jezza Vine)

(I avoided Martins other recommendation on Jeremy Vine on Friday of Barclays coz I dont like them. They the only people of my creditors who aint interested in my problems. So they 0/10 for being complete gits)

Then went to local Nationwide. Not 100% they were sure what I meant by a Basic Bank Acocunt but filled in their forms with only 2 forms of ID need. However declined on Credit check. Was it really a BAsic Acocunt I appled for? SO 0/10 coz of staff understanding

So then I tried HSBC (only coz my wife uses First Direct). Rang late on Friday (details off their www site). Got through to someone in under 20 secs. (was really surprised at that point). Had account approved over phone. Next morning went into local branch with two proof's and was given account details there and then. Signed paperwork (which was all waiting to be printed off). Done deal. Registered 2 hours later for internet banking. So far (ok it was just yesterday this all kicked off) 10/10 for errm just getting it all sorted