Not sure what to do now.

keepmyhouse

Hello

Im in the process of saving up my fees so that I can apply, having made the decision a couple of weeks ago, I felt better as soon as I had made the decision.

I need my car for work so hopefully I wont loose that, my house is in negative equity so hopefully I wont loose that either.(single with 3 kids)

I have a joint P loan with an ex, having been treat like absolute poo by him, I was pleased to learn he will become soley responsible for it. Payback ah.

There is just one thing, its the bank account, I get money paid in weekly, csa, wages child benefit etc etc I need this money to feed the kids myself, mortgage etc etc etc, my account is 1850 OD already, as soon as you are BR they all get frozen. I know I can open one with Co-op but can take 4 weeks, where are my benefits gunna go? I cant have a gap. Im really stressed, as I have to plan all this perfectly, to ensure the kids are ok?????? If my money goes into the account I have now obviously my OD will swallow it, I can always ask Barclays for my benefit and wage back but some how I dont think they will be forth coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He

startagain_2

Hello keepmyhouse,

I can't see why it would take 4 weeks to open a Co-op account. It is usually done over the phone in minutes and the pack arrives within days - activate the account and you are up and running. Only a very small number of people are "referred" when opening an account but it still wouldn't take 4 weeks.
The main problem, if there is one, would be the benefits people. A couple of posters have given them the details and the money has gone into the old account.
If I were you I would open the Co-op account without delay - the sooner the better and then you can give the benefits people plenty of notice to get the switch done and hopefully the first payments in before you go BR.
HTH
SA

maxmycardagain

barclays took only 2 weeks

if the OD of £1850 is to be part of BR then of course the account will be gone/lost/frozen, i take it that its a barclays account?

cant you get a post office/dss account for benefits?

keepmyhouse

Hello, I called the Co-op help line about 30 mins ago, the chap who answered said there was no point opening one until BR, other wise it would frozen and then I would have to re-apply!!!!!!!!! Im confused

Marlowvian

I was under the impression that the Co-op took weeks to set up but I called to set mine up on Tuesday and received my debit card yesterday

The number for the Co-op is 0845 602 7057

I'm getting my next wages paid into my Co-op then taking out every penny from my Lloyds account in time for my hearing on 28th as my account will most likely be frozen as my overdraft is included in my bankruptcy - I did intend to pay off my overdraft first so that my account would not be frozen but national debtline told me there was no benefit to doing this as my account will be frozen anyway.

Marlowvian

keepmyhouse wrote: »

Hello, I called the Co-op help line about 30 mins ago, the chap who answered said there was no point opening one until BR, other wise it would frozen and then I would have to re-apply!!!!!!!!! Im confused

Not true...but I thought this too. There are loads on here that opened theirs first. The OR will understand that you have set up your co-op one for use after your BR.

startagain_2

Marlowvian wrote: »

Not true...but I thought this too. There are loads on here that opened theirs first. The OR will understand that you have set up your co-op one for use after your BR.

Exactly,

After my little run in this week with a Co-op operator I am beginning to think that they have a few loose cannons working for them.
If at first you don't succeed, try and try again!!! :T

SA

keepmyhouse

But I have been told by CCCS thats it not the OR who freezes it, he just writes to them and they are the ones who decide to freeze it

startagain_2

keepmyhouse wrote: »

But I have been told by CCCS thats it not the OR who freezes it, he just writes to them and they are the ones who decide to freeze it

OK - I am chasing you around the board here.
There are two main BR friendly Bank accounts - Co-op cashminder and Barclays cash card. The Co-op is best for you because of your Barclays debt at the moment.
The banks do freeze and close accounts when you are made BR but if you have a Co-op account and it does get frozen you just let the OR know, he notifies the bank and it is defrosted - Voila! They haven't even frozen mine.
Have faith!
SA