Need a current account

EmRayMarRhys

Sorry, not sure if I am posting in the right place.
Natwest have been less than sympathetic to us and I need a bank that will let us have a current account - preferably with direct debit facility, online banking and a debit card.
I do not want an overdraft or loan products.

Only thing is that our credit rating isn't the best - mainly owing to our large overdraft and loan we have with Natwest and about £1k on the capital one card. We've not missed any payments, we've kept up, it's the amount of credit we have that might cause a problem with our credit rating.

Outline of the situation. Three direct debits went through four days earlier than expected and we're over the overdraft limit. We've not been in this situation for years. Natwest won't even SPEAK to me until we're back within the overdraft so I have an appointnent with them on Tuesday (will be £400 within overdraft then so I'm worthy of conversation :rolleyes:).

I want out. I feel tied to Natwest and I don't want to be any more. All they did is give me the CCCS phone number.

What I want to do is this - move all our money coming in to another account and set up direct debits from this. Keep the child benefit money going in there to 1) pay off the overdraft and 2) pay the monthly charges on the account and then set up a direct debit or standing order weekly to pay a quarter of the loan payment back in there to cover that.

The situation has arisen because where previously we had all our money coming in with a monthly salary we are now getting dribs and drabs weekly, fortnightly.... the salary used to go in just before the loan payment and direct debits then we'd have the child benefit and tax credits to live week to week. That worked well. Now we have our money going in differently we need it to go out differently - Natwest won't even speak to us.

Help if you can!

roni08

EmRayMarRhys wrote: »

Sorry, not sure if I am posting in the right place.
Natwest have been less than sympathetic to us and I need a bank that will let us have a current account - preferably with direct debit facility, online banking and a debit card.
I do not want an overdraft or loan products.

Only thing is that our credit rating isn't the best - mainly owing to our large overdraft and loan we have with Natwest and about £1k on the capital one card. We've not missed any payments, we've kept up, it's the amount of credit we have that might cause a problem with our credit rating.

Outline of the situation. Three direct debits went through four days earlier than expected and we're over the overdraft limit. We've not been in this situation for years. Natwest won't even SPEAK to me until we're back within the overdraft so I have an appointnent with them on Tuesday (will be £400 within overdraft then so I'm worthy of conversation :rolleyes:).

I want out. I feel tied to Natwest and I don't want to be any more. All they did is give me the CCCS phone number.

What I want to do is this - move all our money coming in to another account and set up direct debits from this. Keep the child benefit money going in there to 1) pay off the overdraft and 2) pay the monthly charges on the account and then set up a direct debit or standing order weekly to pay a quarter of the loan payment back in there to cover that.

The situation has arisen because where previously we had all our money coming in with a monthly salary we are now getting dribs and drabs weekly, fortnightly.... the salary used to go in just before the loan payment and direct debits then we'd have the child benefit and tax credits to live week to week. That worked well. Now we have our money going in differently we need it to go out differently - Natwest won't even speak to us.

Help if you can!

I would suggest that you open a Co-Op Cashminder Account. It is a basic account with no overdraft facilities but they have an excellent online banking service and you can set up direct debits to go out of your account. You will also have a Visa Electron Debit Card.

The Co-Op Bank is very good as you will find no problem in opening a Basic Account with them. Many people like myself who are in a Debt Management Plan use this account.

I hope this is of help.

shell_girl

Another one is the Halifax cashcard account- no OD but allows online banking whih is pretty good, DDs and standing orders. Only good if you have no debts with them though- as they will take money out to cover any arrears to them. They also let you set up other online savings account then which you can rename so are handy if you need to budget for various bills.

EmRayMarRhys

I've actually just sat down and done a SOA - we do have more coming in than we have going out and I'm really grateful for that. I know there are some in much worse situations than me. I just need a more sympathetic attitude when (in a very rare event) things go wrong. TBH I've never had that with Natwest. Last time I went over (a very long time ago) I got the same attitude.

BUT it's taught me that actually when I sort this current mess out (and all the charges they're sure to bung on us) I have more to throw at the credit card than I actually thought. We do waste more money than I'm happy with. That's a bit of a revelation.

Deep_In_Debt

Barclays do a basic account with Visa debit card and you can set up dd's SO's etc and I think it comes with on-line banking - maybe worth a try?

Tixy

A full list of all Basic bank accounts and what facilities they have is on this leaflet. http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

We always recommend you choose an organisation that you don't owe any money to.

PNPSUKNET

think no matter what bank, they are all the same

EmRayMarRhys

Ok. Maybe I won't have more money to throw at the debt than I thought.
Natwest are about to take us under through putting charges on charges on charges.
I don't know if I posted in the right place - can anyone here help, I'm getting desperate.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1948487

Can I stop charges being laid on charges being laid on charges or is it a hopeless case?
I have co op ringing me back later with my new account number and sort code - the computers crashed earlier.... they've given me a standard current account not a cash minder - just not with an overdraft and I'm very happy with that

pinkjaney

The day after being made bankrupt i opened a Coop cashminder account never had a problem with them would recommend them

shell_girl

As soon as you've got the Co-Op account number arrange to get child benefit etc paid into that. There's definitely some sort of rule about what banks are allowed to do in relation to benefits and charges- I'm off to have a little google. In the meantime, pop up which benefits you're getting- DLA, Carers etc and we'll see what we can find.

Nat West are 'slashing' their charges in Octovber apparently, not much comfort to you now I know- maybe the gits are trying to make as much as possible before then?

Have a look at reclaiming charges under the hardship clause as well- if their charges mean that your normal bills aren't being paid I think that makes you eligible for the hardship bit of reclaiming- which means they can't put your claim on hold.

lisawood78

EmRayMarRhys,
Have responded on your other thread.
Please go read it asap.
Well done on the new acc