Need a current account

shell_girl

This link may be useful too

EmRayMarRhys

Thanks all.
Ok, so we have CTC weekly, Income Support fortnightly, Carers Allowance x 2 paid four weekly (although one of these isn't currently being paid - not till 27 Oct for some lunatic reason), Child Benefit, 1 x DLA at middle rate care lower rate mobility, 1 x DLA at middle rate care (the higher mobility we have taken as a car instead).

That's our income.

vivamartin

EmRayMarRhys wrote: »

Sorry, not sure if I am p 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

Help if you can!

Try with Abbey, was hepful for me
good luck

shell_girl

There's a letter on the link I posted that you can send before they take the charges out if it's coming out of your benefits- it may be worth doing this if your next payments will still be going into this account rather than the co-op. Also, on the thread I've linked to a poster has said that if the bank are taking charges from benefits then it is possible that the DWP may be able to help you get these back- definitely worth having a read of that thread I think- just hope the info is still up to date.

EmRayMarRhys

Shell girl, will do that, thank you

yellowduck_2

I've just opened a cash minder account with the co-op, found them very helpful, have been having a nasty time with Nat West (see my thread on Charging Order). Nat west have been pretty threatening to me, am due to write to them re my loan, owe em £6,700 but am not working due to ill health, am going to offer them £50 a month but know they will kick off about it. Good luck with everything. I'm not much good with advice but I do empathise with those of us who have money troubles

EmRayMarRhys

I'm wondering who to send this letter to?
Would it be to the branch, lending centre, credit control?
I'm not sure. If anyone can advise I'd be really grateful.
I have left the amount of charges blank as I'm supposed to be getting a letter giving my total amount of charges tomorrow.

Also if anyone could comment on my draft letter? Cribbed fairly heavily (and many thanks to basil the birman of cag)

Dear Sirs

Account xxxxxxx
Sort code xx-xx-xx

I write with regard to £xxx charges due to be levied to this account on 25/09/2009.
These monies would be taken from benefits received from the Department for Work and Pensions, such payments clearly marked as originating from the DWP. Also monies received from HMRC.

It is illegal for you to appropriate such benefits and therefore they must not be deducted. The taking of my benefit money would leave me unable to pay bills and utilities and buy food - the precise reason for these payments by the government. The SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATIONS ACT 1992 states:

187- Subject to the provisions of this Act, every assignment of, or charge on-
(a)benefit as defined in section 122 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;
(b)any income-related benefit; or
(c)child benefit,
and every agreement to assign or charge such benefit shall be void; and, on the bankruptcy of the beneficiary, such benefit shall not pass to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of his creditors.

The social security administrations act 1992 is a matter of public record. There has been correspondence between the Secretary of State and the British Bankers Association chief executive regarding this matter.

I refer also to section 45 of the Tax Credits Act 2006 which states:

45. Inalienability
(1) Every assignment of or charge on a tax credit, and every agreement to assign or charge a tax credit, is void; and, on the bankruptcy of a person entitled to a tax credit, the entitlement to the tax credit does not pass to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of his creditors.

Appropriation of benefits to pay these charges will give me no alternative but to report you to the Banking Ombudsman and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Yours etc

EmRayMarRhys

actually forget that - those acts don't refer to bank charges, back to the drawing board