Bank accounts for bad credit & benefits?

HappyMJ

MrsE wrote: »

If you are on benefits do you HAVE to have a bank account? No, but it makes it difficult.

Do they pay any in cash? No.

Assuming you have to have an account, there is a PO one that you can't have anyone except benefits pay any money into isn't there, a bit like a benefits only saver account?

If you need a bank account & are uncredit worthy what accounts are an option to you? Basic bank accounts

Is the Barclays one an option? Any others? I recently opened a NATWEST one.
Ones that you can get money from other sources paid in.

What sort of ID do you need to open accounts, apart from passport? I used the Housing Benefit letter from council and the letter from DWP stating what i would get in weekly benefits. If you have benefits you'll have those two forms of ID. I did not have any photographic ID at all and all my utility bills were not accepted as they had to and could be printed online and therefore photoshopped/altered.

Are some easier than others for ID? (I'm thinking about people who don't have lots of ID).

See my comments in red above too. Thanks DX2 for your comments.

book12

Here's a list of accounts that you can be eligible for: http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

I would highly recommend either RBS/Natwest and Barclays accounts. Both of those accounts come with a debit card, which wil be useful when doing online shopping. The bank accounts mentioned in the website are good for people who have no/bad credit history and/or on benefits.

See individual bank websites for suitable ID.

Almost all benefits needs to be put into a bank account.

Dontknowanymore

MrsE wrote: »

I haven't seen any co-op banks on the high street?

No there aren't many branches as other banks.
I bank with them, and my nearest branch is Brighton and I live not too far from you (it's AM BTW)
But you can pay in cheques and cash at any post office.

I know Nationwide used to do a very basic cash card account.

MrsE_2

Dontknowanymore wrote: »

No there aren't many branches as other banks.
I bank with them, and my nearest branch is Brighton and I live not too far from you (it's AM BTW)
But you can pay in cheques and cash at any post office.

I know Nationwide used to do a very basic cash card account.

They need to be high street, can't be internet based or anything like that the people using them might not have PC access.

But thank you.

MrsE_2

book12 wrote: »

Here's a list of accounts that you can be eligible for: http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

I would highly recommend either RBS/Natwest and Barclays accounts. Both of those accounts come with a debit card, which wil be useful when doing online shopping. The bank accounts mentioned in the website are good for people who have no/bad credit history and/or on benefits.

See individual bank websites for suitable ID.

Almost all benefits needs to be put into a bank account.

THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES, I can save that & email it & I can print it off & hand it out.

You're wonderful:A:beer:

Snakeeyes21

I found alliance and leicester to be easy to open with a shockingly bad credit history and being on benefits.

You can also use a post office to pay money in and withdraw from.

book12

MrsE wrote: »

THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES, I can save that & email it & I can print it off & hand it out.

You're wonderful:A:beer:

You're welcome.

Just to let you know most basic accounts debit card is Visa debit, except HBOS.

Have you decided which account you are going to get? If it's Barclays, I could help you out.

Snakeeyes21 wrote: »

I found alliance and leicester to be easy to open with a shockingly bad credit history and being on benefits.

You can also use a post office to pay money in and withdraw from.

Is it the basic account or the current account.

johnny13

To put this in a nutshell: From now on if you get giro payments from DWP/JCP they will be subject to review and you will be asked why you cannot manage or open an account.

Snakeeyes21

book12 wrote: »

Is it the basic account or the current account.

It was the premier direct current account, to get the quidco cashback, then downgraded to the normal current account which has no minimum funding requirements

MrsE_2

book12 wrote: »

You're welcome.

Just to let you know most basic accounts debit card is Visa debit, except HBOS.

Have you decided which account you are going to get? If it's Barclays, I could help you out.

Is it the basic account or the current account.

Its advice for others.
So I won't be choosing, but I want to put together some info for people that are having problems & your link was JUST what I needed.