Debit only card for in debt disabled...

Tiff_2

Hi. Apologies in advance for length of this but I don't know where else to turn except to you experts.
I wanted to ask if anyone knows of a debit card which can be used in a common range of UK stores/online/over phone for someone who has bad credit reference and who is disabled please?
Debts were accrued after failure of long marriage & unemployment due to becoming disabled. As well as weekly Income Support, I also receive the lower rates in both care & mobility from DWP & Child Benefit - about £143 a week in total.
My disability is progressive & will leave me more and more housebound. I need a debit card for when I'm too ill to go out & can shop online with a supermarket.
Nationwide's advertising updating your FlexAccount to a debit card - I've been with them for 8 years and just use a basic FlexAccount. I phoned them Monday, mentioning that joint marital debts had resulted in bad credit scoring & why I needed a debit only card & they said to go in today (Tuesday) & apply anyway.
So I did. I said I didn't want a credit card, cheque guarantee card or book & no overdraft - just a simple debit card to use. I felt so embarrassed when they turned me down. I'd explained to the lady that I was disabled & that I was trying to make arrangements for the future due to my disability. I asked if there was another way to do this with them or make an appeal & she said no nothing at all. I haven't got family or friends who can do anything for me & I feel so helpless & yes scared too. I'd even had to pay £9 taxi fare each way for the pleasure of the look on her face, though she was polite.
Their online advertising implies that if you have a current FlexAccount you can just go into the branch & they'll upgrade you to have a debit card. Not true. You're credit checked & they don't offer a debit only card, just a credit/debit card. I don't know if this is misleading people or if it was just me & I can't help but wonder if this practice discriminates, in a way, disabled people by NOT offering a customer friendly debit only card. What am I supposed to do when I can't walk anymore?! Am I being ridiculous in trying to A- stay out of any more debt & B- only spending what I already have?
I'd be grateful to anyone who can offer advice please.
Sorry again for the novel Thanks in advance.

sgx.saint

Hi.

Natwest do an account called a 'Step Account' which provides you with a Solo Debit Card which is quite widely accepted now a days.

Its also quite easy to open and I dont foresee you having any issues doing so based on what you have said.

Hope this helps

Rallya

Have a look at

http://www.payplan.com/pdf/bank_acc.pdf

It gives you a list of basic bank accounts for those in debt, bankrupt have CCJ's etc with a list of ones who do debit cards.

HTH

virgin_moneysaver

Natwest step acc does issue a solo debit card which is becoming more widely acceptable on-line ( have just checked & Tesco online accepts this) - no o/d, no chq book but you can have s/o & d/d - even if you have the standard account with the full debit card (Maestro, formly switch) you still don't have to have a chq book or overdraft - but as you say you have debts you would probably only be offered the step account anyway - Good Luck!!

fruit-loop

This is a savings account that issues a solo debit card from nat west. As it is savings and being branch based there is no credit check what so ever.

http://www.natwest.com/personal02.asp?id=PERSONAL/SAVE_AND_INVEST/SAVINGS_ACCOUNTS/INSTANT_ACCESS/FIRST_RESERVE

You will have no direct debits or standing orders but can access the account online and use the card nearly everywhere these days.