Great init...... NOT

diddly74

Bloomin banks!

OH and I were declared BR on 15th March, we went straight into our branch of the Co-op where we have had an account (not a Cashminder but I thought it was) for the last 9 months and told them what had just happened. The lady we spoke to said as went had run our account well there would be no need to worry and she didn't think the account would be at risk. Later that day we spoke to our OR and I told her that this the account we will use for living, and she said that she would make sure that the account was ok. But I find out today that they have refused to pay my gas & elec DD (£154) - so i am the phone to them now!

Bloody Banks!!!!

dojoman

You will find it will have to be the cashminder account or the barclays basic account.

diddly74

Right been on the phone with Co-op and we have opened a Cashminder account over the phone straight away, but tomorrow I have to go to the branch, get them to phone the Bankruptcy department, and then I can take the money that is currently in the old account out. I could leave it and transfer it over in 3-5 days when the new account details come thru, but I would rather have it at home locked away in my control rather than theirs!!! Plus the Tax credits go in the account tomorrow!

Once I have the account details (in 3-5 days) I can phone them up and they will transfer all the DDs, and then I will have to tell the child benefit people, and tax credits along with the NHS bursary people and OH's work! Oh the joys!

Its all very frustrating cos if the woman I spoke to in the Branch on BR day had one iota of knowledge then we would be all sorted and up to date - now we are a month behind with the leccy!!! I was sceptical at the time but up until today (9 days later) we haven't had a problem with the account so I did the stupid thing and believed her!!!

Anyway..... its more or less all sorted, just gotta wait now and then transfer the stuff over. I am annoyed that I was given duff information.

One thing I have learnt tonight from the chap in Co-op Money Management Department was there are 7 banks that have basic accounts for bankrupts. He couldn't tell me which Banks they were but he was definate that there were 7.

D

Daybreak

Hi diddly, I've just been through the same thing, operated my account with the coop for a year with no problems, but was told that I could not keep the account as it had a chequebook. I tried to open a chashminder on the phone but seemed to confuse the people on the other end because I am BR. They told me to go into my branch with my passport which I did, and filled in the paper form. They said in branch they did not need to see my passport and it would have been quicker if I had just done it on the phone

I've called them up and they have approved the account for me, I am just waiting on the paperwork through the post now. It was a bit of a hassle but I don't care because I am so pleased that I will have an account.

peachyprice

diddly74 wrote: »

One thing I have learnt tonight from the chap in Co-op Money Management Department was there are 7 banks that have basic accounts for bankrupts. He couldn't tell me which Banks they were but he was definate that there were 7.

D

Sorry to disappoint, but that information is not correct, there may be 7 banks who offer basic accounts, but only Co-op and Barclays will offer accounts to BR's.

diddly74

I did wonder if he had got it right - which is why I put it up.

Been into our local branch of Co-op bank today and sorted it all out, got my money out, and the Cashminder is processing now and the nice girl said I can ring her to check how its progressing and she will let me have the number as soon as it hits her screen so I don't even have to wait for the post!

If the original woman (who was sitting as the desk opposite us and I have her a few daggers lol) had told me the right information when I asked on BR day non of this would have happened.

D

fermi

peachyprice wrote: »

Sorry to disappoint, but that information is not correct, there may be 7 banks who offer basic accounts, but only Co-op and Barclays will offer accounts to BR's.

Maybe he was getting confused between undischarged and discharged BRs?

While undischarged it's certainly only 2 at the moment.

diddly74

Update on this bank account farce!

Co op refused to pay 3 DDs from around the 25 March, as they had closed off my account, and the other one was not quite operational. The DDs have all be transferred over to the new account now, but our house insurance people want to charge me £40 for the this, as the refusal came back to them as I had cancelled the DD, but with it being Easter I can't get hold of anyone on the phone to pay/argue the case!


D

alastairq

Contact co-op by phone, explain what has happened, see if co-op and insurance cannot sort this out together?

Had you obviously been better prepared for BR...pre-BR...then the issue would have been resolved early on.
[the usual advice given on this board is to open a basic [ie cash-minder] account or two pre-BR..or ASAP afterwards...[dependant on when payments are due for receipt/paying]..with our usual warnings that normal Bank acc's will be frozen..which is what has happened here?]

The information given to you originally by the clerk may have resulted from a misunderstanding on both parts.

To be fair, BR is such an oddity in the greater scheme of things, it would be unusual for employees in a normal bank branch to be fully familiar with the process.
[I have had similar from the TAX people...having to be passed on to an actual BR specialist].

Co-op do have a whole department who specialise in BR and it's ramifications...it is to this department that all communications with ORs are sent.

Prior to my own BR, [I already had cashminder accounts] I phoned the bank in Manchester, and got put through to this department, who noted my queries, and accounts..and who explained fully the process I would undergo.

As in all other banks, it is unlikely that specifically-trained experts in such a field will be present 'in branch'....so don't be too hard on the bank employee concerned.


ring co-op, explain what has happened, and seek to get the charges removed?

diddly74

Update

Can't get hold of the the insurance company without sitting on the phone for ages!!!! They just keep repeating the options. Grrr.