Basic bank account feedback thread

debrag

Well I was declined a cashminder account with the Co-op, went through ok on the phone got my letter detailing what documentation I needed to send and went into a local branch to get it all done. This ws all just before Christmas, heard nothing so phoned up today and was told I was declined and to appeal. Never received a letter so they are sending it out again.

Applied online to Nationwide eventhough they are part of my DRO in 2009 and got accepted straight away. Just waiting for everything to arrive now.

Jimbleboobles

I was discharged from bankruptcy last year and had been given a bank account from the Official Receiver which was called One Card Banking which I pay £12 a month to use. It sends me text messages to my phone each time a payment hits my account and each time money is taken by standing order. I can check my balance from my phone for 15p a time and should I want to pay a cheque into my account I need to visit a Nat West branch with a paying in slip (for which I pay £3.50 for a book of 12) and it is becoming rather costly. I have just been told that my £12 per month for the account has gone up to £17 :eek: due to the fact I have a second card holder (my mother - in cases of emergency) on the account. I thought this account was to help me while I have financial difficulties... Maybe I was wrong!

Due to this I just want a normal basic bank account but feel rather unsure... I do not want one that will insist on staff carrying out a credit check so any advice would be welcome. Is Barclays still the one that is highly recommended???

brightonman123

i had a natwest step account (no overdraft, but got a debit card, s/orders, phone and net banking).. a few probs getting the letter with rub off PIN windowto read properly, but otherwise OK.

NB: they recently 'upgraded' my account, but took away the LINK atm access.. so had to get a full blown standard account (no fees), just to get back to where i was!

though there is a small o/d facility, nit yet authorised..

pmduk

ianpjones wrote: »

All seems well, the only small gripe is the cost of the telephone call which is a chargeable 084.. number.

Don't forget to try https://www.saynoto0870.com which lists several normal rate numbers for the Co-op. I always use 01695 53760, although there are several others

g.wattie

I have just got back from Barclays where I applied for the basic account after reading there would be no crdit checks etc as my history is no good . I even checked the money advice service pda and both that and martain lewis stated that barclays took any one unless you have a histor of fraud, I do not.
Spent 45 minutes going through the forms, give id etc and then send application, only to be told I have had my request turned down as I have failed a credit check!
I told them what i had read and that i was told they would open an account for any one but this frll on deaf ears.
Total waste of time petrol parking and effort!

hiacekim

:mad:

CO-OP card cash A/C
Now I think its time that Co-op Bank should sort out their debit card. I have tried over the phone several times now to bring to the attention of the Co-op, that the card now issued with visa on it is still an Electron card...in the eyes of retailers the card shows as an electron.
Online problems are that you could be 16 years old to have this a/c so ...No tesco and others home delivery's, No pay at Pump, M&S do not accept card online and at a guess many others.

We have finished our IVA and cleared our Experian report now shows score 739, Fair rating. No debts.:A

Now all we want is a basic a/c with an actual visa debit card......will switch from co-op only because of this problem. They say we cannot upgrade our account for 6 years. Well I do not want the shopping embarrassment of a card marked Visa but is an electron any longer .
Any Idea's anyone, thanks Kim

MSE_Alana wrote: »

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif]This thread is to discuss Basic Bank Accounts[/title]

Please read the full MSE guide to Basic Bank Accounts

Please let us know your experiences of opening a basic bank account including:

• Ease of acceptance
• Ease of application process
• Any issues experienced
• Did the bank try to encourage you to get a 'normal' bank account?

Click reply to post your experiences

greebouk

Just got of the phone with a lovely lady with the CCCS. Took all my details down and talked me through my budget. Seems I will have some money left over to make some payments to my creditors, but first I have to change banks as my debts are with them and dont want to risk off setting.

I am going to open an Barclays Basic Account, just wondered if anyone had any dealings with them good or bad ?

thatsean

The Barclays account is a great product. It does everything to cover day to day banking, and from March they will allow the account to accrue points in their scoring system, meaning that there's at least a chance of an upgrade to standard service account.

I've only recently closed mine, as I've been using a full service account as a main account for a while now.

fjmmidland

ianpjones wrote: »

I have an IVA so my credit rating will be very poor, so I was not looking forward to opening a bank account which I just wanted to use for expenses that are paid to be as part of my job. I already have a current account with Think Banking which deals with all my direct debits etc. I wanted a basic account that I could h my expenses paid into and I could use a debit card on to pay for travelling expenses, hotels etc.

I tried to open a Barclays 'Cash Card' account and was told that as I have already have a current account with another bank, Barclays could not help. So Barclays get no points.

So, following a link from this site I rang the Co-op bank who after doing credit checks and asking all about the account I already have with another bank, allowed me to open a 'Cash Minder' account.
I do not see why they needed to know about my other bank account but as there is nothing untoward about it, it does not seem to have mattered to them that I did have another bank account. Apparently the account will be open and usable in about 2 weeks time. All seems well, the only small gripe is the cost of the telephone call which is a chargeable 084.. number.

g.wattie wrote: »

I have just got back from Barclays where I applied for the basic account after reading there would be no crdit checks etc as my history is no good . I even checked the money advice service pda and both that and martain lewis stated that barclays took any one unless you have a histor of fraud, I do not.
Spent 45 minutes going through the forms, give id etc and then send application, only to be told I have had my request turned down as I have failed a credit check!
I told them what i had read and that i was told they would open an account for any one but this frll on deaf ears.
Total waste of time petrol parking and effort!

Originally, I had the same problem with Barclays. Both the Cirencester and Gloucester branch told me that I couldn't open an account with them as I had a current account with another bank.
Last Thursday, I went into the Stroud Branch of Barclays and I asked them about the basic account and told them that I had another account in another bank. Stroud told me that there wouldn't be any problem and booked an appointment for me today.
I went in and after 35 minutes, I came out with my new account details. I asked the advisor why Cirencester and Gloucester wouldn't open the account and she said that she thinks they haven't been trained properly.

I used to have a Basic Bank account with Yorkshire Bank, but if a direct debit is returned unpaid, you get charged with £35 on the same day as the returned direct debit.

Fiona

doseduk

I'm about to go bankrupt, and since I have about 10 defaults with payday loan companies that have access to my Barclays Student account (i've been with them 13 years! ) via debit card - the nice advisor at the local CAB told me to forget about that account, and add the interest free overdraft onto the debts and switch to a bank I owe no funds to.

The only options on their list of basic bank accounts that are possibilities for an undischarged bankrupt (so the only account I wouldn't lose in a few weeks when declared as such) was Barclays Basic and Co-Op Cashminder. So the Co-Op was the only option, and how lovely of a change!

Barclays have some fairly lucrative clientele, and so are generally quite a smart, professional and businessey bank, I always found, but could be a little dry, corporate, and stern when talking to them - as well as a lot of very irritating outsourced centers with the usual difficulties in conveying non-standard questions to somebody that does not speak fluent English. So I liked being with them, and it was an asset to have held my account well over a decade - about half my life at the same bank, and a student!

From the split second the advisor at the Co-Operative Bank answered to my call, I could just tell better things lay ahead. The customer service is second to none - and when you've spent months getting 10 letters a day, 20-40 calls a day etc from creditors, not always impolite but, y'know... it makes a BIG difference to have somebody so perfectly trained in making you feel special, wanted, and like that person is glad you rang because actually they've been waiting to help somebody with your exact concern all day! That kinda attitude, its brilliant!

On top of this, the account is very suited - allows for enough accessibility to maintain a life - direct debits, standing orders, BACS, CHAPS etc - as on this site - no interest on credit balance... but very reasonable failed direct debit fees compared to other banks (still a tiny bit more than Barclays though). Obviously the ethical investment aspect of the Co Op bank does mean a lot to me, and was always something that niggled at me with Barclays (although to be fair, every single other bank that exists as well, except the Co-Op, pretty much).

As I say, my options as an imminent bankrupt were either Barclays Basic or Co-Op Cashminder - but if you have the choice - go for the co-op... the 'best customer satisfaction' rating does speak for itself, and you will not be disappointed by the promptness to answer calls, efficiency etc - and every time I spoke to them, I genuinly *WANTED* to stick around for a few seconds after the call to do a quick minute's touchpad survey that helps them commend good staff members and improve standards... you can always just hang up but I really wanted to make sure the person got full marks.

I did have to ring and check about one thing which was that I got my debit card first, about 4 days after applying, when they said I should have a welcome pack with account details 2 days after applying (before the card) - the advisor apologized and was able to within a few seconds check my letters log, advise the pack had been sent out the day after I applied (it was about 2pm, so a lost day really, otherwise I'm sure it'd of made it out that day!) - and that he said he personally opened his co-op account and actually got it a couple of days later than he expected.
It's a much bigger packet than the little letter with the debit card.

I'm quite hopeful, and the bank that is going to essentially be my entire financial interest from now until a few years time at least - has helped make a difference to that.

Good things lie ahead I hope. Good luck to anybody else in that position (since you're looking at this thread!).
-adam x