How many bank accounts can you open?

loobyloo1980

Just following on from someone's advice to have separate accounts for bills etc etc, how many CAN you have open? We were turned down for a new account a while ago but think that may be because we applied for the wrong account (another one with overdraft etc, which we don't need). But it must be possible to get a few on the go if it is being advised? Does anyone have a few on the go? Any advice on where to go for a bog standard cash in and DD/SO out kinda bank account?

Penny-Wise_4

I have quite a few bank accounts:

joint account with Mr Penny-wise with Alliance & Leicester

Wages go into this account and some money gets transfered out to:

Halifax joint account which pays all our monthly/annual bills

and

my barclays account for my train fare to work and grocery shopping.

i have an account with Natwest which i do not use

I have just opened an account with Cahoot which will replace my Halifax account as although they only deal with Direct Debits they cannot seem to do this right and keep cancelling odd ones (in last 12 months Council Tax and Gas and Electricity payments cancelled and they put a stop on my account for no reason - no direct debits paid)
Would i recommend Halifax? Only to someone i did not like.

Debt_Free_Chick

In theory, you can have as many accounts as you can get. But as you have found, if you want an overdraft, you will be credit checked, so the number you can get depends on your credit record.

You should be able to get a simple basic bank account. No switch card, just a cash card but you manage many of them online and set up DDs & SOs.

There's a list of them here

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/public/bank_account.pdf

moggins

I went into the Natwest to see about a basic account as Halifax are phasing out the Solo card and Tesco online do not take (nor are they planning on taking) Visa Electron.

I saw a lovely customer adviser who said she would have no problem whatsoever with me having a basic account (and that was after I'd told her all my past credit history), and had a lovely cup of coffee and a whinge about ex's with her in the process.

It's so nice to speak to someone face to face for a change instead of a computerised phone line.

Malestrom

Even going in to a branch and speaking to Halifax staff is a nightmare - worst bank account i've ever had but I just can't be bothered to change again

10 days to cash a cheque....flippin' ridiculous!

moggins

Malestrom

I know exactly what you mean, we've been with the Halifax for 15 years and when I went in to complain about the loss of my Solo card and to see if they could just give us a Switch card without an overdraft or chequebook I basically got told it was my tough luck for having a rubbish credit rating and I had to put up with what I could get.

As for the 10 day cheque clearance!! I have banked two cheques in the last 2 weeks and both have cleared within 3 days so I don't know what is going on there They tell us one thing and then do another.

Malestrom

Moggins: Yes I know exactly what you mean. My wife was in the bank the other day and a message flashed up on the assistants screen telling her that we were eligible for upgrade to a chequing account, from the cashcard account. She made us an appointment and the wife and I duly attended. After about 20 minutes we were refused. Apparently "The computer says nooooooo." The same computer that originally said yes I gather.

Obviously one of the Little Britain's had a Halifax account.....:D

Jumanji_2

My partner and I have just opened a Nationwide Flex Account. The woman we spoke to was really lovely, and we told her how we're on the verge of bankruptcy etc, and there was no problem. It's just the most basic account with Direct Debit and Standing Order facilities, and a cash card. All we need! :-)

Darryl

Cahoot told me today that I can have up to 3 current accounts with them.

They told me this when I asked for a 4th saving account with them, and they said 'no, but you can have up to 2 more current accounts if you want'.

So, if you can get a Cahoot account, this may be a option for you.

HTH

Darryl.

Paul_Varjak

Malestrom wrote:

Even going in to a branch and speaking to Halifax staff is a nightmare - worst bank account i've ever had but I just can't be bothered to change again

10 days to cash a cheque....flippin' ridiculous!

I am with Halifax - and I agree with you. My local Halifax is just an agency of a branch a few miles away. That branch is also awful. However, some branches seem ok.

I find the Halifax staff quite rude, unhelpful and quite ignorant. I went a few weeks ago to set up a standing order. They said they could do this but as the first pay date was on a different day of the month to all the other - they could not do it. I said well just make a one-off payment for the first amount and then set up a standing order for the rest. They didn't think of that!

I did not realise what they were like until they stopped allowing cheques to be deposited by ATM. Until then I never really went in. However, they were the only credit card provider who would give me a credit card and their telephone banking service and internet banking seem ok.

I now have five bank accounts with them and it is handy being able to transfer money between accounts instantly. Their current account pays a healthy 3.07% AER (If you have at least £1,000 going in each month).

The only other bank I have dealt with is HSBC. They are helpful at the branch but their telephone banking stinks - complete lack of security. Any dodgy employee could get hold of your password and use it to access your account!

moggins

That's why I try to do most of my banking online, I haven't found a helpful person in there yet and at least you can set up all your standing orders and do transfers online.

One of the few times I prefer a computer to talking to a real person

Once I get a passport I shall be voting with my feet and moving my account.