Basic Bank Account Thread

Neil_1981

Hi, first time poster and hope someone can help / advise

My credit history is dire and I have just filled in the necessary paperwork with CCCS to enter a DMP but require a basic bank account.

My wages currently get paid into my housemates account which is fine but not always conveinent if I need cash urgently so I need to open a basic bank account that will allow my wages to be paid in and a few direct debits to be paid out, basically rent, bills and the DMP payment when it starts.

I have recently tried to open a basic account with Barclays but after an hour with an advisor I heard nothing back, not even a letter advising I had been declined which in itself is worrying. I have been looking at online accounts with such places as Think Banking but after reading a few reviews have decided this is a last resort.

I have been reading about the Co-Op Cashminder account on this forum and am wondering if they are linked with anyone else as I do not want any creditors trying to take out money before the DMP is up and running, are Co-Op linked with anyone ?? If not am I best advising them I am entering into a DMP when I go into the branch to open an account.....I am obviosuly worried about them performing a credit check, which is what Barclays did and didn't even send me a letter declining my application.

Any help / advice anyone could give on the Co-Op account would be much appreciated.....thanks in advance

united66

Neil_1981 wrote: »

Hi, first time poster and hope someone can help / advise

My credit history is dire and I have just filled in the necessary paperwork with CCCS to enter a DMP but require a basic bank account.

My wages currently get paid into my housemates account which is fine but not always conveinent if I need cash urgently so I need to open a basic bank account that will allow my wages to be paid in and a few direct debits to be paid out, basically rent, bills and the DMP payment when it starts.

I have recently tried to open a basic account with Barclays but after an hour with an advisor I heard nothing back, not even a letter advising I had been declined which in itself is worrying. I have been looking at online accounts with such places as Think Banking but after reading a few reviews have decided this is a last resort.

I have been reading about the Co-Op Cashminder account on this forum and am wondering if they are linked with anyone else as I do not want any creditors trying to take out money before the DMP is up and running, are Co-Op linked with anyone ?? If not am I best advising them I am entering into a DMP when I go into the branch to open an account.....I am obviosuly worried about them performing a credit check, which is what Barclays did and didn't even send me a letter declining my application.

Any help / advice anyone could give on the Co-Op account would be much appreciated.....thanks in advance

Hi Neil.

Go for the Halifax Easycash account. You can apply online and they pretty much accept any circumstance.
Comes with a Visa Electron card and has some other benefits.
You can see what it has to offer and to apply here:
http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/other-bank-accounts/easycash/


Good luck!

pmduk

To answer your question, the Co-op aren't linked with anyone. Their major drawback is their small branch network, although many transactions can be undertaken at the post office. Their telephone banking is excellent.

Neil_1981

Hi, thanks very much for the responses......i'll give the Halifax account a try, failing that I'll pop into the Co-Op..there a a few branches here in Newcastle.

rreeve

Hi all!
This is only my 3rd post on this forum and I'd really apriciate some advice.
Seen as this paticular thread is many years old I doubt the information provided at the start is relevant anymore which is unfortunate because I found that information very good.

Here is my unusual dilema:
I need to open a basic bank account but the only identification I have is a full birth certificate and a provisional driving licence... I have nothing else to my name as I only rent a room in a house. You could say I currently live off-the-grid because I'm not on the electral-roll and I have never had to pay a utility bill EVER in my life.

I'm 34 years old and my credit history is none existent as I have never ever applied for any credit and I literally do not have a credit score at all as far as I am aware. If I do have a credit score, it will be the score that people have when they first start-off. (There is a very good reason for this which is a bit of a long story so I won't bore you with the details.)

Anyway, I am hoping somebody here can advise me on which basic bank account to apply for. Basically, which one will accept my very limited identification and my none existent credit score? I'd also like some advice on my credit score too... How does this work if you've never EVER had any dealings with anyone that updates your credit data, what will my score be...i.e. good or bad?

The banks I'm looking at for a basic account are as follows:

• Clydesdale Bank (Readycash)
• Nationwide BS (Cash Card)
• NatWest (Step)
• NatWest (Step Advanced Blue)
• Co-operative Bank (Cashminder)
• Yorkshire Bank (Readycash)

I got this info from the start of this thread after following one of the OP's links.

These six banks are my prefered choices. I will consider banks such as RBS, hsbc, halifax if none of my above choices are any good.

I hope someone here can help me!:)

book12

Try Barclays. You can open an account just with a driving licence, and no need seperate proof of address.

KatieVA

I managed to get a basic "easycash" account with a Visa Electron card at the Halifax and I was in the same situation as you.

shoppingmalluk

Halifax are pretty good with getting bank accounts but sometimes it can be annoying.
I remember having to apply by post, filling in a lengthy form, and then if the paperwork you issued with your reply form wasn't corrent it would take a while to get set up.

I chose to go to the Nationwide when opening an account. They allowed me to fill an application form online, and then issued the paperwork which I could take into the local branch with my paperwork. Worked a charm and 5 years later and still no problems.
Another account that was ok to get was HSBC. Although their default charges are quite high they are open to giving an account to pretty much anyone.
You will get a debit card with them too and they give you a £10 automatic buffer incase you go over your normal amount. They also have a series of paid accounts where the buffer can be increased to £50 where necessary.

There are a couple of options via the financial site Exclusive Financial Services, found here;

cw-enterprises.info/financial-services/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2

These are HSBC and Santander where you might be able to get an account.

Hope this helps,

Alice

sonic2009

Hello all. to cut a long story short. I basically have run myself in debt with a load of banks. Barclays,Llyods,Nationwide,halifax, natwest. im currently trying to sort myself out with a dmp with payplan.

Can anyone suggest a basic bank account for me? i have a post office account right now. but need a dd facitlity, to pay phone bills etc. i dont want a debit card. just an account with direct debit.. im unemployed and my jobseekers allowance needs to be paid into an account otherwise i have to sign-on daily.

any suggestions?

Dr_Cuckoo3

sonic2009 wrote: »

i dont want a debit card. just an account with direct debit.. im unemployed and my jobseekers allowance needs to be paid into an account otherwise i have to sign-on daily.

any suggestions?

http://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/savings-and-investments/Easy-Access/CallSave-MoneyManager/CallSave-MoneyManager.aspx

http://www.ybs.co.uk/savings/easy_access/cash_transactor.html