Aqua credit card part of Halifax?

kimbo1976

Hi

I wonder if anyone can help me please. I am just starting a DMP with CCCS and have opened a new bank account with Halifax from Natwest.

I have just found out that Aqua Credit Cards (who i have a £850 debt with) are part of Halifax. Does this mean that Halifax will take some of my salary that is due to be paid in next week to pay off this debt?

Any help would be gratefullly received?

Thanks

Tixy

Hi Kimbo.

I hadn't realised Aqua was part of HBOS either - but I see that it is and this does mean that they could potentially offset funds from your halifax account to your aqua credit card unfortunately yes. Its a pain but I would open another new bank account with a different bank - this list here is handy for finding out who is connected to who - http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/20/right-to-offset/ to work out which bank would be safe for you. The co-operative are not on that list but their cashminder account is useful if people have debts in most of the other groups of banks. Co-op are only connected to smile.

As for your salary goin into halifax next week, you'll probably find the funds don't get offset straight away (especially if you are only just starting your DMP), so you should have time to go in and withdraw the funds in time, to pay into new bank account.

kimbo1976

Thanks for your reply.

What a pain though, ive just sorted all my direct debits out as well with Halifax and thought everything was going to be smooth now!

What are the chances of them actually doing this, is it a real possibility?

Thanks again

Kim

Payplan_company_representative

It is hard to say. Some bank don't do it but other banks do. They are within their rights to take the funds it they wanted to. If your work have already amended the bank details for the new account then you may want to see if they can either swap it back or pay you by cheque or something else.

kimbo1976

Thanks for your help.

Ive just had another little panic. One of my other debts is with Lloyds and i didnt realise they were part of Halifax as well. Will they also take money from my Halifax account - although looking at the Payplan link of associated banks they are listed separately?

Its getting really hard now to find a good bank but i will have a look at the Co-op.

Payplan_company_representative

Co-Op are usually a very good bank to go to as they are pretty much seperate from any other bank. Lloyds and Halifax are now part of the same group and the Right To Offset does again apply. I am in the process of updatign this list and getting it sent out again.