Absolutely desperate-can ANYONE advise?

emmaface

I will need to be able to use ATMs as I live in an area where it's quite a trek to some branches-I'm not a massive spender (my debts have come from periods of having to borrow to live as I had no income) so that's not a worry. The HSBC Basic looks OK-does anyone have any experience with them?

turbo.jet

HSBC are good when you have money, can be expensive when you owe them money. I've had my ups and downs with them, but I notice you don't get a debit card with their account anyway.

How about Natwest? Not sure who they are owned by, or who owns them though. You get a visa debit card by the looks of it (don't worry, its not a credit card).

http://www.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/g1/other-accounts/basic-account.ashx

turbo.jet

Avoid Halifax - its owned by Lloyds.
Avoid The Woolwich - its owned by Barclays
Avoid Smile - its owned by Co-Op

You should be OK with Natwest, as its owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland, which as far as I can tell don't own any of the banks you have debt with.

Please check here first though -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banks_in_the_United_Kingdom

bonsibabe

I have the basic HSBC account. All our debts are in joint names or in DH's name. For some reason he was allowed a debit card but i wasn't ... so i took the basic account ... it's okay. I have set up all my direct debits and pay my rent by standing order ... the only downside is that I can't seem to get a debit card from them now for love nor money ... even though all my debts (the joint ones) are being paid (albeit by small amounts but they are getting paid) and I have never gone into overdraft cos i don't have one. A downside of the account is that it doesn't pay any interest on credit balances but that's something i have learned to live without lol. Please try and stay positive ... things will get better .. good luck xxx

turbo.jet

I'm with them and have a current account. They don't even pay interest on +ve balances with their current accounts. I remember the letter they sent when they stopped it, they said they stopped it because customers had said they 'weren't getting value from it'. I hate banks.

kerrirobberts

I opened a HSBC basic account in 2008, they give you a cash card which you can use at the ATM but only their ones (if I remember correctly, I've upgraded since). It's not like a visa which you can spend instore, but does allow you to buy food.

You have to be specific about wanting a basic account so they don't run a credit check, but I haven't looked back with them. Their internet banking is easy to use as well.

emmaface

NatWest looks like the way forward, thanks TJ, it has everything I need-will get the ball rolling tomorrow and make sure it's all OK, then hopefully at least I can eat! I've also contacted the Crisis Team tonight who are going to ask my care co-ordinator to see me urgently and establish if he can help-is it likely it would help if he spoke to co-op?

Bonsibabe-your rabbit is adorable

turbo.jet

emmaface wrote: »

will get the ball rolling tomorrow and make sure it's all OK

See that you do! Its very important to get this done ASAP

Don't forget to take everything you need with you as per -

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/basic-bank-accounts

and leave with your new sort code and account number to tell the benefit people.

Bed for me now.. Night!

emmaface

Well....I phoned the CDL dept today to be told the magic form had arrived and they had paid back the two months installments they took! I will have to apply at the end of November for a further deferment (despite me having lived off pennies for two months they consider I "deferred" from the start!) I went from penniless with an inflated overdraft to £260 credit. With £60 to retrieve my rabbits ashes and my rent I will be approx £20 into my overdraft and am determined to stop using it altogether. I've been having trouble because I'm not getting my full entitlement of benefit and I'm losing money in charges when things bounce when they come in the "wrong" week......until this is sorted/I get a job I'm going to need to be frugal and arrange payment of my debts and also the payment I need to make for my social work registration. I'm struggling a bit to make my budget statement so that'll be my next project...seeing my SW tomorrow to see what they can do to help! Thanks for the support, everyone, it really helped me keep my head together.:T :kisses:

kerrirobberts

That's fantastic news and must be a huge weight off your mind. Did you setup the basic bank account? It's always helpful to have one that isn't associated to debt.