need a bank

jimmy85b

Hi, I need help i looked my credit report up and it said i had a fair score i went to barclays got an account with them had it open for about 6 weeks then they closed it because i didnt meet there criteria any more, while i had it i did get to contract phones with the 3 network. I had debt from years ago i have paid some of it but cant find out who i still owe i no i had a bank with abbey national and lloyds, I have asked co-op and halifax and they both said no. what could i do to get a bank to pay my direct debits? please could youtell me there is a bank or some think i can do.

happy_bunny_2

When you say you had debt from years ago, how many years?

You should check your credit file to see what's on there. Be warned though that if you still owe money then looking at your credit file may help them trace you.

Things stay on your credit file for 6 years after settled or defaulted. After this you should be ok. Some banks you had accounts with may not touch you even after this as they may keep records longer.

Also, was the account closed a basic one?

Gentoo365

Surely Barclays should have offered a basic bank account and transferred it. It seems a bit worrying that they just close it and leave someone without any form of account.

I don't know that area of regulation, but I would say that Barclays are breaching rules on financial exclusion.

You should have been offered a 'Cash Card Account'

http://www.barclays.co.uk/Otheraccounts/Cashcardaccounts/CashCardAccount/P1242557963900

This means you cannot use the card to pay for things, but you can take money out from their cash machines and set up direct debits etc.

Gentoo365

You could take advantage of Natwest's extended open hours to pop into a branch this weekend:

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

or HSBC

http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/current-accounts/basic-bank-account

jimmy85b

i cant check my credit file as i dont have a bank any more my debt was 6 years or longer i called think banking and they are the only one to offer me a account i am just scared about the way barclays closed me down if any one has had this before and could me

TheBanker

You don't need a bank account to check your credit file. I would recommend checking as it sounds like Barclays have found something they don't like.

You can send a letter including the fee of £2 (get a postal order if you can't write a cheque) to each of the CRAs whose addresses are here:

Equifax Ltd
Credit File Advice Centre
PO Box 1140
Bradford
BD1 5US
0844 335 0550

Callcredit Plc
Consumer Services Team
PO Box 491
Leeds
LS3 1WZ
0870 060 1414

Experian Ltd
Customer Support Centre
PO Box 8000
Nottingham
NG80 7WF
0844 481 8000