Wherediditallgo’s ‘path to enlightenment’ bankruptcy diary

wherediditallgo

I think he got uptight with me because, when I told him that I wanted to open the account, he straight away tried to get me to make an appointment & I queried the need for that. I felt that was unreasonable given that I'd spoken to their telephone service the night before, who'd not only not mentioned the appointment system but had also told me the account would be set up quicker if I went into the branch, & gave me the branch details. The only reason I'd bothered going up there in between the court sessions was because of the information given to me on the telephone the night before.

He acknowledged that the telephone banking side never tell people about the appointments though they are aware of them, but I guess he didn't like the issue being pointed out to him. He said he was busy & the only other woman who could deal with the account had someone with her, but I said I was prepared to wait. I was sitting on a chair for a good 20 minutes or more before he came back downstairs & said he'd seen me on the camera still waiting, so had decided to see me after all.

For all I know, my application may have sat around on someone's desk because they went on Easter leave before they got to it. But it's not on - they know & you know that as a bankrupt you can only get minimal banking facilities. But money is money, & you shouldn't be treated badly just because someone either wants you to have an account you don't want or because you've been misinformed by one of their staff. I would have accepted his position regarding the appointment if I hadn't rung the night before, but having made the call to get the correct information, I didn't see why I should trek back another day because someone hadn't done their job properly.

NekoZombie

Hum,

all valid points, of course, but try not to let it get to you too much, ok?

Life's too short, eh

wherediditallgo

11 April - Panic over - my account was approved this morning. :j It turns out the reason for the delay was that almost 2 years ago someone tried to take money from my account in an internet fraud. I got the money back a few days later once the bank investigated, but it showed up on some records they look at that we can’t usually see, so the Co-op had to look into it. I’ve got my account details now, so I’ve sent them to my payroll dept for them to sort out my pay. I should get my debit card & PIN shortly.

allofadither

wherediditallgo wrote: »

11 April - Panic over - my account was approved this morning. :j I’ve got my account details now, so I’ve sent them to my payroll dept for them to sort out my pay. I should get my debit card & PIN shortly.

WDIAG

Well done on getting your account sorted. I opened a basic account with Barclays just before I went BR, no problems because I had existing accounts already and my credit was still OK at that point (I didn't mention the impending BR because the bank were not a creditor).

Anyway, I notice you mention 'debit card'. I thought being BR mean't debit cards were also a no no. Barclays said they would send me an ATM cash card, but I declined the offer of a cheque book. She never mentioned a debit card.

Do all basic accounts offer debit cards?

philnicandamy

well done standing your ground!

NekoZombie

Great news! Thank goodness they came through...

wherediditallgo

allofadither wrote: »

Anyway, I notice you mention 'debit card'. I thought being BR mean't debit cards were also a no no. Barclays said they would send me an ATM cash card, but I declined the offer of a cheque book. She never mentioned a debit card.

Do all basic accounts offer debit cards?

I don't know if they all do, but the Cashminder account gives you an Electron debit card. I had one with another bank, & they can be used at ATMs & as a debit card. I used mine to get cash from the ATM at Sainsburys & a post office, & used it to pay my council tax via my council's automated telephone service. I've also used it for online shopping. There's more info about it here

gettingitsorted

allofadither wrote: »

WDIAG

Well done on getting your account sorted. I opened a basic account with Barclays just before I went BR, no problems because I had existing accounts already and my credit was still OK at that point (I didn't mention the impending BR because the bank were not a creditor).

Anyway, I notice you mention 'debit card'. I thought being BR mean't debit cards were also a no no. Barclays said they would send me an ATM cash card, but I declined the offer of a cheque book. She never mentioned a debit card.

Do all basic accounts offer debit cards?

Theres only 3 or 4 basic bank accounts that have debit card with them,they are either visa electron cards or maestro ones.

wherediditallgo

12 April (early morning) - Looked at the forum late last night, & felt rather upset by what I read. I've felt for some time that people without debts judge those with them, but I accepted that on the basis that they don't have them so can't understand the situation. Now it seems that even amongst those who have debts there's a hierarchy of pain & struggle. There doesn't need to be. Surely a person's debt experience is exactly that, their experience - my way of dealing with mine is no less or more valid than theirs, & vice versa. It's right for me, & yet it seems that you can be looked down on by others for making a decision they feel is less 'worthy' than theirs. It's a real shame to see the divide. Pain is pain, & it seems some of those with their own issues to deal with are prepared to either diminish other people in their struggles or hurt them more. Yet again people in debt have to justify how they resolve it, whether that be by a combination of DMPs, cutting back, longterm repayments or bankruptcy.

Richard_S

wherediditallgo wrote: »

12 April (early morning) - Looked at the forum late last night, & felt rather upset by what I read. I've felt for some time that people without debts judge those with them, but I accepted that on the basis that they don't have them so can't understand the situation. Now it seems that even amongst those who have debts there's a hierarchy of pain & struggle. There doesn't need to be. Surely a person's debt experience is exactly that, their experience - my way of dealing with mine is no less or more valid than theirs, & vice versa. It's right for me, & yet it seems that you can be looked down on by others for making a decision they feel is less 'worthy' than theirs. It's a real shame to see the divide. Pain is pain, & it seems some of those with their own issues to deal with are prepared to either diminish other people in their struggles or hurt them more. Yet again people in debt have to justify how they resolve it, whether that be by a combination of DMPs, cutting back, longterm repayments or bankruptcy.

Hi wdiag,

Human beings are an imperfect entity; we have a great capacity to be both cruel and kind. We just have to accept that some people can only make themselves feel better by making others feel worse, it's a great shame but there really is nothing we can do about it.

We all make decisions based on what we think is right for us, and have the right to have those decisions respected by others, just as we have an obligation to respect other peoples choices.

My view is that people who reject the right of others to make different choices are beneath contempt and should never be taken as anything other than mildly irksome and a "vexation to the soul". They won't go away but they can be ignored.

You've made some difficult and painful choices and I sincerely hope that you soon start to see some real benefits.

Best regards

Richard