Need a proper bank account

inmypocketnottheirs

Once a default notice is registered it is nigh on impossible to get any form of credit or a decent loan/bank account.

As mentioned above, https://www.citibank.co.uk seem to be pretty easy going, but I heard reports recently that they were tightening up their criteria.

Another alternative that will give a cheque book and Link cash card if you do not qualify for a Visa debit card is Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. https://www.npbs.co.uk

HTH

chewits

annie-c wrote: »

NatWest will do you a 'Step' account with a solo card that you can use most places. No chequebook though.

I'd had just a Post Office account for a couple of years, due to ex OH taking me seriously in debt, so adverse credit rating. This has been cleared for a while now, so I rang Nat West to apply for Step account and was told I qualified for the normal current account. The only thing I didn't get straight away was cheque guarantee card, but account has recently been upgraded without me asking and they've sent me one. So it's always worth a try

Archangel

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

Once a default notice is registered it is nigh on impossible to get any form of credit or a decent loan/bank account.

Yeah, tell me about it. I should've opened another bank account before everything hit the fan :rolleyes:

Well, luckily I'm not wanting credit. I just need to be able to access cash from any machine and do some online (and in town) shopping :cool:

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

As mentioned above, https://www.citibank.co.uk seem to be pretty easy going, but I heard reports recently that they were tightening up their criteria.

Hmmm. I take it they're online only?

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

Another alternative that will give a cheque book and Link cash card if you do not qualify for a Visa debit card is Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. https://www.npbs.co.uk

HTH

Hmm, forgot about them.

Is that classed as credit?

Thanks,
Luke.

inmypocketnottheirs

Archangel wrote: »

Yeah, tell me about it. I should've opened another bank account before everything hit the fan :rolleyes:

Well, luckily I'm not wanting credit. I just need to be able to access cash from any machine and do some online (and in town) shopping :cool:



Hmmm. I take it they're online only?



Hmm, forgot about them.

Is that classed as credit?

Thanks,
Luke.

Citibank only have I think a central London branch and a Manchester branch. So best apply on line unless you are local to either. I applied on line and everything was fine.

N&P are strong around Essex/Suffolk/Norfolk and Cambridgeshire but again you can apply on line.

No a current account is not credit, but they will search your credit file and use the data in the same way to discern whether or not you are credit worthy enough to receive a cheque book and debit/guarantee card. Don't forget a cheque book with 25 cheques and £100 guarantee card means you have the potential to run up £2500 of unauthorised debt. That is way banks are so stringent on their account opening criteria.

Archangel

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

No a current account is not credit, but they will search your credit file and use the data in the same way to discern whether or not you are credit worthy enough to receive a cheque book and debit/guarantee card. Don't forget a cheque book with 25 cheques and £100 guarantee card means you have the potential to run up £2500 of unauthorised debt. That is way banks are so stringent on their account opening criteria.

Yeah, good point there, forgot about that. Not that bothered, but it would be useful to have a chequebook again, if only to stop using postal orders. Although I very rarely used cheques.

Luke.

philwiththepill

All you need is a basic bank account like Yorkshire Building Society transactor account with a link cash card to withdraw cash from most ATMs, they let you do direct debits / standing orders plus you can get cheques over the counter if needed.

From your brief financial history "when I lost my job and everything went pearshaped" my advice to you is:

1. Concentrate paying off your debts (stop dreaming about buying a car!!)
2. Open a building society account with a link cash card
3. Try to avoid contact with any kind of financial institution or instrument until your credit history is repaired