Halifax banking

Serotine

I'd been using a basic bank account with Halifax for just over two years prior to going bankrupt (to escape my income being constantly swallowed by overdrafts in my previous account).

Husband and I went bankrupt on 14th October and my income is currently just maternity allowance and child benefit/tax credits so is paid into a post office card account (my husband has a basic co-op account he has continued using for his pay since the bankruptcy). I recently had some money refunded from TV licensing and I've found out it's been paid into the old Halifax account - and I still have access to online banking!

Obviously I'm not going to touch it without the ORs permission but I was just wondering if anyone can tell me how long after bankruptcy did they lose access to their old bank accounts and internet banking? Is it unusual that I can still access it over five weeks after the bankruptcy date?

Thanks

Helpmeoutofthismess

I went bankrupt last June, I just logged on to halifax and it's still working. They have removed the current account and the credit card that I owed money on but the second current account and the savings account are still there. When I log on to noddle every month I see that halifax are reporting green ticks on the current account

Natwest on the other hand couldn't block my internet and close my basic step account quick enough! I went bankrupt on a Wednesday, Internet was blocked the following Sunday and I got a letter to say my account was closed on Tuesday, just 1 week after my petition! I didn't owe natwest a penny either!

H x

National_Debtline

Hi Serotine

There's no hard and fast rule on this. In some cases banks don't close the account at all, although it's usually hard to tell whether this is an active decision on their part or just plain sloppiness.

Anyway, probably worth you leaving it be for now. Presumably the OR will have it on their radar, but if you are feeling cheeky you could ask them for permission to withdraw the money - if it's a TV license refund it is presumably not much more than £100 at the very most?

Best wishes

Dennis @NDL

macbabypam

I had basic account with Yorkshire Bank. Went BR September 5th and they closed my account last Monday after receiving a letter from the OR.

They gave me no warning and despite me advising tem I was BR and them telling me it was ok to keep the account, I was left high and dry at the garage after putting Petrol in my car.... I have since opened a Barclays account.

TheGardener

To anyone 'lurking' out there - If you are going to go BR expect your account to be closed unless it is a co-op or Barclays basic Account. If it isn't - then you in a very small minority and the exception to the rule. SOOO may people say "the bank said it would be fine" However, be warned - It probably wont be - don't leave money you need for everyday expenses in any other account than the ones above AND ensure you tell the OR which is your everyday account.


One thing I have learned on these boards is that very few banking staff have a clue how BR works or what their own banks policies are re BR's.


I also had a TV license refund and lost it - TVL will usually only refund to the account it was paid from, you will only get it back if TVL try and refund it to a closed account and it 'bounces' back to them. But lets face it - how many banks are going to do that.