Two months in, Barclays account

melissa-elizabeth

When I went bankrupt, one of my creditors was the Bank Of Scotland so I was advised to open another account with a different branch as they would freeze my account. I went with RBS. Since I went bankrupt, I had massive problems with RBS, including them freezing my account anyway and not having a clue how to unfreeze it, which took almost a week to sort out and I feel the way they treated me, over the phone and especially in their branch, has been appalling. I also don’t like the fact I have to walk ages to get to the nearest RBS branch just to get money for the bus to work and so on. I since learned that the best bank to go to when bankrupt is Barclays. Would I be able to open an account with them so soon after opening one with RBS and two months into my bankruptcy? The AIB sent me a letter stating that providing I keep me account below £1000 they would have no problem with me keeping a bank account and I was to issue this letter to RBS. I am assuming I should take this with me when opening a Barclays account? I went with LILA Scotland and my wages are usually only £800 a month so I never got an IPA.



Thanks

miss_prim

You should have no problem opening a bank account with Barclays even after bankruptcy, i opened mine 5 days later.

Flm67

Has your account bee unfrozen? We had the same but once we sorted it out our account is now fine. The only thing we are nit allowed with them is a savings account.

melissa-elizabeth

Thanks both for your response. Yes it was unfrozen, but it took far too much chasing up and them promising to contact me a number of times but not bothering, last month my phone bill was ridiculous due to how long I spent on the phone to them. At one point I was past along to three different departments and ended up back to the first, I had been on the phone for 40 minutes. I also went into the branch to hand in the letter stated above and was treated like an alien, no one seemed to have a clue how to unfreeze the account and I was made to feel like a total burden. I actually went home that day and had a wee cry due to how crappy I was made to feel.

egrescrimp

I have a barclays account, I opened it prior to going BR and the woman in branch was very helpful and didn't judge me one bit.

Everyone I've spoken to has been nice and none judgemental at Barclays, they did switch off my internet banking today though I'm lucky though, the shop next door has a free cash machine so checking things is easy.

thinkpositive1

egrescrimp wrote: »

I have a barclays account, I opened it prior to going BR and the woman in branch was very helpful and didn't judge me one bit.

Everyone I've spoken to has been nice and none judgemental at Barclays, they did switch off my internet banking today though I'm lucky though, the shop next door has a free cash machine so checking things is easy.

I have done the same, taking advice from people on here, and opened a new account with Barclays last week just prior to going to court for BR this week. Incredibly helpful, non judgemental and the woman who dealt with me told me she deals with BR situations all the time and was offering very supportive words and the best I could have wished for in how she dealt with me.

I asked for 2 accounts, both cards arrived within 3 days and all set up with great efficiency.

melissa-elizabeth

Thank you, are you able to pick up money at any cash machine? The only thing that worries me is not having internet banking because it helps me keep on top of things better. I wonder why they won't allow it for bankruptcy customers. Are you able to make payments on-line okay? I tend to order my shopping on-line from Asda.

egrescrimp

You get a Visa Debit card, you can even customise it I have a picture of me and my girls on mine, it's free too!

I've used my card online and it works in all cash machines. They are looking to giving bankrupts access to internet banking from all accounts in June/July (no official confirmation on that though from what I can see), I think they restrict access as it currently has links to apply for loans, overdrafts etc and whilst clicking through to them says you aren't entitled it's probably to stop temptation.

melissa-elizabeth

Thanks very much, I'm getting my wages through in a fortnight so I'm going to wait until after that and then open an account with Barclays. What did you take in to get an account opened? I've actually not had any paper bills through over the past few months because I get my phone and internet bills on-line paper free. I got one from RBS a few months back with my card from them, but that's the most recent one. How recent does it have to be? I can take in my driving license as ID and my letter from the AIB. Is there anything else I'm missing?

egrescrimp

I personally took my birth certificate, a recent bank statement (has to be within the last 3 months) and my council tax bill.

They will even do the switch account service for any direct debits etc too, more information http://www.barclays.co.uk/images/7ds/accswitcherguide.pdf

melissa-elizabeth

My bank statements are paper free also, I'm not sure if I'd be able to print them out? I rent a room and the cost includes electricity and gas so they're in my landlords name. I'm wondering if an Asda delivery receipt would be sufficient? It's the only recent bill I've had through with my address on it.