Can I open a current account?

novamation

Can I open a current account?

I've been a carer for a few years, but the person I cared for has recently died. I will be inheriting a house and some money as soon as probate is complete, which may be a few months, but I don't have a job yet, I am self employed, but earning close to zero – I didn't have much time for it when I was a carer, and I'm still busy with probate, I don't qualify for any benefits.

I need to open a current account and set up direct debits to pay bills, I'm currently paying with savings/credit card. I know about basic accounts, and I will probably go and open one at Barclay's.

But I also really need a checkbook, as I am currently paying for some things by postal order, and the charges are expensive.

I'm worried about applying for normal current accounts, but, I suppose the problem is that I'm kind of caught in a big life change, in a year or two I expect all this will be sorted out and hopefully I'll have a job by then and the house will be in my name, but till then? For instance I was just looking at my eligibility for credit cards on this site and under residential status, I used to be “living with parents” but I'm not yet a “homeowner” (I am living in the probate house) so I'm not sure what to honestly put.

Would being turned down for a normal current account affect my credit score? I haven't checked my rating yet but it should be OK, no big debts, bankruptcy or ccj's or anything.

grumbler

"Turning down" isn't recorded in credit files, only a credit search is.
MSE article: Credit Scores

It's cheque book in UK. Without any income you'll probably struggle to get an account with a cheque book, but as you seem to have savings account and a credit card it's worth starting with the banks you have them with.

jonesMUFCforever

Yes you can open a current account.

However not all banks offer cheque books anymore even for proper current accounts let alone basic ones.
If you have very little income the best account some banks will offer you is a basic one.
Can these bills be paid by debit card or through internet banking? - to minimse te amount of postal orders you may require in future?

colsten

novamation wrote: »

But I also really need a checkbook, as I am currently paying for some things by postal order, and the charges are expensive.

You can make payments by debit card and/or faster payments to most companies and people. No cheque book needed really.

10pence

Out of curiosity is this account for personal use or being used as an executor's account? I'm assuming the former but want to make sure.

badger09

OP

Are you on the Electoral Roll? If not, get registered asap as this is one of the most common reasons applications for current accounts fail initially.

novamation

10pence wrote: »

Out of curiosity is this account for personal use or being used as an executor's account? I'm assuming the former but want to make sure.

for personal use.

I need cheques/po to pay a person not a company, so I'm not sure how I'd pay them with a debit card or net banking?

novamation

badger09 wrote: »

OP

Are you on the Electoral Roll? If not, get registered asap as this is one of the most common reasons applications for current accounts fail initially.

Yes, I am, so I'm OK there

grumbler

novamation wrote: »

I need cheques/po to pay a person not a company, so I'm not sure how I'd pay them with a debit card or net banking?

By a bank transfer to their bank account?

CLAPTON

do you not have any bank account at the moment?

novamation

CLAPTON wrote: »

do you not have any bank account at the moment?

no, just a savings account, I haven't needed another account till now.