Current Accounts with Poor Credit History?

pinkkat8910

Morning all,

Am a newbie to the board and hoping you could offer me some advice on current accounts.

I am currently running a DMP, but prior to this my credit rating was obliterated due to my own stupidity!! :rolleyes:

I have a baasic Flexaccount with Nationwide with a cash card, but would find it useful if I could get a switch card or at least a cheque book as I travel a lot with work and am having to pay for my lodgings with cash which is proving to be a pain.

Just wondered if anybody else had a similar problem or if anyone had found such an account?

Any advice would be gratefully accepted!!

Thanks

Kat

book12

Since you want a debit card and your credit rating is not that good, you would need a basic bank account (doesn't come with cheque book unfortunately). The following basic bank account offers a debit card:

Halifax
Co-operative
Natwest
Clydesdale
Yorkshire

Haifax and Co-operative bank offers a Visa Electron. Natwest offers Solo. The last two offer Maestro. Switch has been replaced by Maestro by the way.

pinkkat8910

Ah ... just goes to show how long ago it was I had a proper account, missed the whole switch / maestro change over, haha.

Thanks for your help - will give them a go.

book12

You're welcome.

Depending on where you live, Clydesdale and Yorkshire bank branches might not be near you, as they have limited branches. If not, try the first three. I recommend Halifax and Natwest due to the large number of branches when compared to Co-operative.

pinkkat8910

book12 wrote: »

You're welcome.

Depending on where you live, Clydesdale and Yorkshire bank branches might not be near you, as they have limited branches. If not, try the first three. I recommend Halifax and Natwest due to the large number of branches when compared to Co-operative.

Yep I've never heard of Clydesdale before, I know we have a branch of Yorkshire Bank on high street so will nip in on Saturday morning to see if I can get something sorted.

Just checked the website and it doesn't appear that you can apply online so will visit branch, and then if I am declined maybe I could bribe them haha

Baron_Greenback_2

pinkkat8910 wrote: »

Yep I've never heard of Clydesdale before, I know we have a branch of Yorkshire Bank on high street so will nip in on Saturday morning to see if I can get something sorted.

Just checked the website and it doesn't appear that you can apply online so will visit branch, and then if I am declined maybe I could bribe them haha

You can apply for halifax online.

regularsaver1

I think with Halifax easycash its easier to send the pack off that you pick up from a branch and enclose photocopies of your id, rather than apply on line and then they ask you to visit a branch to supply id and send it back

send it all together, will be quicker

storminbalder

Yes you do have to go in. And they will probably give you an appointment a couple of days later. BUT i would deffo go for Yorkshire Bank. The best bank I've ever been with in ALL respects.

So pleasant and helpful. An old style banking experience.

I opened my account in April. The lady who dealt with me was training someone, so was explaining each action she took. Quite an eye opener. The main thing I caught was, as I was opening the basic account (called Readycash), they would simply check address and electoral roll. She pointed out to the trainee that the button on screen to check Credit Register to tick no for this account. Worth knowing if your worrying about this.

I recently looked at my credit reports and they just did a basic query, not the full check. Also worth noting is that they do report each month to Experian (dunno about the others) that your account is in good standing, which is a plus if you want a better credit rating in the future. Not all basic accounts do this.

Saying that, it is exactly the same as the normal current accout apart from no chequebook or overdraft.

The Maestro card by the way is brilliant there's nowhere that won't take it. Some websites it's the only debit card they'll take.

So what I'm saying is, is make it your first choice.

Sorry for waffling. Good luck.

Gillianh2

Just a quick question is Yorkshire Bank and Yorkshire building society the same one. As we dont have the Yorkshire Bank but there is a Building Society just wonered coz they seem to offer the best basic account.
Thanks

PaulW922

No the Yorkshire Building Society is not the same. Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank are the same. If you don't have either you'll need to try one of the others. Halifax is easy to get. The Coop one you can run via the Post office (credits and debits) but I reckon they are pretty dreadful.