Getting a bank account 4/5 years on

KAlden16

Hi,

My husband went bankrupt when I first met him and ended in 2014. He has always had his wages etc paid into my bank account however we want to buy a house in the future so need to get his credit rating up. He has applied to numerous banks for a basic account and has had no luck. He has tried to check his credit score but no such luck. I have read that this could be due his credit history being too old?

Really needing help as too how to get him an account and start to rebuild his credit score.

Thanks, Kirsty

PaulL2

Very odd. Banks give accounts to people who have just arrived in the country with no credit score or history whatsoever (just a foreign passport) and they also give undischarged bankrupts accounts.

Did he do something particularly troublesome when he went bankrupt - i.e. was fraud involved?

Is he on the electoral register at the correct address?

TheGardener

Has a credit file cleanup been done? If not see the sticky posts at the top of the BR forum board.
If banks are refusing even 'basic' accounts - and you need to be clear what a basic account is - its not just an ordinary account with no OD facility - then the next urgent step is to check the credit history carefully and see if there are any CIFAS fraud markers on the file -
https://www.uk.equifax.com/publicsectorgateway/webapp/online-help/CIFAS.htm

Another common issue is lack of visible evidence of residency - is he on the electoral roll?

KAlden16

Nope no fraud. He had a mortgage and other credit which was all written off.
He is on the electoral roll and it is the correct address.
He went bankrupt with the help of citizens advice so will need to go back to them and see if they can help.

Jamgeorge

Hi I!!!8217;ve just been offered a better account an all singing all dancing one with Lloyds. I!!!8217;m curre

Jamgeorge

I!!!8217;m currently with them I!!!8217;ve got a cash account. I!!!8217;m completely done in July this year though that!!!8217;s 6 years complete so maybe nearer the time...

TheGardener

KAlden16 wrote: »

Nope no fraud. He had a mortgage and other credit which was all written off.
He is on the electoral roll and it is the correct address.
He went bankrupt with the help of citizens advice so will need to go back to them and see if they can help.

Yes - but have you actually checked all the credit file agencies (Experian, Call Credit, Equifax) It took me months to convince them I was on the Electoral Role and 2 letters from the council to prove it
Fraud - sometimes mistakes are made
Did he have a BRO or BRU during his BR?
Have all creditors updated the file entries? Have they been ,marked as satisfied or partially satisfied?
You need to actually check all the records by getting a credit history report from each of them
Read this post - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/677875/credit-reference-file-clean-up-post-bankruptcy
If the banks are turning him down there is a reason and very often - it is the credit history that's the problem.

mallygp

Been there and also had no luck with getting a Bank Account with BANKS grrrr

Here is how though:

I started with an online account to get my Pension paid in to it. It is with FFRESS. (Who use Natwest ) You get charged for using the cash machine but you can also use the Card as a normal VISA Debit. No charge applied.

I then set up a Nationwide Saving Account. No credit checks carried out with these accounts. You just have a hole in the wall card that can only be used at ATM's at Nationwide. No charge for with drawing cash although it's not a Visa Debit Card.

Wait 6 months then apply for a Basic Account with Nationwide. They set up straight away no questions asked. Job done.

Basic Account. Visa Debit Card.

My Bankruptcy was just over 5 years ago. I have had my FFREES account for 5 years. Nationwide Savings 4 years and Nationwide Current 3 years.

I hope this helps.

maxmycardagain

Officialdom has a problem with bankruptcy in as far as BR hits the banking/insurance/mortgage/loans below the belt, tough.... they make loads off good payers and people who dont hit hard times so just like Fat Harry the bookie they cant expect not to pay out sometimes

srg0916

I just recently went BR and got a basic account with Nationwide without any issues at all. Applied online, returned the form they sent which required a signature and that was that. Got the sort code and account number pretty much straight away. Visa debit card able to pay using chip and pin at shops, pay online and withdraw from ATM. I still haven't heard about my Halifax account yet, I will go see them when next off to see if they let me keep the accounts I have. Ii not then off to Nationwide I go. Try Nationwide if haven't already. Hope you get sorted soon.

PaulL2

srg0916 wrote: »

I just recently went BR and got a basic account with Nationwide without any issues at all. Applied online, returned the form they sent which required a signature and that was that. Got the sort code and account number pretty much straight away. Visa debit card able to pay using chip and pin at shops, pay online and withdraw from ATM. I still haven't heard about my Halifax account yet, I will go see them when next off to see if they let me keep the accounts I have. Ii not then off to Nationwide I go. Try Nationwide if haven't already. Hope you get sorted soon.

Sorry slightly off-topic but I want to open a Nationwide account after bankruptcy. Not basic but a normal one hopefully. Did you have to go into a branch to show ID?