best current account with poor credit history

timbogay

can anyone please give me advice on the best current account for someone with a poor credit history. i have 1 ccj recoreded against me and i want to change my halifax cashcard account to a current account. the halifax will not touch me any recommendations please?

grumbler

'Opening a Bank Account with Bad Credit ?? ' recent thread ...

timbogay

thanks but that thread was form basic accounts only i was more interested in accounts with overdrafts and cheque books.

dag_2

To be honest I think you'll struggle to find a bank account that'll give you a cheque book and overdraft when you have CCJ's. People who have posted in other threads don't even have CCJ's (apparently) yet are still struggling.

But by all means try. I'd suggest you try to keep your credit score as clean as possible, in the hope that you'll have better luck a year or two down the line. Try to resolve any disputes you have with any creditors you have now, and try to pay anything that you don't dispute - if you can. If you're on a prepayment meter for gas or electric, ask about getting it changed to a credit meter.

Meanwhile - attempts to open new bank accounts will be logged in your credit file. If you try to open lots of bank accounts within a short space of time, then this could further harm your already bad credit record, and make it even harder to get fully-functioning bank accounts in the future.

So my advice is to be picky about who you try to open a bank account with. Don't try more than two in go, or maybe three at a push - and after that, wait six months before trying again. And in the meantime, do not apply for any credit cards, store cards or in-store finance offers.

(this does not constitute legal advice)

file_wizzard

Quick and simple - Natwest Step account, solo card to start with, then if you behave Switch card and cheque book after 6-7 months, only proviso seems to be no CIFAS flags on your credit file, CCJ's / Defaults satisfied or otherwise don’t seem to pose a problem as long as you have a regular throughput on the account and NEVER! go overdrawn

kazzaj

What is CIFAS?

idiot_3

Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System

basically if you commit fraud or there is reasonable suspicion you attempted to a CIFAS marking is put on your credit file. forget trying to get credit if you have one of these. (although, of course, mistakes will happen, so if you get your file and it is inaccurate you can dispute it.)