Account for bad credit history with no access to branches (internet only?)

Avionyx

Hi Guys,

I have recently started a new career after a bad patch of a few months following redundancy, and as such I now have a truly terrible credit rating.

I am just starting as a Long distance HGV driver and as such have no time to get into branches to organise things, and as my breaks are regulated I can only ring up via telephone at certain times, if I'm on the phone on hold for 30 minutes then thats my break wasted.

I also need a VISA card if at all possible, as occasionally I might be required to pay for fuel or hotels etc with my own cash and claim back later.

So what I'm after really is a bank account that is entirely manageable (through the application process etc) online 24/7 to fit in with my life.
I have applied for Cahoot but was turned down due to my bad credit rating.

Is there anywhere that will take me, without the need to take days off work to go into branches, or risk loosing a break due to being on the phone?

Many thanks in advance for any help given, I really do appreciate your time

Alex

gt94sss2

Try opening a First Direct account but if your credit rating is not currently good enough to open one then open an account at HSBC and use them until your credit rating improves. You can open an HSBC account online and complete the process by post or by going into a branch.

HSBC tend to grant you facilities like credit cards etc based more on your account conduct and less on what credit reference agencies say..

After your credit rating has improved, you can reapply to First Direct which, while owned by HSBC (which makes transferring accounts easy) is open 24/7 for telephone banking (unlike HSBC) and they answer the telephone immediately (no call queueing systems unlike HSBC) - which will be useful if you have to call them at odd times or deal with something very quickly.

Regards
Sunil

skyrider007

Citibank is also another good option. They provide a Visa Debit card and the call centre is quite good as well (no long wait). Internet banking facilities are also available. Best of all, they seems to accept virtually anyone.

PROLIANT

Alliance and Leicester are good, they gave me a full current account and i have poor credit, you get a VISA Debit card and cheque book and internet banking, it is managed online and so far i have had no problems with them and you also get a high 8% interest rate on the current account aswell.

cifpower

If you need a Visa Debit but have poor credit rating you may want to look at Citibank (which provides a Visa Debit and tend to be lenient to applicants) or Halifax Easycash (which provides a Visa Electron debit card)

brookerbabyisababy

I would really go for First Direct. They answer the phone immediately. Try it if you do not believe me by calling and asking for yourself on 0800 24 24 24. Best UK Bank - as surveyed by BBC Watchdog. You also get £100 for opening the account and a VISA credit card.

skyrider007

brookerbabyisababy wrote: »

I would really go for First Direct. They answer the phone immediately. Try it if you do not believe me by calling and asking for yourself on 0800 24 24 24. Best UK Bank - as surveyed by BBC Watchdog. You also get £100 for opening the account and a VISA credit card.

From what I've heard, FD does not accept people with poor credit history? Maybe I'm wrong.

Avionyx

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the replies, I've been calling round today.

Tried all the ones listed and Citibank were the only ones to offer me an account. However I've now got another problem.

They are asking for a recent utility bill, or bank statement from the past 3 months, or a tenancy agreement before I can open the account.

I don't have a utility bill as I still live with my parents (I'm 22) and for the same reason I don't have a tenancy agreement. Bank statement is also a no go as I surrendered my last account as part of a debt repayment scheme in December.

So any statements I have are at least 4 months old and show me in arrears.

Am I destined to be bank account-less forever!?

Alex

skyrider007

I'm sure it's not the end of the world. Ring them back and ask them if they could accept other document.

dexters_mum_2

Citibank are exceptionally good in this front.

You can normally send a photocopy of your passport/driving license and give them a call to see what they say.

I didn't have a cheque book prior to opening my Citibank ac but they accepted 2 forms of photographic ID instead.

You might be on your parents council tax bill, check with them and they might be able to let you borrow it to post it off.

gus59

I tried to open a citibank a/c online the other day, and received my forms to sign today.

Before I sign and send the ID stuff, does this mean they've accepted me, or are the credit checks/scoring(s) done after the ID checks?

Initially I got excited, after HBOS turned me down for a upgrade and nobody else seems interested, but now I'm not so sure.

At the moment I've a HBOS "basic" a/c with a electron card, and am waiting for my 5yo BR and black marks to all drop of my files over the next 12 months. Otherwise things are ok, I've a (joint) mortgage with 40K equity and a contract phone, but no CC as yet, cap1 still won't tuch me.

Was I "acepted" online, or not, any ideas?

Cheers,

Gus