on benefits- need a debit card

starving

i'm living on state benefits and i'm looking for a bank account which will allow me a debit card.

most banks i approach wont take my account, a few have offered a basic bank account with cashcard, but i'm looking for one that will give me a debit or even better a current account.

i know halifax offer such an account, but do any others ?

jonesMUFCforever

Do you have an existing current account with any bank at the moment?
Can we ask how much your benefits are per month (not being nosy the amount paid can be relevant)?
Do you have a clean credit history?
If you have existing account then this might be your best option as they will know your financial history and credit rating.If the amount of benefits is say between £500 and £1000 per month some banks may open a proper current account for you PROVIDING your credit history is clean.
If not then the basic account with a bank willing to offer an upgrade after a few months would seem to be your only option.
Eric

starving

ejones999 wrote:

Do you have an existing current account with any bank at the moment?
Can we ask how much your benefits are per month (not being nosy the amount paid can be relevant)?
Do you have a clean credit history?
If you have existing account then this might be your best option as they will know your financial history and credit rating.If the amount of benefits is say between £500 and £1000 per month some banks may open a proper current account for you PROVIDING your credit history is clean.
If not then the basic account with a bank willing to offer an upgrade after a few months would seem to be your only option.
Eric

i dont have an existing current account as it was closed down due to an unpaid overdraft which is now with a debt collecting agency, thus i have a bad credit record plus i have several credit card debts being handled by the same company.

my benefits are £92 a week, which i think would make them about £400 a month pro-rata.

is my credit record clean ? that is a good question, if i ever apply for anything i'm often turned down. however one day i asked my bank if they could upgrade my account, they said they couldn't because of my record, however they said if your wanting to borrow money, then we will give you a credit card instead!!! i said ok then, expecting at some point to be told i wouldn't get one, cut a long story short a credit card popped through my letter box with an 3k limit!!!!!!!!! then i applied for another credit card and guess what they gave me one. and they wonder why people are getting into debts these days.

anyway i have used the credit card and have paid the balance off in full every month so i could improve my rating with the bank and also as the CC has a cash back deal, so i make little bit of money out of it.because i have kept a good record with the card they have now pumped up credit limit to £8k, yet they still refuse to upgrade my account.

my bank is the halifax, which does have a debit card, but i am looking for alternative accounts with the same deal, i.e. one with an electron card or solo card which i will be able to upgrade when i have proved that i can manage my account.

sertav

Natwest has the STEP account. It comes with a solo card.

Fedz

Hi

The Co-operative Bank : Current Account : Cashminder - VISA Electron Debit Card.
NatWest : Current Account : Step Account - SOLO and Maestro (abroad).

Kind regards

jonesMUFCforever

i dont have an existing current account as it was closed down due to an unpaid overdraft which is now with a debt collecting agency, thus i have a bad credit record plus i have several credit card debts being handled by the same company.

my benefits are £92 a week, which i think would make them about £400 a month pro-rata.

is my credit record clean ? that is a good question, if i ever apply for anything i'm often turned down. however one day i asked my bank if they could upgrade my account, they said they couldn't because of my record, however they said if your wanting to borrow money, then we will give you a credit card instead!!! i said ok then, expecting at some point to be told i wouldn't get one, cut a long story short a credit card popped through my letter box with an 3k limit!!!!!!!!! then i applied for another credit card and guess what they gave me one. and they wonder why people are getting into debts these days.

anyway i have used the credit card and have paid the balance off in full every month so i could improve my rating with the bank and also as the CC has a cash back deal, so i make little bit of money out of it.because i have kept a good record with the card they have now pumped up credit limit to £8k, yet they still refuse to upgrade my account.

my bank is the halifax, which does have a debit card, but i am looking for alternative accounts with the same deal, i.e. one with an electron card or solo card which i will be able to upgrade when i have proved that i can manage my account.

If the default has gone as far as a collection agency I think your chances of having an account with full debit card is very slim.
Sorry.
Eric