Has anyone kept open a NatWest Step during BR

DizzyDebbs

Hiya,
newbie- soon to be BR - forms almost finished (gulp)
Most of my questions have been answered by this extensive forum but...

I recently opened a NatWest Step account (advise brochure from CAB)
But reading here about its 'non friendly habits', my stress levels are shooting up again
(they actually started to fall when I finally realised BR was the obvious option for me - years of struggle).
All my DD's still havent started to come out of the new account - yet!

Should I wait until I go to court? (I suppose it could take weeks anyway)
Or should I go and open a Co-op Cashminder now?
or
Has anyone managed to survive the process and keep a NatWest Step account open?
Debbs

betterlatethannever

HiDebs, One or two people have managed to keep their accounts after BR, but it really is 'few and far between'

If you really want to reduce those stress levels, play safe and apply for a co-op cashminder or Barclays cash card account, either now or straight after going BR.

I did the same as you and took a basic halifax account in the hope i could keep it. They were very fast to close it within hours of going BR and then i had the hassle of having to travel to a main branch to withdraw the money in there and set up another account. Was also a little humiliating.

Why not get the new account opened, cancel all DDs and pay them the old fashioned way of over the counter at the post office for this month. You can then re-set them up once your co-op account is running.

DizzyDebbs

Hiya,
thanks for the quick reply.
Trouble is the Step account isn't fully functioning yet!
pension not due in for 10days, no DD's actually showing yet on the online account. (no PIN yet either - but I have transferred a few hundred in there ready).
I just received 4 letters today saying thanks for my new bank details!!! (from gas,elec,bt,IS) All paperless bills
I would have to ring them all again to get monthly bills for over the counter payments?? yes?

I think i will have go out of my way and drive to the only co-op bank in my area and explain my predicament - before I call the court to book

I cant really apply for a barclays cash card account as I am going to be defaulting on my barclayloan in a few days :eek: unless I can downgrade my barclays bank account to a basic?
But I think that would have to be post BR due to the 'soon to be unpaid' loan.

Sorry if there is too much detail here - I am hyper and no-one else to talk to :rolleyes:

betterlatethannever

Yes, i think you'd have to contact them all again and make other arrangements. The IS can be paid by giro though and cashed at a post office. Its a drag, but safer than inccuring late payment fines.

With the co-op you can open an account over the phone, no need to go into a branch: To apply for a cashminder current account call
0845 602 7057

Even if Barclays are one of you creditors you can still apply for the basic account.

It still may happen that Nat west allow you to keep the account, but it is unlikely. The options are yours now..take the risk of hoping they let you keep it, or take control and get a BR friendly account.:rolleyes:

Hope that helps for now.
Don't worry about being hyper. If you need to talk theres always someone on here willing to listen:D

debt_doctor

DizzyDebbs wrote: »

I recently opened a NatWest Step account (advise brochure from CAB)

Debbs

Not advice to open this account if going BR I hope ? I would take the advice of BLTN and go to Barclays or CO OP.

DD

update

Give Co-op a try , natwest closed all my account after BR.Even l discharge now they decline my application.

Rylynn

Well that answers my question on my Nat West account then which the IVA people told me to set up in 2005, Barlclays was not an option as my main creditor, and other banks were out according to PayPlan.

I dont know what to do like this person, I have to pay all my bills from my account, the only thing I can think of is having it all transferred to my mothers account as soon as I know when I will be in court.

Can I clarify here, you are saying to this lady open an account NOW, and do you tell them on the phone you are going to be made bankrupt? Goodness the Co-Op must be doing very well for customers I thinks.

Hope one of you will reply about whether you tell the bank or not, as I am totally at a loss here, I do not really want to wait til I am made bankrupt, I would rather deal with this way before the event if I can.

I intend to leave £1 in my Nat west account, as if they allow me to keep it I would as they have been a very decent bank in the last 3 years.

Rylynn