Editor's Blog0 min ago
adverse credit and obtaining a debit card
8 Answers
Hi, my partner has a crap credit history but wants a DEBIT card so that he doesnt have to estimate how much money he needs before he goes shopping - its annoying to find he doesnt have enough money when hes at the till!
He has been with his current bank for about 6 months, and has a basic account with a cash card - atm use only.
They said after 6 months, they might be able to upgrade it to the next account, giving him a debit card and cheque book. But he spoke to them the other day and they went ahead and performed a credit check - which he failed. They said they needed to do the check as they'd be giving him a cheque book (although he doesnt want a cheque book, just the debit card) - however what i dont understand is - if he did have the credit card and wrote out a cheque for more than the money he had in his account, they'd bounce the cheque.... so why do they need to perform a credit cheque? hes not asking for credit, and he already has an account with them???
Does anyone know how he can get around this, or any banks/card that will allow a debit card without a credit check - i.e. solo/electron?
Any help or advice, greatly received.
Answers
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I should think the reason they won't give him a debit card is the same as why he won't get a cheque book - to all intents and purposes they are the same. People rarely write cheques these days, the reason being they have no need to BECAUSE of the debit card.
Debit cards also serve a purpose as a cheque guarantee card for up to a hundred pounds - a cheque is unlikely to be accepted without the guarantee, and because of the guarantee, the bank could not bounce it IF there were insufficient funds.
No answer to your problem tho - sorry.
Contact Turner Little, they can steer you in the right direction but they do charge ( just google them). One of the lads that valets cars for me used them and got himself a bank account with a debit card etc, and he had awful credit.Alternatively try NatWest, they'll issue you with a Solo debit card ( not switch) that is just a debit not a cheque guarantee card as well so the requirments are less stringent.Only Switch is a cheque guarantee also, so if you see an account offering either VISA Electron or Solo then you'll be heading in the right direction. Good luck.
Yep, NatWest will give you a Solo card, which is accepted pretty much everywhere now, including online. I've had a Solo card for about 10 years. They offered me a Switch card a few years' back, but I didn't see the point - I think the only difference is the cheque guarantee part - so I turned it down! Good luck.
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