Basic bank account!

[paulakea]

I have bad credit and owe about �10000, just moved house again and so this doesnt help. having real problems getting a bank account. just want something to pay wages into by bacs and withdraw cash from and possibly set up a few DD's. No debit card or chequebook.
please help. i cant use halifax, natwest or hsbc :-(

[aims500]

My partner and I had the same problem as you. We wanted to get a joint account when we moved in together but due to his bad credit we couldn't get one. In the end we got a basic bank account from the Alliance and Leicester. You can set up direct debits and you get a cash card though you can't use it to pay for things in shops (it's not solo or switch)

Hope that helps!

[themas]

There are a lot of banks that do basic accounts but sometimes some of them seem still to do credit checks.

Some even do them for bankrupts - Nationwide, Co-op, Barclays. Shop around if you need to.

[equaliser]

Try lloyds TSB. Ask specifically for a Cash account. Dont know why you cant use natwest or Hsbc but most banks do a basic account. they tend not to promote them so you have to know what to ask for, i.e. Natwest= Step account, lloyds = cash account. I believe natwest and co-op will give a debit card on a basic. Most just do an account for paying in and direct debits. Some offer counter cheques. Apparently one bank even gives a cheque book. Again just check the banks web page and look for thier basic account, and dont let them talk you into trying for a better account because you will only be refused.

[D143237G]

I went into the Nationwide today with photographic proof of ID and of my address. I managed to set up a basic bank account in about half an hour.

I will not have a debit card or chequebook but I will have an ATM card that can be used home or abroad and I will be able to set up direct debits and standing orders.

Even though I explained from the onset that I was an undischarged bankrupt they were still as nice as pie.