How can I get a current account again!!!

[mikex32]

Good evening all!

Help needed.........

I seperated from my wife over 2 and a half years ago and one of the problems was that our joint current account was abused by her leading to a lot of charges and problems with unpaid DDs and SOs.

Since that point I opened up my own bank account with Halifax as that was where my joint account was. I was told that I could only have a cash card account for six months while I straightened out my money situation.

Since then I have kept my finances impeccably, earning a lot more now and paying all my bills and debts on time and never receiving a single bank charge along the way. I haven't even gone overdrawn.

Despite this, I cannot seem to get a bank account anywhere, despite lots of time spent applying! I don't want a credit facility, cheque book or overdraft, just the ability to have a debit card so that I can pay for things easily and save all the loose change!!!

I got a copy of my credit report and made sure that my ex was removed as a financial association but this made no difference!

Can anyone give me some advice please.

Thanks

Mike

[callumsgran]

Hi mike have you tried co-op's cashminder a/c, its eay to get and has good online banking and a visa electron card, tho if you want one quick try NatWest step a/c you can apply online for that one and you'll get a solo card! online banking not so good tho! hope this helps?

[Michael Browne]

All the info on alternative bank a/c here:

Do you need a parachute account?

[mikek]

I opened the co-op cashminder as a parachute account. It comes with a visa electron debit card. The good thing about it is that you can operate it fully at postoffices (as well as all cash machines) that are usually open till 5:30 pm on weekdays and 5:30pm on Saturdays, unlike most banks. You can deposit any cash amount at PO using your card and reaches your account immediately. The only problem with basic accounts is that they do not have cheque books (for the milkman lol). Co-op is also not that fast in proceesing transactions like HSBC. But generally it is a good package. Takes them a week to open an account and a further week to send you the card.

Go for it as credit ratings make no difference for it. They even accept bankrupts. So you will have no problem unless you have history of fraud in which case no bank opens an account.

[mikex32]

Thanks to all for your advice. Am going to apply for the co-op account to get me started again! It's a shame that none of them give you a switch or visa debit card without guarantee amounts as there are limitations to where you can use solo and electron. but hey, beggars can't be choosers!! Cheers