Current account wanted

[OllieB]

Hi,

I went through a full and final IVA which completed in 2009 and since then i've been using a natwest step account as my main bank account. I'd quite like to upgrade this to a proper bank account with a cheque book but i was rejected from a natwest select account (even though they initially accepted me). Are there any banks which are slightly more forgiving then others when it comes to completed iva's ? Lloyds TSB isn't an option because a lot of my old debt was with them so i'm sure my name is the top of their hate list.

Many Thanks !

[kallis3]

You might not be able to.get one at the moment as your Iva will remain on your credit file for six years regardless of the fact that you finished early.

[Tina Shortland]

You could try the Co-op or one of the banks that you may have to pay a monthly fee for.

Let us know if you find success!

Regards,

[kallis3]

I don't think it would be a full.account though would it Tina? Would probably be a cashminder.

[size5]

My own two pennorth, for what it is worth, is that in reality the only difference between, say, a Cashminder and a so called "normal" account is that a normal account offers more in the way of credit facilities. Whether that be by way of overdraft, credit card, loan or even a cheque book, which can still be a means of credit if used correctly and cleverly, would be down to the bank itself. Now, if you are, in your own opinion, rehabilitated and ready to get back on the credit bus again, as it were, then fair enough, if a bank will let you. For the life of me I see no advantage to them at all if you are not wanting credit facilities though.

I run a Cashminder personally, and I swear by it. It doesn't give me a cheque book, which is fine as I have no use for one and who accepts cheques now anyway in reality now that the cheque guarantee scheme has ended? Direct debits, standing orders, phone banking, internet banking and a debit card (not Electron) that can be used anywhere in the world. Further, in over 3 years they have NEVER contacted me in order to try and sell me something, whether by phone or even letter. I have never paid 1 penny piece for the privilege either. It is to be remembered that "normal" accounts carry hefty monthly fees in the majority of cases so I have to repeat that I will be the last in the queue to line the pockets of our honourable friends the banking community I'm afraid.

Regards.

[Skippy]

Mike is right, the Cashminder is an excellent account. The only reason I stopped using mine was because I had a pre-BR Nationwide full Flexaccount and it seemed silly not to use it as I needed a chequebook. (I'm responsible for our monthly charity collection at work and the small charities we try to support only accept cheques)

I have one complaint about the Cashminder and that is that the online banking is painfully slow to update. It's not a big deal as I managed by using spreadsheets, but if they could sort that out it would be handy!

[MRBLUESKY]

Agree with Mike,also you can deposit and withdraw funds from any post office and pay in cheques.And it looks like the co-op are going to acquire 100,s of branches from lloyds tsb.

[sponge]

I've a nationwide cash plus account, if you like just a visa debit card, and costs me nothing. So I'm always in control, spend only what I've got and then go hungry, but what a great budget tool

[OllieB]

Thanks for the replies. Although i'm quite happy with my step account, there are 2 main reasons i want a full account (an overdraft / loan certainly not being one of them - learnt that lesson !)

1) I'd like a cheque book. Although a lot of places don't accept cheques anymore, paying for things like school trips is a pain because my children's school only accept cheque some silly reason. Also paying a plumber or electrician is a pain, i have to find out how much it's going to cost before they come and then run to a cash machine. It's little things like that where having an available cheque book would be handy.

2) I'm treated like a 2nd class citizen in every branch of natwest i go into because i have a step account. I'm made to feel almost like i should be ashamed of having one.

[Broke of London]

1 is a good reason and 2 is just appalling. I hope you can find an account xx

[DebtlineUK]

If the 6 year cap had expired now, you had forwarded your COP to previous creditors and credit reference agencies you should be eligible for a current account again or a top-up card which can be used to rebuild your credit scoring.

If you say the IVA completed in 2009, it should now be the end of the 6 year term or very close to it.

EDIT: Apologies, just noticed this was a F&F so yes it does depend on what it started, but should be able to still arrange an account suitable for your needs.

[kallis3]

It was,a,full and,final though so depends on when it started as to when the six years is up.

[kallis3]

DebtlineUK - can I ask why you are editing posts a day after you originally posted?

It is against forum etiquette to edit a reply once a reply has been made as it can either make the answer look silly or people wonder why the thread has suddenly reappeared at the top.

[Shining]

That is disgraceful of Natwest to treat you like that, I'm with them and only been in my local branch but they've never differentiated with the service I've received when I had the Step Account (now basic).

Cheques are a godsend if you have children at school, it's the one thing I had to have or she'd have to go queue at the cash office and she really didn't like doing that x

[DebtlineUK]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by kallis3

DebtlineUK - can I ask why you are editing posts a day after you originally posted?

It is against forum etiquette to edit a reply once a reply has been made as it can either make the answer look silly or people wonder why the thread has suddenly reappeared at the top.

Apologies for this bump. I noticed a typo in two of my posts therefore I edited them not realising they would bump the topic.

It won't happen again.