www.iva.co.uk

Hello all

Does anyone know where my husband can get a decent current account without paying for it (we are entering our third year in an IVA). By decent, I mean a debit card and cheque book! He has a very basic account with Halifax with a SOLO card with is useless!! [:)]

Hi.

You could try the Co-Op or Nationwide. However if you have three years of bank statements showing that the Halifax account has been well managed then you may be able to try the other banks. Just make sure that it is not with a bank that is included within his IVA.

Has your husband tried asking Halifax if they will upgrade your account?

Hello

Thanks for your reply. He has tried on several occasions but they always say no. I am with Nationwide, I opened mine before our IVA was approved and I have all the normal banking facilities. I will tell him to give them a try!!

Thanks again.[:)]

In an IVA you will be very lucky to get any other card other than SOLO or maybe a VISA Electron but that is about it. I must admit I have a SOLO card with Natwest and have had no problems at all - can be used pretty much everywhere

In an IVA you will be very lucky to get any other card other than SOLO or maybe a VISA Electron but that is about it. I must admit I have a SOLO card with Natwest and have had no problems at all - can be used pretty much everywhere

These days the Banks do credit checks and so unless the normal accounts are open prior to the IVA,a basic but decent account is the only thing on offer. I don't think Nationwide will open any account with anyone with an IVA now.Their cash card flex account(basic)would not give you a visa debit card.The so call libertine Banking approach to customers have hardened.

I would recommend the Co-op Cashminder account. You only get a Visa Electron card, but I've had no problems with it not being accepted.

A lot of people have also recommended the Yorkshire Bank as well.

Hi, have you tried Alliance & Leicester?

You can apply online and I got a decision within an hour! I have a cheque book and debit card with my accoubnt and it comes with a little savings account attached to it where I can save my car money etc.

you could try co-op

Hi

Norwich Peterborough Building Society (www.npbs.co.uk) do a basic account with cheque book as standard, they may also give you a visa electron card too.

The account can be run online, but also at branch if you live in Peterborough area.

Hope that helps

Stu

What about paying money in Stu? Can you do that via any other bank, or the post office? Presumably you can use any cashpoint.

A good one to remember.

I believe the account can be run as an internet account, therefore you get envelopes and paying in slips to post cheques to them, for cash you can use Co-operative bank branches (I had a cash card account with Cheque book but moved to abbey)

Hope that helps

Stu

Hi,

If you just want a decent card that is accepted all over then try Mastercard Cash Plus. When i started my IVA i opened a Basic account at the Abbey and found it difficult because there are lots of times when a card would come in handy to pay for things...ie over the phone/internet. Mastercard Cash Plus is a pre paid card...bit like a pay as you go phone.....you go to the Post Office with cash and they will swipe your card and put the money on it. Takes about 24 hours to update. think you can direct money straight out of your account onto it if you have interent banking. I dont know anywhere that doesn't take Mastercard so it is really useful. Downside is that they do charge 4.99 a month fee.....but it is worth it. i am sure there are other similar cards on the market if you do a search on Pre paid credit/debit cards....I do miss not having a cheque book though...but hay ho i can live without that.....i just make excuses that i have run out of cheques if i am asked for one.