www.iva.co.uk

Hi all,
Sent a question earlier this morning but havent received any replies so thought it strange so will post again.
My wife and i have a joint IVA but have separate bank accounts that were taken out with the Cooperative bank as a basic account when we applied for an IVA. To cut along story short my wife has been ill for a while now and can not work at the moment and everything has spiralled out of control. The IVA has been put on hold ( they have been very good at CCCS),but my wife cannot get any help ie with benefits as after a medical ATOS healthcare who examined her say she is fit for work even though she cannot walk far and is constantly asleep from painkilling drugs. She also cannot get JSA/ESA /Dole etc as she has been told she has a shortfall in NI. All this has made it impossible for her to pay her bills and as i pay the main bills ie mortgage, utilities i cannot help. Coop have taken her account away from her through missed direct debits and she has applied to barclays and HSBC and they have both turned her down. She is waiting for hospital treatment that may help her get back on the mend but wanted to know if anyone new if she can get an account with any bank or building society as she is getting very stressed with the whole situation. We need her to get an account so she can get wages payed in when she is able to work. Thanks

Hi. Have a look at Yorkshire Building Society accounts. Any bank linked to any of your creditors will not want to know, but many have basic accounts. When applying, make sure they realise it is for a BASIC no frills account. Barclays might have been trying to set you up with a "normal" account and HSBC ( along with First Direct) are a no-no to those of us in IVA's!

If she cannot find an account some prepaid credit cards allow you to get wages put directly onto them. Check it out as a last resort and make sure you understand any related charges.

Paul