www.iva.co.uk

hi i have just started a new job which involves me having to work away from home for set days and we get paid a daily allowance for food as the company only provides a hotel room. many of my new colleagues have a separate bank account to have this paid into. so today i tried to open an account with my current bank and after they had done a credit check i was refused it. now i am worried my i.p. will find out about this. now there is nothing illegal in this as the tax man allows the company to pay the money tax free with having to feed myself when working away. so have i done anything wrong in this and will i.p. do anything about it if i have. any help will be greatfully appreciated
regards dave

Hi, your IP won't be bothered about that I'm sure, lots of us have savings accounts whilst in an IVA.

Why not try a basic account with one of the banks which isn't a creditor of yours?

I cannot see why attempting to open a bank account would cause you to get in trouble, unless you had applied and were accepted for credit such as an overdraft or credit card?
It's highly unlikly you will get a bank account whilst in an IVA which is why it's recommended that you open a new impartial bank account before you apply for an IVA.
I've worked for a company who paid digs & food allowance to employees so understand that you would want to have an account, that said if one of the 'lads' presented receipts he would get his money refunded or an allowance was added to his wages to compensate this.
If you are claiming for shopping at the same level as you were before this new job came about I would perhaps personally think that this is the only issue? That said prices of living costs go up daily so can probably be gobbled up anyhow.

I'm with the Natwest and opened 3 bank accounts with them whilst in an IVA, did it online though so not sure if that is different, they were savings accounts too as I kept all my money seperate.

Try Barclays for a cashcard account. They have opened accounts for clients of ours in IVAs even when there were previous debts to them. It is worth a try.

santander are iva friendly, we have just recently opened a basic current account with them. If they are not one of your creditors that is.

Do you really need a second account Dave, or wouldn't some careful management of your existing account do the trick. Buy yourself a little cashbook and have two separate columns to keep the funds separate.

thanks for the replies i'm just a born worrier,
cheers dave