BR bank accounts

[fudge34]

Hi All
Sorry I have been a bit quiet yesterday seem to be ever manic at work and can't find the time with a teething baby in the evening. So Alliance and Leicester have frozen my account, the OR said no problem I will fax them the money in there is mine (don't owe it to them and its a basic no frills account anyway) I need to find a new bank account now adn quick! I know this question HAS BEEN ASKED A MILLION TIMES! but I cannot find the link - any advice on good bank accounts for people who have been made BR ideally one that has a debit card so I can at least pay for milk at the supermarket without having to think about taking out the money first - I know think banking do this but are they any good? the monthly fee seems quite high and I like internet banking so I can see where i am - any advice as ever really appreciate - to Pippa, Skippy, Andy and Lily hope you are all ok x

[aguise]

Hi fudge
I am with thinkbanking and find the account great. I did have internet banking previous to the iva but have to say i dont miss it. I dont find the fee too much I used to pay for my bank account. The thing that drew me to it was the fact that there were no credit checks and I couldnt face sitting in a bank to open the account, easy over the phone. If you have a lot of debits it works really well because regardless of the date they go out they withhold the money at the beginning of the month or when you get paid and you know then what you have to live on, cant go overdrawn and cant be charged for anything.
Hope that helps a bit.

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[fudge34]

Hi
How long does it take to open? need one really quickly as i need a place to get my wages paid in! and how do you check your balance? am on a budget obviously so that is important thanks for your advice!

[aguise]

Took me about ten minutes they will give you your account number at the same time, so you can start to swop your debits over.

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[scaredkez]

hi fudge it works for me, i too use to pay for my bank account anyway so there is no change there although it does seem high i no longer have to juggle my money thinking this DD is about due etc as it is all separated for you and it takes the stress away, the only places i have found it cannot be used is the ATM tills at services on the motorway the fast pay outs or something they are called, somerfield and bargain booze lol, other than that i have had no real problems they have sorted some issues out on the customer service side i only use the automated version and you can't display your balance at any atm, you have to phone to get a balance.hope this helps
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[aguise]

Sorry fudge I read too quickly. You just send a text and they send one back with the avaliable balance any time day or night.

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[aguise]

Also when your wages go in they will text you with the amount that has gone in and what is now in both accounts.
Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[fudge34]

I think that is my mind made up then! I can't bear the thought of having to trawl through the high street banks to be told no you are not worthy! is the 25.00 added onto your account for the set up fee? I don't have a bank card that i can use at the moment obviously! and can you take money out of any cash machine? do you have to pay for text balances? and do they send you paper balances every month so you can see what has gone out direct debit wise etc? sorry I am rambling on - I wonder when I will ever feel on top of this debt thing!

[aguise]

I think they take it when your first wage goes in. Yes they send statements for both accounts every month and i have to say they arrive to the day . Customer services are great and friendly. I think you just pay when you text for a balance . No charge on my statements for texts. The internet banking is coming soon apparently. They did promise the debit card and that arrived so I would think the internet wont be long too.

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[fudge34]

Thanks so much - I like the idea that they seperate out all the bills etc so you know what are spending (even though this does make me feel as if I am living at home with my parents again) but its a good idea - just filled out the form and will see what they say -just worried about getting my wages paid into somewhere - it does seem unfair that high street banks won't accept you for a no frills account but that is anotehr story I guess!

[scaredkez]

we don't get charged for receiving the texts but if you text them for a balance we get charged over £1 for it, so i use the automated over the phone, its great knowing that what is in account b is actually yours and not there ready to pay bills, it is all set up very quick, the only problem i had was when i requested a paying in book it took for ever to get here and when it did 3 arrived together so hopefully won't get that again, kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[aguise]

I know what you mean. i felt really low as the iva was being set up and just could not have faced any financial institutions or questions, and the account was offered through my company. I understand the feeling of being babied a bit but to be honest after all the financial pressure it is great just to not have to think is there enough for this bill and that bill. I dont feel awkward mentioning iva payments or anything thats the part I liked. I know what I have got and if it gets low I know i have to go careful but the most important thing to me is seeoing that everything is paid. Stress free.

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[fudge34]

Are they affiliated anywhere? i.e. if I wanted to pay money in over the counter can I do this? you mentioned a paying in book ... oh I am so tired of debt and panic why can't I win the lottery!

[aguise]

I think you can pay in at any rbos bank or natwest. The only thing is cheques do take longer to clear that way, but I dont tend to have cheques anyway. You can post the cheques to them as well. With the couple i have had I have done that to save bothering with the bank.
They are an offshoot of rbos so if you pay in over the counter ther it should go straight in your account. Natwest i think may take up to three days. It would be best to ask when you ring them as I tend only to have wages directly paid in. Yes I could do with the lottery as well, the panic will go though.

Ang

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[scaredkez]

you pay money in through RBS, the account is set up through them but has nothing to do with them if you get what i mean, you can also draw out from here, you ring think banking tell them you want to make an over the counter withdrawl they arrange it with the branch and arrange a time for you to go in, but once you have the card you won't need to any way i think you can draw up to, 250 - 300 a day, now how many times will you be wanting to draw more than that not that i have it lol
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/