www.iva.co.uk

I am currently embarking on an IVA and have opened a new bank account with NatWest to whom I owe nothing.

It's just a basic account with a Maestro/Solo debit card.

I have been reading on here that some people haven't got or been able to get a debit card. Are NatWest lkely to take this facility from me once the IVA is completed?

Thanks

i have a debit card i opened my new account with halifax before my IVA was approved while my credit rating was still good ive had IVA 2 years and still got card not had any problems.

Thanks for that guys. All helps to put the mind at rest a bit at a time x

if it helps i am with Nat west and they know i am in an IVA and havent taken this away from me, dont forget you also get online banking with them a god send!

Hi Cath
I too have an account with Natwest have have their Solo debit card facility, we have had our acc for a couple of years now and have had no problems with it and we are now just entering our 3rd year of an IVA.
Once our IVA is completed Natwest told us we can apply for a standard current account if we have kept our solo account in good order.

So I don't think you have anything to worry about and good luck with your IVA.

We're with Nationwide and we had an excellent credit rating when we took the account out and they refused us a debit card!

I believe natwest and RBS look at people on a case by case basis rather than blanket refusing.

And the RBS Group are now or will be from October be offering visa debit instead of solo/maestro

In that case it's a shame they don't seem to differentiate between IVAs and BR rather that automatically refusing anyone in an IVA.

My daughter has an excellent credit history, has an account with Natwest and was told that she could upgrade to a full debit card once her part time wages got paid into the bank. They keep moving the goalposts and are still refusing her 5 months down the line.

She's now gone to Barclays and has a full account.

I'm not overly impressd with NatWest.

I changed to Natwest during IVA process as HSBC were my main creditors and my bank. I'm more impressed with the Natwest than I ever was with HSBC, I wish I'd have changed years ago. The service in branch alone is 100% better than HSBC. They only wanted to know me if I were signing to borrow more money, however, whenever I go to Natwest here in town even though I ony have a Solo card they make me feel a valued customer. x

The stupid thing is with the daughter, she originally banked with HSBC, and had no problems with them. She only went to NatWest because she couldn't get a debit card with HSBC. She hasn't closed her HSBC account yet, there is no money going in, and yet they have sent her a debit card! And yet Natwest just don't want to know!

I moved over to Natwest just before commencing my IVA as I had no debts with them or the RBS group. I was a given a full current account with Maestro debit card and cheque book, I declined the overdraft facility obviously! I've been in MY IVA 3 years now and have had no problems with them.

If your credit rating has taken a bit of a bashing lately I would imagine you'll be given a Solo card rather than a Maestro but you can use Solo in the majority of places, online and in person.

The account I have with NatWest is called a Pathfinder account which I applied for online. To be honest, I am more than happy to have an account that will accept direct debits and give me a debit card. I can live without the cheque book and guarantee card and I definately don't want an overdraft, but than again, my IVA hasn't gone through yet, although based on the figures I have been given, we as a family will have a better standard of living than we do at the moment, sticking within the budget.....or am I on another planet!

No, you're definitely not on another planet. I can't wait to actually have money in the bank to spend and not just using credit cards and constantly being overdrawn. Hopefully things will be ok tomorrow.

comps78 wrote:

If your credit rating has taken a bit of a bashing lately I would imagine you'll be given a Solo card rather than a Maestro but you can use Solo in the majority of places, online and in person.

Thanks for that. The card I have has the Maestro logo on the back and the Solo logo on the fron, so far it's been accepted at all the shops I have used it in and also to withdraw cash at the Post Office. x