www.iva.co.uk

i need to open a basic bank account, but have no id they all seem to require. barclays might be ok, but i am in debt on a barclaycard.. does this mean i could have money taken out of a basic account if i open one?

Hi and welcome,

The Co-op come highly recommended by posters on here, as do Natwest.

Are you looking into doing an IVA?

Hi Christian.9 yes it does - you need to avoid any bank that is associated with your debts. Ask the bank if they will accept a photo that has been witnessed by the usual signatories that would be suggested for a new passport photo. That might be acceptable.

Regards,

we opened a brand new account with natwest. Cheque book (even though being phased out next year), debit card (but not cheque guarantee) and no overdraft. Also opened single accounts for each of us and a joint savings. All done the same day in branch.

later that same day I rang the IVA company to start proceedings.

Natwest are very friendly and helpful. I haven't told them Iam in an IVA but I think they will know now. tina am I right in thinking its part of your process to contact the banks after proposal accepted? probably totally wrong there LOL

I'm with Natwest too and this was opened online so I'm assuming they checked the Electoral roll? Don't think your IP tells your bank but may be corrected on this but any credit check would show up your IVA.

I rate the Natwest highly so if they aren't one of your creditors why not give them a try. x

According to what I have read recently, cheques aren't due to be phased out until 2018, so a few years yet!

We have a joint account, have always had one so that way we can keep tabs on the money coming in and going out.

Your mortgage company will be contacted after IVA approval, but I don't think the banks are.

Hi Karin - I have checked with the office and they would only notify the bank if it was one of the creditors so a new bank would not be notified.

Regards,

To add, if the new bank account was the same as your mortgage lender though, they would be as all secured creditors are notified....

I opened a co-op account online, was okayed there and then -- no id provided -- they just checked I was on the electoral list. Just before IVA I panicked and applied for an account with Natwest, while waiting for the result of that I phoned co-op. Hence now, I have two accounts. So I use the one for DD's satanding orders etc, and the other to decant the surplus into for things like car tax and insurance (so the monthly allowances aren't swallowed up anywhere) and I am, hopefully, opening a Natwest e-saver to pop the contingency fund and any savings I can scrape off housekeeping etc into.

Never been so organised in my life

Hi - tina's suggestion about a signed photo is a good one. What docs are you missing? We can put our heads together and see what we come up with. I had a problem recently - because all my utilities and council tax are included in my rent and bank statements are online I didn't have anything for proof of address! Tenancy agreements don't count apparently - madness.

Now I've learned something today. Thanks for that Tina. I thought the banks were told, thats fine. I guess i should have clicked cos of all the talk about HSBC before. Dopy me!!!

LOL Foggy, it feels good to be organised doesn't it. Good for you

My husband and I entered an IVA in October last year. Before we were accepted we open an account with First direct in anticipation of the IVA going ahead. At the beginning of last month the bank contacted me to say they had been informed of the IVA and were cancelling our account. We have been given 60 days to find a new account. We have approached Natwest for a basic account but it has taken 2 weeks so far and have said they are struggling to get it open because of the IVA. Where do I go now???

So long as Co-op aren't one of your creditors you could try them. I did it all over the phone in one day.

Try the Co-Op, but remember to ask for a Cashminder, which is a basic account. You have to apply over the phone but should get an answer in principle right away.

First Direct and HSBC are notorious for this. Co-op sounds like a good bet as are some of the building societies. Though don't give up on NatWest as they have plenty of customers in an IVA. Asking for a basic account will help you get accepted too. If all else fails, you are guaranteed to get a paid-for account which can be included in your expenditure. Good luck x