bobthestock:

The account you want is called a basic cash account.

You cannot go overdrawn because there is no facility for this.

Good advice but note that there may be a charge for an unpaid direct debit.

Some banks offer a lot more in their Basic bank Account offer including Electron debit cards.

See here http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf and the Moneysupermarket list for more details.

The account you want is called a basic cash account. It is designed for this circumstance. Alliance and Leicester do one. It accepts Bacs payments cheque payments and of course cash. You get a cash card to draw cash out. You can set up direct debits. This is not a debit card. There is no cheque book and the bank will not pay anything you do not have the money for in the account.. Remember cash is king. Once you get used to it it is very simple. You cannot go overdrawn because there is no facility for this. Hope this helps. This way you can re-build your credit worthyness in a cople of years.They send statements quarterly and you can manage it on line.

rich81jf:My mother has recently split up with her husband and between them they had collected quite a lot of bad credit history. Since then she has been left without a bank account and is using my partners, since she cannot aquire an account from anyone on the high street due to her history. Is there any account out there which would be suitable for her that she would be able to get and sort this mess out?

Has she actually been refused anywhere that she has applied?

If so, what were their reasons? Is she employed or retired? If she has split up from him she may need a letter of dissasociation to prevent his debts from also being taken into account too...

A basic account may not be her only option, why does she have bad credit? Credit card debt or bank account defaults? Usually defaults will mean no good bank account will come your way, credit cards will mean less credit approved and the same with loans, mortgages etc.

rich81jf:

Most banks, including high street banks offer a "basic bank account". There is a list on this website to the right of this post and more info at http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

Bad credit is not an impediment, only undischarged bankruptcy and fraud are grounds for not being granted an account.

I think the post office do an account without a cheque book and only a debit card....may work for DDs and SOs etc?

R

My mother has recently split up with her husband and between them they had collected quite a lot of bad credit history. Since then she has been left without a bank account and is using my partners, since she cannot aquire an account from anyone on the high street due to her history. Is there any account out there which would be suitable for her that she would be able to get and sort this mess out?