Hello

My friend has got a bad credit history( a couple of unpaid mobile phone contracts 5 yrs ago) Can anyone recommend a bank that will give him an account ? He has had no credit or applied for any since the mobile contracts

Wayne

Abbey National or Natwest will help him.

Try the Co-op and you will get a better card which you can use to shop and withdraw.
Abbey and Natwest will give you a Basic account and with that, you can't do anything apart from use the cash point to take out dosh. That is it. Nothing else.
Jay

I also have a bad credit history and I am currently looking for an alternative bank, as First Direct charges are just so high. Do you know if the Coop would offer an overdraft and what their charges are like?
Cheryl

ive had bad credit in the past even bankruptcy
i went to Abbey and yes they gave me a bog standard card account but after a while they gave me a debit card so theres light at the end of the tunnel for people with bad credit you just have to wait a little longer.

Paul

I have bad credit and have just applied to Smile internet bank, which is part of the Co-Op group. They also give you an automatic overdraft.


Hope that helps.



Fran

I would recommend the woolwich basic current account


you get electron debit card and cheque book


also a £50 buffer zone



no credit check !!!



go for it

Hi Fran,

Thanks for the suggestion of Smile Bank, but I just wanted to let you know that I have applied and was declined due to my credit score with experian. Maybe my credit history is slightly worse than yours, but thanks for the advice anyway. I currently bank with First Direct but unhappy with the service and I don't want to change to a bog standard bank account with just an electron card. So, it looks like a have to stay with First Direct and keep on battling with them about the charges!!

Hi Cheryl

Sorry to hear you was turned down for the Smile Bank, i might have been just lucky when i applied, as my credit rating as gone from bad to worse lately. Hope you get another bank, just keep trying. Good Luck.

Fran

Avoid the Co op!!

They just charged me £70 for going over my limit by £5.20 (two small amounts) despite the money being in my account on the day I used the card, when I called they refused to refund the charges saying I know it can take three days to clear blah blah. I have reclaimed charges from them before and they paid up, but said if I tried to claim any more they would close my account. I am in 'finiancial difficulty' and have explained this to them, and quoted the Banking Standards Code at them but it makes no odds. Ethical? My a*se. Plus, they have hardly any branches and the customer support is dreadful. AVOID

cheryljones7785:Hi Fran,

Thanks for the suggestion of Smile Bank, but I just wanted to let you know that I have applied and was declined due to my credit score with experian. Maybe my credit history is slightly worse than yours, but thanks for the advice anyway. I currently bank with First Direct but unhappy with the service and I don't want to change to a bog standard bank account with just an electron card. So, it looks like a have to stay with First Direct and keep on battling with them about the charges!!

Hi Cheryl,

On the brighter side of things for you, i also used to bank with the evil that is First Direct and there hidious bank charges! but as the charges are compleatly against the banking code i.e they are not allowed to charge you if the charge puts you into/over you overdraught limit! it took me only 2 month to get every peeny back from them! takes a few letters but it is worth it! i would recomend if you do not have an alternitive account to get on asap, even if it is a cash card account, because first direct then politly asked me to stop banking with them, also if you havent already written to experian, you should. i have recently to discover my "bad credit" was infact somthing that had been settled over 2 years ago, so maybe you credit is a mix up. good luck! James

To ' Tommo 505"

HI,

I have had bad credit history in the past, (defaults & Bankruptcy), How long after yours did you get the account with abbey?

Hi
i had a account with abbey before i went bankcrupt and afterwards i still was with them with only a electron card account. As soon as i was discharged from bankruptcy i then took my details to the bank and started to get back on the straight and narrow with a visa debit card and a normal bank account with cheque book and card. It does take a long time to get sorted but it is worth it in the end and there is light at the end.
It has been 6 years since i was declared bankcrupt and 3 years since i was discharged as i had to wait 3 years. Last year i got a normal mortgage with the Abbey and now enjoy being credit worthy once again.
It is worth also contacting and requesting your credit files from the various companies as this has helped me in getting information altered on them.
as soon as my dishcharge had come i was able to get a credit card fron Vanquis bank and although they do charge you a higher rate it has helped to show on my credit file that i am now back to how i was before i got into the mess of bankcruptcy.
Hope this helps
Paul

Just thought I'd update....

Did an online application with the abbey on 23rd, phoned them today to see if i've been accepted, and they said YES.......

Thank god! a proper current account.

told ya
good luck in gettin back to the normal in the near future
Paul