As I have told loads of other people on other posts tonight, I have bad credit and used a company to open a Gold account with a cheque book and VISA debit card. It's a proper card too, not an electron. Its got internet banking and a friend of mine who opened the same account gets his salary paid in (he's got an IVA and CCJ's coming out of his ears).

I can't recommend the company I used enough. It was quick and professional and I'm able to rebuild my credit rating. They are at:

 www.lessthanperfect.co.uk

Telephone: 0870 061 0060

Like you I needed a proper account, with a card I could use in Tesco and on the internet, on holiday etc. Also the cheque book is great because I pay my bills through the post (I could use the internet bank, but I can't be bothered).

I recommend that anyone with bad credit who needs a proper bank account gived them a ring/visit on the website. It's the best £99 you'll ever spend!

Hope this helps

Iggy

hi there, try alliance and leicester, i had a less than perfect credit history and they still offered me a visa and overdraft.  i do not recommend their switching service, i did not use it and have heard nothing but problems through people letting A+L do this for them, you will find plently complaints if you look through but i have had nothing but sweetnew form them, i look after my account, i bank online every day and i know what is coming in and out of my account and how much is available.

 and the advice previously is brilliant, get yourself a couple of catalogues, additions.co.uk, littlewoods.com etc etc and buy cheap items and pay your bills every month on time. do not clear the balance after one month nless you intend to buy something every month and then pay it off in full, i always buy a few things maybe £100 worth and then pay just over the minimum balance, the amount you pay does not show on your credit file but that you have paid every month on time does!

good lucjk and let us know

The co-op do a basic entry account with a visa electron card as a debit card. You can use this in shops etc as well as for internet shopping. I changed to this account because after 40 years of banking with Nationwide and earning in excess of £50k per annum they still refused to upgrade my hole in the wall account to a full bank account with debit card.

try nat west and ask for a step account, after about six months you should start rebuilding a credit rating, then get a couple of catalogues and buy something cheap but keep paying regularly, that will build it up quicker. so just try nat west for a start and see how you get on

Hi Everyone.

Just to let you know my situation...

I recently obtained my credit file and have 3 defaults from 4 years ago. I have no active credit and have had none for a number of years now.

I moved in Feb to my new place and tried to get on the voters roll but was told I had missed the deadline by the time I got around to applying. Prior to that I lived with my parents for 10 years at the one address and was always on the voters roll.

I am unable to open a regular current account at any branch (or so it seems). It means I have to pay for everything with cash as all I can seem to get is a basic hole in the wall card. It's pretty embarassing being out with people who are paying by switch/delta etc and I have to nip to the cashpoint.

Is there anything I can do to get a normal bank account with a switch card. I'm not even fussed about a credit card I just hate not being able to pay at the till like everybody else.

Regards.