landshark - you are also correct, a couple of the banks have started to claim other reasons for denying bank accounts, but saying that it is still a principle of law that everyone should have access to a bank account, and should anyone be denied for the reason of their credit status, you should make a complaint to the ombudsman and have it investigated.

Big Jasey:

well i disagree (surprising) with you. if every bank carries out a credit check with every application, how is it that people in bankruptcy can obtain an account??

I am sorry - Big Jasey you are correct and I was wrong. However not all banks/building societies will offer these, and I am sure that if the courts go against the Banks you will see nearly all of these accounts dry up very quickly.

Once again, sorry for misleading you.

SHARK!

Big Jasey is correct,banks dont carry out credit checks for basic bank accounts.You just need proof of ID

Natwest & Nationwide provide half desent basic accounts

well i disagree (surprising) with you. if every bank carries out a credit check with every application, how is it that people in bankruptcy can obtain an account?? please contact any of your local BANKS to clarify this. UK laws have been changed to accomodate this to serve people in financial difficulty. no basic current account requires a credit check, just need to provide the identity of the applicant in question.

as the debt is passed to a collector, the new assigned company is allowed 12 days to obtain proof for the debtor as the agreement will be with the original creditor, but should they not be able to provide proof within the 12 day period, you are entitled to deny the debt and claim harrasment as stated within the limitation act. you will need to wait weeks to see the CAB, and no doubt have to miss work to do so in the process.

Surely it would be better to use your £5000 to pay off debt of £3000 and avoid any further interest and charges being added. BB

I'm sorry to disagree Big Jasey but virtually every reputable bank carries out a credit search before allowing anyone to open an account. I cannot condone anyone passing themselves off as something their not.

By LAW any financial transaction demands that the recipient must issue a receipt on demand. If the debt collectors are not doing this and constantly demanding, then go to the Citizens Advice Bureau and get a solicitors letter to them. Constantly bombarding you with letters is classified as harassment and as such they are also breaking the law.

Don't be intimidated by these bullies. If you were doing nothing, I would have no sympathy for you, but you are trying and this should be acknowledged and your case dealt with accordingly.

SHARK!

you can go to any bank and open a basic account with no credit search, just bring proof of ID so you can open the account. then if i were you (dont have to take this advice), i would call the collection agencies, you could pretend to be a debt management company (or such), and ask them for their bank details to make payments on behalf of clients, they never refuse to give you this, then once you have the details, set up a standing order to them for whatever you want to pay them, with your acocunt number as the payee reference number. that way you have a safe means of getting payment to them, they cannot alter the payment amount (only you can), and they wont have access to your details as it will just show as a credit received for your account. this way, you wont have to spend out on sending them a payment.

My advice to you is to go to the Citizens Advice Bureau. The advice and help they give you is free and second to none. I have had a similar problem and tried to do things myself but it doesn't work, I was advised by a friend to go to CAB and they have sorted out my financial situation and I can now sleep at night peacefully. Good luck, please don't put it off, they are an amazing organisation.

I got myself in debt with barclays through a current account and also barclaycard altogether about £3000 most of it was interest added on ,I am attempting to pay the money back .

but I am dealing with debt collection agencies who wont give me a means of paying the money safely I have been sending the money in the post registered mail but despite my asking they never acknowledge the letters or give receipts and I still get threatening letters in the post.

Barclaycard have given me a paying in book.

I have over £5000 a one off legacy in a savings account in barclays.

I would like to open an ordinary current account so I can pay the debt off safely and keep my money safe,but I am scared to go near a bank because off the debts I am so worried please can you help?

thankyou