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[hmrcgotme]

Just a quick question.
I had read on previous threads that the Coop Cashminder was a good option during BR and that it was a good idea to apply just before BR.
So I rang them, discussed that I was going BR in the next few weeks. No problem he said, it would be frozen for a few days over the appointment period then off we go.
We ploughed through the application process, he informed me that it had been referred and said he would call me in four working days. Silence!
I rang them on day five and a nice lady said that on this occasion I had been unsucessful, letter to follow, which did a couple of days later.

What now? What did I do wrong?
Should I reapply when Im BR?

Frustrated.

Ps Our friends HMRC have applied for a BR order, which will suceed, on Friday 12 June. Nothing I can do abot that, thanks Gordon, but all I am concerned about is having a bank account to pay salary into. I assume that NatWest will freeze my Current Account (with £5 in it) in due course.
Any advice would be appreciated.

[westbourne]

I was declared bankrupt last week and bank with lloyds tsb abd contacted them with regards to my savers account tha i have my salary paid into due to the Official receiver infroming me that they would not be interested in freezing my account due to thelack of funds.
The bank also informed me that they would be fine with me keeping the account open so long as it never went into deficit which would result in them having to but a hold on it.
This as saved me a lot of stress and alos a lot of running around trying to open a new account which i was quite concerned about

[Hg]

They all seem to be hit and miss.

You could try for a Barclays Basic account, if they aren't a creditor. However it's not as good as the Co-Op one, which is a shame.

Otherwise, as long as it's not overdrawn at the date of the order or ever afterwards, the OR will ask Natwest if they will keep the account open for you. Natwest may well agree if you don't owe RBS group (includes RBS, Natwest, Mint, Lombard & Tesco PF among others) any money anywhere else.

[hmrcgotme]

Thanks Hg. I have never been O/D with NatWest or owe the Group a penny so I could try and keep it open.

[paul67]

I have banked with the Halifax for 12 years and advised them all along what i am doing re bankruptcy, with no problem. All of a sudden get letter today telling me account will be closed and all cards suspended. so much for customer loyalty, alas will now claim them for any charges over past few years but need new account somewhere. HELP!

[Hg]

Advice to try the Co-Op for an account always stands, not guaranteed, but a good bet and it comes with a Visa debit card, which isn't a bad thing.

You wouldn't be able to claim for any bank charges arising before the date of the bankruptcy, as your "right of action" is an asset in your bankruptcy.

[Thomas]

Not sure whether this is unorthodox or whether I was just lucky but for anybody not yet bankrupt it may be worth reading...

While I appeared squeaky clean, and about 8 weeks before my inevitable bankruptcy, I opened a Nationwide Flex account on line and was checked out and accepted and in due course was sent cheque book, debit card and literature. I never paid any money into it and was never pressed to do so. I then put it all in a drawer and 'forgot' I had such an account on the basis that it had never been activated - no undeclared funds and no debt. Surprisingly, Nationwide didnt read the London Gazette and I just received monthly statements showing a nil balance month after month. I was waiting for the inevitable request for some funds - perhaps they thought I had gone abroad for a spell or would be into close the account in due course. Anyway, the fact that I didnt owe them any money meant I wasnt flagged as a problem. May be opening the account on line instead of in person was why I wasnt followed up. I kept my head below the parapet until my bankruptcy year was up then I 'rediscovered' the account and used it sparingly at first so that any adverse news from the bank would not spell a major problem. I had no overdraft facility and made certain there was no cause for concern about me. After my year was up I asked for a £100 overdraft and held my breath while I was checked out. To my surprse I got it and can only assume that every account holder can have up to this amount without in-depth enquiries. I felt lucky... A few months later I asked for an increase to £200 but was refused because I was obviously properly checked out. I wasnt daunted but realised lenders are hooked on "previous address if less than 3 years". Immediately the three years was up I applied again on line and within a split second of pressing 'enter' (and presumably solely on account of my otherwise good conduct of the account) I was offered £500! Aren't computers (sometimes) wonderful? The same computer churned out the confirmatory letter a few days later so it was all legit.... NOW, was I extremely lucky or did I work my ticket artfully if not totally frankly? And have banks in general been squeaky clean themselves recently? Will I not be helping to pay for all these billions they have taken? Finally, I confirm that I have not immedaitely drawn on the £500 but it is nice to know it is there should really I need it. Needless to say, my name has been changed and some details omitted to protect my identity and this story is for information only! I cannot guarantee that it will work in all cases.....

[Hg]

Nationwide used to be the first recommendation for bankrupts looking for an account, with a close to 100% success rate as long as you didn't owe them money. They even appeared on a FSA leaflet saying that they would do this.

Unfortunately they changed their policy a few years ago.

Maybe you got the account before this? I think it was some time around 2006 that they changed, or possibly early 2007.

[cashdesk]

After I left the court I went to the local Co-op and opened a Cashminder account. I was sweating for a few days but the card finally arrived and after problems with my current bank (said they would simply downgrade me but instead cancelled all Direct Debits) I had my wages paid into the Co-op. I tried paying my Council Tax with it and told them it was a Visa Debit card (that's what it says on the card!). It turns out it is classed as an Electron, so if anyone has the same problem using it as a Visa Debit card you know what problem is.