Do you need a parachute account?

[MARTIN3030]

A word of caution. If anyone is considering opening a Post Office basic card account for benefit payments, I would treat it as a short term measure only. It would appear that the DWP are going to be withdrawing from this soon.

 

EDMDetails

 

Sproggi

 

That is very suprising,considering this was an account offered specifically for that purpose.

 

I am sure there will be people keen to take on these customers as its estimated that 67% of people get some kinds of benefit payments the bulk of which are I think is working tax credits.

[sproggi]

That is very suprising,considering this was an account offered specifically for that purpose.

 

I am sure there will be people keen to take on these customers as its estimated that 67% of people get some kinds of benefit payments the bulk of which are I think is working tax credits.

 

Personally, I think that it is not just suprising, but it is wrong for so many reasons. I won't subject you to my rants about it though:mad:

 

I would think that the banks are joyously rubbing their hands together at the thought of all these potential new victims....sorry, I mean customers:cool:

 

Sproggi

[MARTIN3030]

I recall a debate about this in Parliament.

If my memory serves me right the government send word to the banks that they should be offering basic account facilities to all.

I think it was a Conservative MP who was tabling a question that some of his constituents were concerned that Giro payments were to be stopped and they had no means therefore of cashing their benefits since they could not get a bank account due to previous credit records.

 

The government told the banks either they voluntarily make such an account available or they would legislate to force them to do so.

 

For these reasons the basic account is here to stay.....albeit not,it seems at the Post Office.

[kia]

also a post office card account doesnt have a debit card facilitity or cashcard etc as i already have one of those

[pinky1998]

if anyone's perusing the forums today, you advice would be appreciated, as I have to go open an account tomorrow so I can then instruct the DHSS to pay in my income support and carer's allowance/ plus my daughter's DLA in to new account.

Cheers, Freebird x

HI IVE OPENED UP A BASIC CASHCARD ACCOUNT WITH BARCLAYS I CAN PAY MY DIRECT DEBITS AND MY DLA IS PAID IN WITH NO WORRIES.DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS ,BUT GOOD LUCK.

 

PINKY1998

[freebird]

for the time being, I've left my (spit) Lloyds account open as I'm paying off my loan and "overdraft"...but I've transferred my Income support and Carers payment in to the New step account at Natwest.......that way Lloyds can no longer touch my income support but I'm leaving my child benefit and my daughter's DLA in LLoyds just for now until.....I get the letters of defense...questionairre...and hopefully susequent offer coming my way !!!!!

next I'll transfer my daughter's DLA and stop all direct debits apart from the loan...........I know some of you might have done it all in one go..but as I'm not the best at maths and money management, I've had to do it in a way that I can understand and manage......

 

cheers

Freebird x

[kia]

hiya weve managed to open a natwest step account a couple of weeks ago with no problems but thanks for all your help with this i did it on line as well really easy and all the stuff came in the post so if i need it its there but ill keep the abbey account open till they close it see i do listen dont always heed it though

[Kirstypops]

I came across this whilst looking for a new bank account:

 

edit

 

It looks dodgy to me. There's no company details and it's very vague.

[MARTIN3030]

Never heard of this one myself.......so cant say anything.

 

 

[JonCris]

No address Absolutely no details of who are where the are. Yet the want ALL of your details

 

It's got [problem] written all over it

[meagain]

For those of us who have only ruined their internal credit score with one bank but are otherwise clean (one default possibly about to be wrongfully applied, and therefore not likely to be on my record for long anyway), looking to open a normal account, what do we tell the banks when they ask why we're opening an account with full facility rather than moving the existing one?

[JonCris]

Didn't tell them anything & they didn't ask. Don't think they are much bothered & if they are tell them your not happy with your present banks service (now theres a true word if ever there was). That'll usually do the trick

 

Just went in 6 months ago & opened a basic account to collect salary, with cheque book, DD facility & Electron Visa Debit Card.

 

They have already offered an overdraft of 1K+

 

Very tempted to run up charges just so's I can reclaim them but won't

[meagain]

Didn't tell them anything & they didn't ask. Don't think they are much bothered & if they are tell them your not happy with your present banks service (now theres a true word if ever there was). That'll usually do the trick

 

I'm not after just a basic account - I don't see why I should lose facility just because my current bank doesn't want to act in accordance with the law. When I made serious enquiries about this over a year ago, the bank wanted to know why it was I wasn't simply moving my account over.

[craigamc]

I use nationwide and Natwest, both very good internet banking services!

 

Natwest give a solo card, nationwide just a cashcard

[mrsmair]

I found opening an account online with the natwest step account was extremly easy as i was verified on credit role i did not even need to show proof of id , you get the debit card to and your not treated like a lepper in the bank , stay away from alliance and lecister if you want to put money in your only allowed to send it off or put in hole in the wall they dont want you in the bank at all. Out of all i would recommend natwest!

[kia]

have opened a natwest step account online with no probs and with debit card

[meagain]

I rely heavily on public transport, so Solo is out for me - my current bank refusing point-blank to give me a full Maestro purely because they shafted me with charges last Summer is one of the reasons I'm looking to get another account. Again, since the last twice I tried to open a new account I was asked specifically why I wasn't moving the account I had with another bank to them instead, which is apparently "easier", what do I say when I'm asked why I'm not simply moving my existing account?

[Giveitback]

Just say that you plan to close down the account in due time, but for various reasns - such as your employer can be slow to update bank details, that kind of thing (in a dismissive way), you'd rather keep the two running and deal with the transfer yourself.

 

The bank might say that they could deal wit it all for you and remove the hassle, but just say something like maybe youre old fashioned, but you want to keep tabs on everything yourself. That way if something gets missed you know it's your fault, not theirs.

 

You've not been valued by your last bank, and you want to build up a good relatsionship from the start. I said summat like that.

[JonCris]

Correct we have all read horror stories of the banks being slow to respond or even missing DD's so there is every reason to want to do it oneself

[mrsmair]

You can also tell them you intend to use one account for wages and the other for any other income you may have , at the end of the day it really is not there business at to why you intend to keep the first account open it is totally your business not theres.

[meagain]

... and all of this is now entirely moot, as when I tried to move the account, it was rejected as "credit score failed"

 

Looks like I'll have to try and find ways to prevent the bank from calling in its debts in retaliation ...

[bevcarlyle]

Clydesdale are giving maestro/switch to all accounts now.

 

we just opened their basic account as parachutes 2 weeks ago and they told us that we get maestro as standard although no chequebook facility.

 

2 maestros arrived this week.

 

there is no credit check with their basic account either

[craigamc]

I dont live in an area where clydesdale exist, can I still open an account?

[brecken]

Just opened a step account with natwest over the phone, very straight forward and the guy on the other end was really helpfull, told me that we can apply to upgrade after 6 months if account was managed ok.

would definatly recommend step account with natwest

[meagain]

Clydesdale are giving maestro/switch to all accounts now.

 

Just a shame they have no respect for the Data Protection Act - should they hit you for anything, make sure you get it within 1 year, otherwise they'll just tell you you're not covered (even though you are).