Henry's DMP

[henryJSB]

Hello everyone, I was referred here bya member of MoneySavingExpert as they said people here might be able to help me.

Basically I've been having some ongoing issues obtaining a basic bank account. I'm in about 5,000-6,000 worth of debt through Pay Day Loan companies, bank overdrafts and credit cards and with my very low income I opted to put myself on a debt management plan. Since I've been on the debt management plan I have been almost entirely unable to open myself a BASIC bank account.

Unfortunately, I am now stuck with a ThinkBanking account which whilst it does the job perfectly fine, I am trying to budget to get rid of unnecessary expenditure and I consider the 14.95 fee a month an 'unnecessary expenditure'.

In pursuit of a free basic account here's what's happened to me:

Applied for a basic barclays account. My application was referred and I had to wait another week to hear back. A week past and I was rejected.

Applied for a co-op cashminder account. 10 days past and rang up for progress on my application. I was informed that it had been lost and to try and re-apply.

Applied for a Yorkshire Bank readycash account. I was told I'd be contacted back in 48hrs with a decision. 4 days past and rang up for progress on my application, I was informed that my application had ALSO been lost and to try and re-apply.

I'm extremely confused and baffled at this. Surely two lost applications cannot be a coincidence? and I am concerned as to why I've been rejected for an account that I am told is one of the easiest bank accounts to get?

Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening? Any help is much appreciated.

[henryJSB]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

ps the YB account, you normally open this in branch with an advisor. Did that not happen? If not I'm surprised.....

As for co-op I'd wait. They can take a while but similarly, apply in branch if you can as it's easier.

Right now though. Don't apply anywhere.....

Nope, I rang a number for the YB readycash account. I also applied for the co-op one in branch, and then rang them when they didn't get back to me they told me they lost the application. Same as YB.

As for all the CIFAS and headhunter stuff, do you mean I have to send them both SAR's? Do I just request this in writing?

I have tried to gain access to an Equifax credit report, and they told me I needed to contact them so they can ask me more questions. I contacted them today, and the person on the phone said some details I entered were not recognised, and I was going to be contacted via e-mail over the next few days. So for now I can't gain access to a credit report.

Could you tell us a bit more about your debts and your DMP? There may be other options for dealing with them..

My debts are with HSBC (1750 overdraft) HSBC (500 credit card) Vanquis (500 credit card) Aqua (650 credit card) Capital One (750 credit card) Wonga (500 Payday loan) MoneyShop (250 Payday loan) Northern Debt Recovery (Started as a 245 loan, is now somehow 780) Speedy Cash (165 Payday Loan) I'm with Gregory Pennington as my debt management company and I'm paying 206 a month out of a 650 per month income.

[henryJSB]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

£206 sounds like a lot of money for such small debts and low income!!!

Do Gregory Pennington charge for their services?

When did you take out the credit cards? If it was before April 2007, they could be unenforceable!

See this for reference ---> UPDATED - A Full Guide to Unenforceability - allaboutFORUMS

As you have already defaulted, you've got nothing to lose!

They do charge for their services. I'm not sure exactly what the monthly fee is.

One credit card was taken out in 2008, the others almost exclusively in 2010 so I'm out of luck there I think. =[

It's fraud they knock back on and with equifaxes response, something isn't adding up with your details used vs those supplied by electoral registration feeds.

Things are starting to click in my head with what you say now. No one I've spoken to so far has has any idea what the issue has been and it's been so frustrating, it is EXTREMELY promising for me to have these responses. I must notify you if this is to do with fraud, then I should tell you I have actually been a 'victim' of fraud in the past year or so. Someone fraudulently took out two mobile phone contacts in my name on T-Mobile. Would this have something to do with it? I assumed the issue had been resolved, except T-Mobile wouldn't give me any information about how the contacts were obtained when I rang them. This was about half a year ago now.

P.S.
How do I send the £10 fee to n-hunter? I do not have a cheque book to my name. Would I literally just include a £10 note in the envelope with the letter?

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

£206 sounds like a lot of money for such small debts and low income!!!

Do Gregory Pennington charge for their services?

When did you take out the credit cards? If it was before April 2007, they could be unenforceable!

See this for reference ---> UPDATED - A Full Guide to Unenforceability - allaboutFORUMS

As you have already defaulted, you've got nothing to lose!

If the OP is only 22 then the debts are only a maximum of 4 years old (i.e. 2008) so none will be UE.

:niddy

[henryJSB]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

Yeah, I'll make a separate thread about it once I've sorted this I think.

I sent proof of identity to equifax via email, waiting to hear back. It's annoying experian require me to send documents via post, it makes the process so much more of a ball-ache.

So when equifax get back to me, shall I get a staturoy credit report from them for £2? And then send proof of ID to experian and get another one from them, yeah?

I can't afford to send the SAR to nHunter at the moment, I only have £15 to my name and I am trying to make it stretch till payday for food and travel to work =/. It's been an awful month!

[MrsD]

Re: Henry's DMP

sack gregory pennington now, nothing more than bloodsuckers.

you can run your own perfectly easily, we've got most of the templates on here anyway.

you just need to be calm and firm and assertive.