No Bank Account

[flump1]

As above, for various reasons I do not have a bank account and I am due a small payment from a solicitor soon , a small inheritance. My benefits are paid into my partners' account ( my choice ) and he deals with our finances, however this gift is personal and I am not wanting to fritter it away within the household.
Would they send me a counter cheque or giro if I requested it, do you think ?

[grasscarp]

Why not open a bank account of your own? No need to change your existing joint account, just have another personal one. Or maybe open a savings account at the post office.

[boxtops]

I don't know your circumstances but if you don't want a bank account, could you open a building society account with a passbook (Nationwide still do them), and pay the cheque into there?

[boxtops]

... or, if the solicitor is local, ask if he can pay you in cash (if you don't mind keeping cash in the house)?

[Buenchico]

To the best of my knowledge, no UK banks now even cash uncrossed cheques, yet alone issue them (e.g. as 'counter cheques'). Something in the back of my mind tells me that it's connected to anti-money laundering legislation but I've got no evidence to hand to support that view.

The solicitor might well be prepared to hand you cash if you can visit his/her office. (It would definitely be regarded as 'unusual' but I see no reason why it should be regarded as 'impossible').

However all High Street banks now offer 'basic' accounts, which almost anyone can open. There can be a few restrictions but they don't apply to all banks. (Most banks won't, for example, allow undischarged bankrupts to open a basic account but,even then, there are exceptions, with Barclays and Cooperative both accepting such account holders). Perhaps it's time to look for such an account?
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/basic-bank-accounts

[sherrardk]

If you have credit/debt issues (not saying you have) the co-op will accept you (that's where mine if for the same reasons) and the post office have to offer accounts to people with such issues (they have to invite you to open an account). If you just don't like banks, just open a simple account somewhere - if you get a building society account and cash it the money will just get spent anyway.

[flump1]

Thank you all, I don't have debt or issues with banks, however my ex-husband used and abused, banks, utility companies, clients and I was chased for years because of ' association' . I tried to open an account years ago when we split up and my application was declined. I haven't tried since. I have been busy trying to distance myself from him ! If they were my problems I would face them, if we got into a pickle when we were together. No, these bills and debts happened after we had split up !!

[Buenchico]

If you've not already filed a 'Notice of Disassociation' with the three big credit reference agencies, Flump1, please do it as as soon as possible. Experian allows you to do it online:
http://www.uk.experian.com/contactforms/consumer_onlinedisassociation.html

Contact details for Equifax and CallCredit are here:
http://www.ico.org.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_guides/credit

Then visit a bank, open an account and stop letting your ex restrict your way of life!

[bednobs]

if opening an account is impossible then there are places that cash cheques - they charge a rather hefty percentage tho

[flump1]

Chris, thank you for that, I will do that.

[boxtops]

Flump, I would have suggested checking your credit rating, if chris hadn't got there first - it only costs about £3 to have a check done by Experian. It's an easy matter then to identify any instances on your record which are in fact nothing to do with you, and to ask for them to be removed. I've done it, it's not difficult.

[Buenchico]

>>>it only costs about £3 to have a check done by Experian

The statutory maximum fee (which is what all the credit agencies actually charge) is £2.

However (if you've got an active debit or credit card) you can get the reports for free if you sign up for a 30-day trial (and, very importantly, remember to cancel before they start taking money from your card account):
http://www.experian.co.uk/experianhome/

http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/credit-report.html

http://www.callcredit.co.uk/consumer-solutions/your-credit-report

(NB: I've just noticed that the last link above allows you to download CallCredit's disassociation form as well. The link is at the foot of the page)

[flump1]

Thanks guys, I am on it.

[spudqueen]

sherrardk - the post office account you are referring to is not a bank account, it is just an account that benefits (eg pensions, job seekers allowance, child benefit) are paid into. You cannot pay any money in yourself. They are going to be launching currents accounts nationwide next year, these are currently available in the east anglian area only.