Opening a basic bank account for a DMP

[Ijustworemytrenchcoat]

Hi, I need to open a basic bank account so I can go ahead with a Debt Management Plan. If anybody has done this can they please explain the practicalities?

I want to open a basic account with Barclays, do I just open it with a nominal sum then start switching over my wages and other payments? Things are going in and out all the time for example tax credits get paid a couple of weeks after my wages so I can't see a clear time to switch. I am scared I am going to miss a DD for council tax or the bank are going to keep my tax credits to pay the OD if they think something is up.

When in the process do I inform Step Change?

I opened a basic account with Co-op when I went bankrupt. I just called them up and they took my details over the phone. They sorted all the DDs for me within a few weeks. It happened pretty quickly and smoothly, though I didn't have to keep an eye on exact dates as I had enough to cover all bills. Basic bank accounts don't allow overdrafts so you do have to be careful you have enough to cover anything going out. Some people advise having two separate basic accounts so that one covers DDs/SOs and the other can be used for general spending.