Opening a bank Account after Bankrupsy

[Blossomflowers]

Recently made bankrupt and really struggling to open a bank account. Barclays can only offer a basic personal account but I have cheque payable in my business name. Also can hardly ask clients to pay into a personal account does not seem right. Any suggestions please.

You might be able to get it cashed by the OR's office who dealt with your bankruptcy - give them a call and ask them? They can take payment made out to pretty much anyone and might be able to release funds for you. If not they may know of other situations where people have managed to cash said cheques. If it's money for you to live on they wouldn't be allowed to keep it (unless it's thousands and then they'd release a portion of it to you anyway).

As the OR would've dissolved any ltd company are you now working as a sole trader? In which case it's absolutely fine to get payments made to you directly because you're blossom trading as "blossom's widgets".

I am a Sole trader. Just thought it dodgy for clients to pay me directly. Nat west have said they may let me have something called a foundation account but said I should change company name, does not sound right. OR have given a letter saying they are happy for me to have a Business and Personal account.

Don't trade under another name like Natwest says, that's an offence in bankruptcy and could land you in trouble. Call your examiner and ask for help.

sweary exactly what I have told them. I am being told something contradictionary each time I call. You would have thought I was the first person to go bankrupt. lol

OK, so after 5 days of being pushed around all the dept, Nat West have agreed to a personal bank account. At last. Still going to Barclays as a back up plan as they have messed me around so much.

That sounds about right. Days and days of being messed around before someone says something definitive. I think you're right to go elsewhere too though. Good luck!

I have probably had about 20 conversations with Nat West, and I got a letter from them yesterday saying they had frozen all accounts and asked me to call on this specific number to discuss, when I called surprise surpise was the incorrect one and so it started again. I was told finally last night I can keep the personal account and it will be up and running in 15 mins, well that did not happen. FFS

Speak to Co-op about their cash minder account.

Sorry, ignore that. It's duff information. Co-op used to have an account that undischarged bankrupts could access but apparently that's changed. I should have googled before I posted.

Good luck getting an account :)

Spent 2.5 with a branch manager at Nat West calling around, each dept saying they do not have authority. Have cheques in my hand and no where to put them. No money left and at my wits end. Any suggestions?

At last Nat West agreed for me to keep my bank account and have on line banking. Business one frozen. Have been told that banks do not like you to use a personal account for business purposes but have not choice atm