Why is so difficult to get a simple bank account?

[Thepuddingchef]

It's a little more complicated than that, but dh and I are discharged bankrupts. Although we have been unable to afford the discharge cert from court - we're still discharged - right?
So why is it that my dh can't get a simple cash card account, no debit card, or overdraft, to put his wages into? This seems ridiculous to me. Dreading telling him as it's so difficult to function without somewhere to put your own money.
Has anyone been thro this, and eventually got a bank account and which bank was it?
Any advice would be so much help before I tell him, so at least I can be armed with a little info.
Thanks

Halifax used to do a less demanding account - cardcash? - solo card instead of switch but don't know if they still do it.

Dp got a simple account with alliance and leicester ..hes a discharged bankrupt hth

I have a debit card account, which they let us keep during the bankruptcy, plus I have a cash card acc which I applied for while bankrupt. It seems now we are discharged it's become more difficult, esp for dh, yet we went bankrupt for the same things?
Just seems a bit daft to me. Not sure what to do now?

random , did he have the discharge cert when he applied, or did he just tell them?

the goverment wants everyone to have an account to pay benefits in, so i think their are some accounts that are very basic but available to everyone, its how oaps collect their pension from post office etc now.

Maybe ask the jobcentre?

Not sure hes at work so cant ask him ..but they were fine about it he just had a simple account with cash card which they have since upgraded

Im pretty sure you will need to be recieving a benefit to have one of those post office acounts. child benefit or even CTC might qualify though.

I honestly thought that everyone could have a simple cash card account, it seems the banks can decide who they want and who they don't.I'll have to try some more banks.
Perhaps I'll go CAB and ask them.
Thanks

Yorkshire Bank do a readycash a/c which seems to be for anybody no matter what their circumstances. And ive heard that citibank (you can apply online i think) are good for last resort type situations. Failing that - what about one of those pre-paid mastercard thingy's - it can use as a bank a/c - i think you have to pay a small charge to use it per month but again its a last resort option.