Aswell as Barclayst, the vast majority of my clients have defaults/ccjs and they have found that Nationwide's basic flexaccount has been the easiest to open. In theory, if you are only going to open a basic bank account, banks shouldn't bother to credit check you, but many of the others do.
It is very important that you do not apply over the phone or internet, but go directly into a local branch and do ask for the basic account, refusing any offer of a chequebook account.

Hope this helps

Neil

Nat West have an adverse credit section that take on Business accounts, but you do have to persevere as normal counter assistants do not seem aware of this department, but it does exist.
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Hi craftylass,

Keep trying you will be able to eventually open an account.  It is just a matter of elimitating the banks which definantly won't lok at you.  Try this guide from the citizens advice centre:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nm/basic_bank_accounts.pdf

Regards

"Use the best step-by-step guide to model and coach you through making your money Online".

www.beginners-workonline.com

Business at Home works!!

Craftylass,

I too had a ccj dating back 4 years and tried everywhere to no avail, I eventually went back to my local lloyds tsb even though they had refused me earlier and arranged a meeting witht the business manager, i explained i would never need credit , i didnt want an overdraft i just wanted an account where i could accept cheques in my company name, They were brilliant and after scanning my business plan they finally gave me an account with free banking for 18 months , just be persistant and somebody will give you the chance.

Hi

I've just (within the last week) opened an account with Natwest. At the time of registering I was told that if I had any adverse credit against me I could still open an account but would not recieve the free banking. They were great on the phone and luckily everything has gone through but the woman didn't see it as a problem at all.

Go for it! Good luck

Lisa

I have tried all the options listed above with no success whatsoever. I have been to five banks and all have virtually laughed me out of the office, a very humuliating experience. Natwest were the worst, following Lisas suggestion above. My credit isnt that bad, with a couple of recent defaults and an old, paid CCJ, but banks are saying that following the "banking crisis", getting accounts excepted with anything but perfect credit is near-impossible.

Dispairingly
Danny

I forgot to mention, and further to the post by GillOakWeb that when NatWest refused me, I complained and did get a call back from the Manchester Area Manager. I was told that there is no such thing as an "adverse credit section" for business accounts. This may have been true when the previous post was made, but certainly isnt now!

Danny

hi, I opened a business bank account with Natwest about 8 weeks ago, and i have a far from perfect credit history with some arrears still outstanding. I think you need to speak directly to business banking rather than going into a branch. It is a basic bank account with no overdraft or debit card, but this is perfect for me at the moment. Its called a foundation account and you get a cheque book and solo card.

Hope this helps!

Melissa

Melissa

Thanks. I did try but was turned down. They told me that they still do use credit scoring for the account. I mentioned this on my last post but thanks for the reply anyway.

I contacted the Federation of Small Businesses and they told me about a company that specialises in this area so I am going to give them a shot. I can't start trading until I get this open.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks
Danny

About NATWEST and other people's posts on here. NATWEST confirmed that they do use credit scoring and don't have any special arrangements for poor credit customers. I have already applied to them and been refused. I complained and did get a full explanation that credit scoring is still used.

I thought I would reiterate the above to avoid anyone else (however well meaning) telling me to try NATWEST.

Danny

Well, it works for me:

http://www.moneynews.co.uk/4634/natwest-business-banking-launches-foundation-account/

and

http://www.natwest.com/business/products/business-current-accounts/foundation-current-account.ashx

it looks ok to me!

Steve