Make basic bank accounts for bankrupts a legal right

We, the undersigned, call upon all of Britain’s banks and building societies to open their basic bank accounts up to un-discharged bankrupts (those within six years of being declared bankrupt) to enable them to begin rebuilding their lives.

The aim of basic bank accounts, according to the government, is to offer simple financial services, such as cash machine withdrawals, to people otherwise excluded by the banking industry. Without such advantages, people caught in this position are unable to continue with everyday life in our modern world.

The banks and building societies have made their own mistakes. Un-discharged bankrupts deserve the same chance to start again.

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Signatures Received

Signed By City/Country Comments
Matt Roberts London / UK Some banks do, some don't, and the ones that do, only sometimes. I support this. Make EVERY bank offer a basic bank account to a bankrupt.
Sarah Tye London / UK It's not fair that bankrupts should be treated like fraudsters. These are basic servcies that should be available to everyone.
Sebastian Garner Wrexham/UK I agree with your pedition because the banks regard bankrupt people as scum. A rapist or a murderer would probably get a bank account or credit before someone has been made bankrupt. But I blame the credit reference agenices as they are totally un-regulated and information they hold is just like having a criminal record. I feel it is wrong that bankrupt information stays on your file for 6 years even when you have been discharged and the same if you have had judgement even though it's paid off because I dont care what anyone says still goes against you. Any excuse and the banks will use this information. I also feel it breaches your Human Rights and if I had the money I would take this fact to the European Court of Human Rights. Good luck with your pedition.
Grant Menzies Glasgow / UK Every bank should offer bankrupt people an account,we the taxpayer have bailed them out with billions of pounds
Jo Simmonite Sheffield An absolute neccesity for people who have made the decision that bankcruptcy is the only option left for them. Basic accounts are no risk for the bank but then they will not make a lot of money from them so are not worth there while. It should be made compulsory that all banks offer abasic account to anyone including undischarged or recently discharged bankrupts. These people are taking charge of their finances and are very unlikely to get into debt again as they have had to live through the distressing process that leads to bankcruptcy
Anonymous Merseyside Its about time that the banks started becoming a bit more accountable themselves. This would be a small step in stopping them from penalising people who have fallen on hard times.
Anonymous Chippenham/UK Only the Co-op Cashminder and the Barclays Cash account are regularly available to bankrupts, which is just wrong. Some bankrupts are stuck with the fee paying accounts which is stupid as how can you afford £12.00 a month just to bank when every penny counts.
angela oxbrow york north yorkshire uk this is unfair got a debt relief order I've been treated as if I'm in full bankruptcy and will be discharged after a year. And why is it on credit reference for six years and not one. Will be checking next april. Also got a basic bank account with the co-op, good luck with the petition
Anonymous york england We can all send cheques, counter cheques, but we all then get charged £20 a pop in cash for the privilege! Next time these greedy *ankers offer me almost unlimited credit I shall see them off for 500 grand and loose it in Switzerland like Andy Hornby did with his stash! For now cash is king but can we even trust the Bank Of England, they almost went belly up themselves (in 1722)?
Anonymous Northampton/England we are neither criminals nor fraudsters, just people trying to get their life back together after going through some tough times, to extend the punishment by excluding us from having a normal bank account is disgusting treatment. Why should we be discriminated against for the rest of our lives.
Anonymous Sheffield I have not commited a criminal offence by going bankrupt.
john lawless Worcester I support this. Make EVERY bank offer a basic bank account to a bankrupt and watch them stick with them forever.
Anonymous Maidstone/ England I think you should give Bankrupts a chance to start again, it takes alot of guts in my opinion to go through bankruptcy. Let bankrupts get on with life and give them a break
David Garthwaite Leeds Some of the banks were bankrupt until the taxpayer bailed them out. Time to realise that and give everyone a chance.
Glyn Foster Hatfield, Herts, Englnd I lost my business and was made bankrupt after a stroke. How am I supposed to rebuild my life when I can't even get a bank account?
Anonymous Scotland Bankruptcy if a stressful anf difficult enough time without the banks using it as a further means to penalise those of us who's businesses have gone under due to the recession.
Matt Stone UK Genuine cases deserve a chance to prove themselves & rebuild their lives. It is virtually impossible to live a normal life without a bank account. Some of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs & celebrities have come through this terrible experience all the stronger & happy to give back to society.
Jess Bown London UK Bankrupts deserve the chance to rebuild their lives and become fully functioning members of society. Banks should facilitate this by offering them simple banking services.
fiona wood liverpool bankrupts are human beings
Anonymous scotland bankruptcy was a difficult thing to do and very hard thing to go through with. banks should not be able to stop people trying to get on with there lifes