If you start a Debt Management Plan (DMP) you still keep control of your finances. Your income is paid into your bank account as normal. You remain responsible for paying for all of your living expenses including your Plan payments. Because you are managing your own bank account, there is no legal reason why you should not have a debit card facility. In fact it will be inconvenient to pay for everyday expenses such as food shopping and petrol without one.

How to get a Debit Card with your bank account as standard

If you own nothing to the bank where you have your current account there is no need to change anything to do with your account. You stick with the same one and keep the debit card facility that you already have.

However if you owe money to your bank and you include this debt in your DMP you will need to open a new account. When you do this whether or not you are given a debit card as standard will depend on the type of account you open.

If you have kept up to date will all of your payments by borrowing from one to pay another, your credit rating should still be fine. You will be able to open a normal current account at your new bank which will almost certainly come with a debit card as standard.

Can you get a Debit card if you have a poor Credit Rating?

If your credit rating is poor because you have already missed payments and perhaps even received default notices the new account you open will normally be a simple one with no credit facilities called a card cash account. Traditionally these accounts have not come with a debit card.

However, it is now much more common for banks to provide their card cash customers with a debit card facility. One such account is the Co-OP Cashminder account. As such, you should always try to make sure you open a card cash account with a debit card facility.

Should you apply for a Pre Paid Debit Card?

If you have opened a card cash account with no debit card you do have the option of getting a pre paid debit card facility. Pre paid debit cards are available from a number of suppliers and are offered even if your credit rating is bad.

However pre paid card accounts tend to be costly to maintain. For this reason, you might be better off simply changing your bank account to a bank which provides a debit card for free.