Opening a new bank account

passport or photo driving licence, bank web sites usually tell you, for example:

"Identity - certified copies of:

• Current valid passport * National identity card * Armed Forces identity card * Full UK driving license * Driving license with photo

Address - originals (to be returned):

• Utility bill * Local Authority bill * Bank, Building Society or credit card statement * Letter from public body - Government office, Inland Revenue * Driving license (if not used as proof of ID)"

you need one of each for that bank. Another requires 3 items at least one from each list

we don't know which bank. but most banks will want recent copies of the above. if you've just moved house or changed address, be prepared to be confronted with useless customer service and other tedium.

Why are these people so paranoid? Don't they want your business? Yes I know about AML, but even so they could make it easier?

Presumably, once we have the Blunkett ID card, we will only have to produce that to open an account. ;-)

(Not holding my breath)

I am taking up a equity bond with my bank who I have been with for 20 years. They have asked for the usual passport plus 2 other forms of id with my address on. My branch is a couple of hundred miles from where I work so I went into my local branch for them to endorse the id. I took passport, child tax credit award, gas bill and tv licence. They rejected the id as I didn't have 2 consecutive utility bills. They very nearly got the id shoved up their arse. I can't be the only person in the UK who is totally f**king pissed off with this. Kevin

you aren't. It has inhibited my choice of financial services providers to those I already have an arrangement with that are prepared to be rational. The silliest example was needing a DNA sample, retina scan and fingerprint (I exaggerate) to put 3 grand into a multi-year ISA account I have had running for ages.

Phil

Once they fit the retinal/fingerprint scanners in all the banks, shops, etc., connect them securely (!) to a central database, and maybe stick a microchip into your head.

ha ha. Don't ya love Blunkett?

Is there a society for getting him out of office and into somewhere where he will cause less harm?

cd

can we buy him a guide dog with running under bus tendencies (or training) ?

Phil

"Home secretary David Blunkett has blamed scepticism over the government's plans for a national ID card on the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant..."

"Phil Thompson" wrote

OK, so you exaggerated - what did they *really* want?

Careful - the secret police will be round soon if you don't watch it.

cd

I don't know, as soon as they started down the "you will have to fill in an application form and provide ID" route I said I was not interested. At this rate you'll have to go through the same hoops to pay a cheque into your current account.

MBNA seem happy with a few numbers punched into a website to give me gazillions of credit on a new credit card. No silly letters or bits of coloured tree fibre for them. How can this be ?

Phil

"Phil Thompson" wrote

What a sad anecdote.

Because you can't really use a credit card to launder money.

OK, I suppose you could. You could perhaps buy gold bars on your credit card, and pay the bill by cash at the post office.

Or something like that. I'm not really sure how money laundering works.

Or RSPCA

I can get a 10 grand balance transfer when I open the credit card account, that must have some potential. 10 grand of clean MBNA money into account, pay off MBNA with sack full of Roubles via Western Union in Moscow or something. Sorted.

Phil

OK - how?

I am sure that if there is an easy, smiple and obvious means by which ID and Address Verification can be immediately, and simply undertaken then banks would implement them. AFAIK EVERY bank in the country will accept Passport as ID and Driving Licence (at current address) for Address Verification. Both must be in date, quite logically. It is not really very difficult!

MC

That sounds a lot better. I wasn't too sure what to do with the gold bars afterwards.

And as a money launderer, you aren't going to be too worried about cash advance fees or a bit of interest, especially if you have already budgeted for Western Union fees.

Scripsit "Marcus Collie"

They are in cahoots with sinister government forces, plotting to build popular support for the introduction of a national ID cards!