Re: Opening Bank Account

[Text interleaved/in conversation order: read to end for all comments] begin quote from Rob in uk.finance about: Re: Opening Bank Account

Letter from Inland Revenue or Benefits Agency. I'd have thought that one or other of the above would cover everybody in the UK eligable for a bank account? (If you choose to 'not officially exist' as far as is possible, I guess that's your problem ;-)

Don't you have a bank account already that you can use statements from as proof of address?

There must be some other additional ways around this as, otherwise, new students would have a nightmare time opening bank accounts for the first time, for example.

The person I was asked about this by is not renting or owning property and is, by virtue of their visa, not eligible for benefits or allowed paid employment in the UK. I suppose a letter form the Home Office might be OK. Thanks. They receive only a small amount in gifts from friends and overseas, a piggy bank might be a good option however they wanted to have simple BS account to put some money aside. In the autumn they are due to start a course of full time education and so should get a student visa which will change their status and they will then definitely need an account of some type. If they could get one now it might help then. (They will move to another town and there is no BS overlap) Otherwise I guess that the college welfare dept or somebody there knows how to sort it out.

I assume that the MIB have their own system B-)

I do. I think I got one before the current rules were introduced.

It reminds me of trying to get a photocopy done in the Civil Service.

"Can you copy this please?" "Fill in a copy request form." "Where do I get one of those?" "Request it on a "Forms Requisition Form"" "And where do I get one of those?" "Request it on a "Forms Requisition Form"" "Can you give it to me first, and I will request it on itself?" _______________________________ Disclaimer: By sending an email to ANY of my addresses you are agreeing that:

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2. All information in the email is mine to do with as I see fit.
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[Text interleaved/in conversation order: read to end for all comments] begin quote from Rob in uk.finance about: Re: Opening Bank Account

I've just realised that what I wrote was an utterly sweeping generalisation..! :-(

More seriously, how do children open bank accounts these days? They'd have a nightmare struggle getting the information needed..

Ah, I see. I suspect that even previous to this, the banks may have been reluctant to offer bank accounts to people in such a situation, unfortunately. It would probably be worth looking into some kind of "Basic Bank Account" as perhaps these may be easier to apply for, given that they are supposed to be for the "more difficult situations"?

That would probably do the trick, I'd guess.

[Becoming a student and opening an account]

I'd imagine so. Student welfare services are generally pretty knowledgeable.

It'd be interesting to hear from any students as to how they're managing to leap over all the hurdles to open accounts now?

"Could you just look into this light for a second?" Bzztweeeeeeeeeeeytt...

Sorry, I had assumed you were asking for information to help yourself! Duh.

Hope your friend manages to open an account somehow.

I opened a couple of BS accounts for the kids. Already had an account there so I was vouched for - had to take birth certificates for each of them. I guess those accounts with money boxes for children don't exist anymore - especially as they don't like to take coins..... One account at the BS said you could open it with just 1. I wonder if your 1 has to be made up of a bag of 1p or 2p coins?

The problem with "Basic Bank Accounts" is that they deal with other problems - like poor credit rating etc. But still require the same sort of proofs.

He went in today - the Yorkshire told him that they could not accept the letter from the Home Office - but one from the College would be OK.

I guess it could be another proof that we "need" compulsory ID cards. (Next year David Blunkett can introduce compulsory address cards to go with hem)

Sometimes I go into a bank to get cash out on credit cards and they ask to see either a passport or driving licence. I don't drive so it would mean I'd have to produce my passport as identification. Lloyds TSB wont even accept their own photo debit card!

"Peter Saxton" wrote

Can't you apply for a *provisional* driving licence, and use that?

"Peter Saxton" wrote

When I arranged online access to my Lloyds-TSB a/c, and had to deliver the letter in person to a Ll-TSB branch - they simply accepted my standard Ll-TSB debit card as proof of ID. It doesn't even have a photo on it!

Banks, or rather many of the people who work in them, are fairly stupid. I have had ID turned down because it "is out of date"... despite the fact that it is obviously me and that was all that was needing to be established (not that I still had access to whatever facilities the ID card originally gave me access to).

It is more difficult to get cash out of a bank than a replacement British passort abroad (after the original was stolen).

Axel

RBS asked for my driving lic or passport.and a bank statement with my address,----------I had 7 accounts with the same branch ,although now only 3 !!!!!!!!!!!! if they accept id 4 regards Ian

It is not the bank, but the guidelines with regards to Money laundering which prevents them accepting ID which is out of date. They were doing the correct thing by refusing it.

What were you tryig to do that required the ID?

I have one account and every month there are charges for paying in ,withdrawals etc .It is not overdrawn and has not been and I am sick having to get charges refunded .So I wanted to open another acc .and then reconcile the account (the one with charges) get the refunds and close it .Nothing illegal or doubtfull .----------Ian

local tax office would not take C156 with Photo and NI number sent from and issued by their main office,but accepted a sports club membership card!!!

----------Ian

That's not the people who work in the bank being stupid - they will be told in their instructions that they must see VALID ID. If they do not follow the rules, and a transaction is fraudulant, ultimatly they could lose their jobs. This is not a joke - I know one ex-cashier who was sacked for cashing a stolen cheque.

The theory is that people are likely to be less careful with passports etc which have expired, and therefore they are more likely to fall into the wrong hands. Those wrong hands could belong to, for example, the holder's brother. Conviniently, he looks similar enough to the passport's owner for a 10 year old photograph not to cause concern. He's also had chance to practice his brother's signature. Again, I am not joking - I have seen this happen.

Please don't call people stupid when you don't understand what they do. If it's too difficult for you to produce ID at the bank, why not close your account and keep the money in a tin under your bed? I'm sure it'll be safe there.

Nationwide ..............

RBS---- if they improve they will be as good as Nationwide---Ian