opening bank account without utility bill

book12

torridonscot wrote: »

Maybe this is a bit off-topic but I am in a similar situation only I'm an EU national moving to the UK. I took a short trip to London in Feb and went to a Barclays branch and they said that passport and my EU national ID card/driving licence is enough to open a personal bank account as long as they have my full address. This is confirmed by this page

http://www.personal.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?task=popup1group&value=7551&target=_blank&site=pfs

What I am a bit concerned with is that they will send the debit card to my EU home address rather than where I'll be staying in the UK which would be a big hassle, as you can imagine.

Yes, you are correct about the ID. Your drivers license provides an address.

They send the debit card to your EU home address, because you provided your driver's license which says your EU address.

torridonscot wrote: »

Actually when I raised this point with them (even though it's a hassle to me personally, it seems logical that they would send the debit card to the address on my ID card) and they said I could come in personally to collect the debit card. Is this possible? I'm not familiar to UK banking practice.

Since they said that you could collect the debit card from branch, then yes, you can.

Not many banks do this I believe.

456789

book12 wrote: »

Since they said that you could collect the debit card from branch, then yes, you can.

Not many banks do this I believe.

HSBC do this aswell

agsnu

Natwest too.

book12

456789 wrote: »

HSBC do this aswell

agsnu wrote: »

Natwest too.

Is this mentioned on the application form that the debit card can be collected in branch? Or does the branch staff just say this if the customer wants it to be collected in branch? Or is this an 'exception' just like the EU person that posted earlier?

luckylooloo

torridonscot,have you got the account yet?
I am stiil not convinced that the banks will give me an account,if they use credit agencies to check ID and i am not on the electorel roll how can they confirm my add,the last time i tried ,the answer i got from 4 high sreet banks was "the computer says no "as i have no credit rating.
When they ask for my prev add and i tell them spain they then ask for prev address in the UK.My last address was many years ago and had adverse credit then,so you can see my probs.

456789

book12 wrote: »

Is this mentioned on the application form that the debit card can be collected in branch? Or does the branch staff just say this if the customer wants it to be collected in branch? Or is this an 'exception' just like the EU person that posted earlier?

I don't know if it is listed on the form at HSBC - the lady in branch gave me the option (which was convenient for me as I was away from home at the time)

book12

luckylooloo wrote: »

torridonscot,have you got the account yet?
I am stiil not convinced that the banks will give me an account,if they use credit agencies to check ID and i am not on the electorel roll how can they confirm my add,the last time i tried ,the answer i got from 4 high sreet banks was "the computer says no "as i have no credit rating.
When they ask for my prev add and i tell them spain they then ask for prev address in the UK.My last address was many years ago and had adverse credit then,so you can see my probs.

If you have physical proof of UK current address. You will be fine. Ask for a basic bank account, not current account. As an EU citizen, you are allowed to be on the voters roll.

They asked for previous UK addresses, as the UK credit reference agencies can't check overseas addresses.

book12

456789 wrote: »

I don't know if it is listed on the form at HSBC - the lady in branch gave me the option (which was convenient for me as I was away from home at the time)

I assume your PIN number was sent to branch as well seperately from the card.

nzseries1

stevie38, I didn't have time to read through this thread so sorry if it's been mentioned already, but you can open a Halifax Easycash account (a basic bank account with Visa Electron card) without any proof of address. You will need proof of ID, and they will send you a declaration stating something to the effect of "I certify that I live at address X" which you send back.

But when you go into the branch to apply, you must specify Easycash. Easycash! If you don't say Easycash, and say it many times, you will be given forms for the regular bank account and you will be declined.

torridonscot

I'm moving to London in May so no, don't have a bank account yet. I also don't have a previous address in the UK and it will take a while before I find a flat and I need a bank account to pay rent *sigh* see my problem?