HELP PLEASE. Trying to help a good friend.

Fountaine

Where do I start. I am trying to help a really good friend. The query in the main is advice re opening a bank account. Who will have him ?

He has always worked, in the main self employed, and has always played it straight with the tax, even declaring small earnings from a band he plays in occasionally. He has never claimed benefits, even when there were periods of no earnings. His problem is he has not had a bank account for about 25 years. He last had a post office account but closed it many moons ago. He has been in long relationships, 5, 6 & 15 years (the latter with me – we broke up several years ago) and has no utility bills in his name as he was not the houseowner. The years have drifted into decades and I always felt he would have problems as he won’t show anywhere on credit ratings.

I have allowed him to continue to use my address as a postal address as he moved his possessions to a 10½ month holiday site where he cannot receive post.

I also allowed him exclusive access to a building society account which is in my name so he could bank cheques when he had them. It is an account that at some time may pay a windfall so it suited me to keep it active. I have never paid in or drawn out and all cheques deposited are balanced by invoices on which he has paid tax. I drafted a declaration which we both signed about the arrangement to show there was never any devious intention.

He is approaching 60, so at some point will need an account for his pension and to pay bills, such as a direct debit for his tax which he is struggling to pay. In the short term, he may need to claim JSA benefits as his work source has all but dried up.
So to sum up, he has no permanent address where he can receive post. He has no utility bills etc in his name. He does have paperwork showing my address such as car tax, car insurance, income tax, driving licence (with very old address on) Construction Scheme ID card and a passport. Would he be able to open an account with say Northern Rock or is there a better option ? I am happy for him to still use my address as a C/o for correspondence.

Any advice gratefully appreciated. Enjoy your weekend

getmore4less

Where does the Electoral register say he lives?

Have you actualy tried or just assuming they won't take him

Why not just ask a bank for a basic account?

Why not try the BS where the account he uses is?

blueberrypie

I don't know if he'd pass a credit-check, having been somewhat "invisible" all these years, but he should be able to get a basic bank account with most banks without a credit-check anyway. Have a look at http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/products/bank_accounts/types_of_bank_account.html for more on info on that.

He'll need ID to open the account - usually the requirement is one piece of ID with a photograph, and one for proof of address. His passport will do for the photograph, or he could use his driving licence if he gets the address updated on that (which would be a good idea anyway). Letters from the tax people should be adequate as proof of address.

Fountaine

thanks for that GetMore and Blueberry. I have been reading up on basic bank accounts since I posted and that looks like it could be the answer.

How about his address situation ? Will they accept a care of, or should I just continue to let him use my address for post as if he is still living here. I don't want to give myself problems with benefits when I start to draw my pension later this year.

Fountaine

sorry to bump this but can anyone advise re address situation ? Will a bank accept a c/o address or shall I just let him continue using my address for his post and setting up a basic bank account.

McKneff

Are you likely to claim any means tested benefits, either soon or after you retire. Means tested benefits as you probably know already are based on
household income. Dont know wheter that makes any difference.
Youre a very nice lady to help him out like this,

Dickieburd

If he is really stuck then he may possibly apply for and get a prepaid debit card but some would charge him for putting money in, some charge for purchases or taking money out and others charge a monthly fixed fee.

It would be ideal for him to get a basic bank account.

If he needed an account for SOLELY for benefits being paid into then he could apply for Post Office Card Account

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1?catId=19400181&mediaId=19900206

Fountaine

thanks annie and dickie. A basic bank account is definitely the way to go. I didn't know they existed until I came on here this morning, so RESULT !

It's him not having a postal address which is the issue now. I am happy to let him use mine as a Care of / would a bank accept that ? or if I don't rock the boat and just let him carry on using my address for correspondence, is that OK ? He will not be contributing anything to the household and will not be living her, but would benefits and others as in Council Tax possibly take a different view ?

Extant

Fountaine wrote: »

It's him not having a postal address which is the issue now. I am happy to let him use mine as a Care of / would a bank accept that ? or if I don't rock the boat and just let him carry on using my address for correspondence, is that OK ? He will not be contributing anything to the household and will not be living her, but would benefits and others as in Council Tax possibly take a different view ?

Whilst I certainly can't speak for the other banks, you mentioned he had a passport - if it's a UK passport, in date, Barclays will accept this and this alone for opening an account, no address verification required. Where he then has his post sent to is nobody's business but his own.

Also, having no credit is not the same as having bad credit - I'd say he should at least try for a full account as opposed to going straight for a basic account. Whilst I certainly don't condone the use of personal accounts for business reasons, if he is self employed, he may find the higher level of services offered to be useful - cheque books, no branch restrictions, etc.

olly300

Fountaine wrote: »

thanks annie and dickie. A basic bank account is definitely the way to go. I didn't know they existed until I came on here this morning, so RESULT !

It's him not having a postal address which is the issue now. I am happy to let him use mine as a Care of / would a bank accept that ? or if I don't rock the boat and just let him carry on using my address for correspondence, is that OK ? He will not be contributing anything to the household and will not be living her, but would benefits and others as in Council Tax possibly take a different view ?

What address is or will he using for his own benefits? Use that address.

Council tax departments, if they bother to check, tend to check occupants against the electoral roll.

cambsgirl_2

Barclays insisted I provided something with my address like a utlility bill alongside my passport to open a cash account
Tanya