Bank account for teenager...

TeetersOnHeels

My 15yr old DS has applied for a bank account with Natwest. It's his first account, and is one of those 15-18yr old student type account. He had to send 2 forms of ID, his birth certificate, and a utility bill showing our address. Obviously at 15 he doesn't have any bills in his name, so I sent our council tax bill. They also wanted something to prove the mum/son relationship, as our surnames are different. (Although divorced I still use my married name. DS's surname is that of his dad's, who I was never married to, and who I separated from in 1996)...The only paperwork I have is my working tax credit award, which shows both my name, DS's name, and our current address (to match the council tax bill)
Natwest returned all the paperwork with a letter saying I still needed to prove I'm his mother :eek:
Anyone any idea's? How old does he have to be to open a bank account without any input from me? Is it 16?

Spendless

What about birth certificate that shows your previous name and your sons plus your marriage certificate to show the change from your old name to your new?:cool:

happyfili

That sounds a little strange...I remember opening my first bank account with Midland (now HSBC) at 12, (I'm 28 now) as they had a very clever little tactic where they would run a weekly bank inside my school on a lunchtime...an ingenious plan to get future customers, no? Plus you got an awful free rucksack and card wallet too (how many cards do you have at 12?)

I'm sure security is slightly tighter now as it was then but I think all I needed was my passport at the time? Perhaps a letter from my mam? It wasn't anything as complicated as you mention anyway...I'm sure the law at the time was 12 to open a bank account but as I say things have probably changed.

TeetersOnHeels

His birth certificate is the small version, so doesn't have my name on it - and my marriage certificate is in Spanish..
Can you get copies of the large certificate?

TeetersOnHeels

Thanks for that Happyfili...
Looks like things have changed..The info pack wanted 'one item form table A and one item from table B' Things included on the list were medical card, birth cert, passport etc, then something with the address, and 'cos our surname is different something to prove I'm his mum...

happyfili

You can get copies of the full certificate, you need to contact the register office you registered his birth at

Spendless

What does your child benefit award say? I've just looked at mine and it just says Mrs Spendless for your children x and y, but I don't know if they put surnames on if they are different?

TeetersOnHeels

The child benefit says the same as the Child Tax Credit paper work..my name and address, then the amount awarded for DS, with his full name - but that's what they sent back saying it wasn't enough to prove I was his mum!!!

TeetersOnHeels

Have browsed the application process for Santander, and they will accept a passport and medical card once he hits 16 (Oct this year)..It might be less hassle to hang on, and open one then...

Spendless

TeetersOnHeels wrote: »

The child benefit says the same as the Child Tax Credit paper work..my name and address, then the amount awarded for DS, with his full name - but that's what they sent back saying it wasn't enough to prove I was his mum!!!

I'd ring/write back asking what they do want. (a DNA test -lol).

DX2

TeetersOnHeels wrote: »

Have browsed the application process for Santander, and they will accept a passport and medical card once he hits 16 (Oct this year)..It might be less hassle to hang on, and open one then...

I'm just in the process of opening a youth account for my son with Santander, I just had to send a photocopy of his passport and birth certificate.