How to get a bank account - if you're unbanked - basic bank accounts

flippy178

leon2008 wrote: »

needed account for savings. no driving licence or passport. all bills payed on line bank would not take a copy. so much for paying these on line to save money. they would only accept my electrol photo card and an a letter from an investment after they checked with head office. no wonder people cannot get account. the banks need to be more flexabile. leah

Banks aren't going to get more flexible when it comes to identification, they are going to get less flexible because of the laws aimed at preventing identify fraud, money laundering etc. Think about it from their point of view - they risk prosecution if someone opens an account in a false name which is then used for criminal activities - because the bank didn't check the ID properly.

If you pay online, can you ask to get some bills sent on paper temporarily if you need proof of address?

Patr100

b0051490 wrote: »

I don't have a driver's licence, or a passport and aren't on benefits no banks want me as I can't supply the narrow range of documents and they have no discretion.


I work in a bank and the reason we have no discretion is to stop money laundering and fraud

Who are you?? Prove it with having the Identification.
Its £50 for a driving licence or £30 for an ID card.
It really annoys me when people say why should I pay that just to open an account you obviously dont want one enough. You get discounts for paying bills by direct debits anyway

I suppose the other people who have been refused an account also "dont want one enough" .
I've already got a bank account from First Direct that I've had for at least 10 years. I didn't have any of the documents then when I moved from Natwest. Without any additional cost. The point is, back then already having an establised account was enough to open the second and transfer DDs etc. They welcomed me then as a new customer with a regular salary , good credit record etc, moving from a competitor.
Now it counts for nothing.
When First Direct were starting to charge and getting rid of some account holders a few years back I was really worried (and still am) about the lack of choice I would have - if any - in opening a new bank account. Luckily they kept me on because i still use their Credit card now and again.
Why should I pay out for a passport/ID card with all the extra time that would take for something that I already had since I was 16?
The only document I could possibly provide would be from the HMRC - but why don't all banks accept it? Not all do in my experience.

As I said, Council tax bills or any utility bills are for address confrimation they never provide ID proof which is a separate issue. i have plenty bills. Without the latter. the former is useless.
and as I said Citibank DID NOT have that on their list. I have been able to open and operate lots of saving accounts online immediately - I could have been laundering money through them. You don't require overdraft facilities to do that. Why can't banks be consistent?

Old_Wrinkly

b0051490 wrote: »

I work in a bank

Would you like to tell us which one?

and the reason we have no discretion is to stop money laundering and fraud.

No. You have (no doubt) been told that. The reason you have no discretion is that either
(a) you are not in a senior enough position, or
(b) your bank wants an easy life.

Who are you?? Prove it with having the Identification.
Its £50 for a driving licence or £30 for an ID card.

And it's free for the many methods of proving who they are without these 2 items (which are probably completely useless to them).

It really annoys me when people say why should I pay that just to open an account you obviously dont want one enough. You get discounts for paying bills by direct debits anyway

If this sort of thing "really annoys" you, then perhaps you should consider a job that doesn't bring you into contact with the general public (who might well have views different to your own).

benoit

b0051490 wrote: »

I don't have a driver's licence, or a passport and aren't on benefits no banks want me as I can't supply the narrow range of documents and they have no discretion.


I work in a bank and the reason we have no discretion is to stop money laundering and fraud

Who are you?? Prove it with having the Identification.
Its £50 for a driving licence or £30 for an ID card.
It really annoys me when people say why should I pay that just to open an account you obviously dont want one enough. You get discounts for paying bills by direct debits anyway

Talk about missing the point. :wall:

If you don't drive then you are not going to pay £50 for a driving license & you can only buy ID cards in certain parts of the country, and quite right why should people pay to open a basic bank account?.

usedandabused

i find there to be a fundamental flaw in the banks ideology towards basic bankers, they come across as not wanting our custom, bar a few sympathetic banks/BS's, and i do mean FEW!!!!

benoit

They seem to forget we OWN them. lol :rotfl:

KimYeovil

Patr100 wrote: »

Why should I pay out for a passport/ID card with all the extra time that would take for something that I already had since I was 16?

What sort of person does not possess a passport? Surely every grown adult has one.

Kavanne

I let my passport expire and I've not gotten around to replacing it It happens.

benoit

KimYeovil wrote: »

What sort of person does not possess a passport? Surely every grown adult has one.

Why? Is it compusory to have one? I don't have one. I don't go abroad & never have done so i don't need a passport. You will be surprised how many people don't have a passport.

Patr100

KimYeovil wrote: »

What sort of person does not possess a passport? Surely every grown adult has one.

What sort of person asks such stupid questions?
.