18 year old needs bank account. How?

Dioritt

My daughter has recently moved to this country after living with her father in Norway. She lived here for about 2 years during her early teens but otherwise has lived her entire life abroad.

As she lives with me, she doesn't receive any bills or similar in her name and when I contact my bank (co-op), I was told that she could only have a child account because of her lack of 'proof of identity'. She does, however, have a passport, a Norwegian visa card, an ordinary Norwegian bank card and a birth certificate, but these weren't good enough; she needed letters from utility companies and the likes.

She's trying to find a job at the moment and needs an account that can be used to have her wages paid into - a child account just isn't good enough.

Does anybody know of any banks that would likey give her a worthwhile account?

Queenie

I have a 44yo friend in a very similar predicament! He has lived here ALL his life, is paid weekly in cash (general labourer) and lives in multi-occupancy housing with shared bathroom/kitchen facilities all inclusive in his rent!

If I were you, I would open that "child" account for the time being so she can, at a later date (or until someone comes up with a better idea ) use that history to open another, more suitable one!

If she gets a job, she could always have her wages paid into *your* account and you can make a direct debit to have it transferred into her account.

littleangel

Welcome to the UK banking system!

I had similar problems when I arrived here 8 years ago, but I managed to open a bank account as an adult with my grandmother's bank - Barclays (who I DON'T recommend). She had to lie to the bank manager and say I would be living with her permanently - but I got a bank account (albeit one without a debit card - apparently having access to my own money was a bit risky). The only check they did was to ring her - I guess the rules have changed a bit since then!

Can you put her name on the utility bills along with yours? Technically, the first name on the bill is liable for the bill, but the bill will come with all names on it (like in a share house). So if you do that with a couple of utility bills, and ask them to send confirmation (i.e. a letter from the utility company with her name and address on it) she'll have her 'proof of identity' pretty quickly. In the meantime, go with what's been offered - it's better than nothing and starts her off.

littleangel

P.S. Another option may be to open a joint account with both your names on it - but she'll be the only one that uses it? That should enable her to get wages paid into an account to which she can get access via a debit card.

Aletank

I opened a Abbey National Savings Account when i was about 8, When i started work at 16 my wages use to get paid into that.

Savvy_Sue

My son, 17, has one of the 11+ accounts from NatWest and has his wages paid into that no problem. It has a sort code and an 8 figure account number, what more can anyone want? He has a debit card so can spend his own money. He uses internet banking to transfer what he owes to me.

But I've just thought - can she open one of these if she's already 18?

Tony_H_3

Have you considered looking into a "Post Office" Current Account or Basic Bank Account. Click Here