Ok I'm sadly having to go against everything I believe in to open a bank?!

[Deleted User]

I'm a very proud person and I don't like to admit defeat. Due to having no money and not being able to have any money to get photographic I.D I'm most likely going to defy my beliefs in order to open a bank! Surely this is wrong? Making someone go against their beliefs to open a damn bank account?

I went to connexions and they said they can give me a Letter of I.D to open my bank. I go to Barclay's which the letter is for and I deal with one of the ladies working there. She told me due to my age and because I'm not in state care (Childrens home, residential school etc.) I cannot use this letter as proof of I.D HOWEVER...I can on the condition I get a letter from Jobseekers that I'm claiming money. (The silly woman obviously weren't listening to my beliefs!) She then asked me If I was working, I honestly felt I was talking to a brick wall, might of got some answer from one as well!

So is there anywhere I stand?
Can I get a letter from Jobseekers with my N.I details on?
I'm really at a loss to what to do.

I'm really clueless to where I stand. I lose ALL self respect, pride and dignity if I sign on. I want to get through life without having to personally claim for benefits. Whether or not i'm entitled!

Any idea? Sorry for the rant.

Benjamin.

david39

From your description I gather that, in order to open a bank account with them, they are really asking to see some form of evidence as to where the money you will be depositing, is coming from.

If you have no fixed income and no benefit claims, then an alarm bell will start ringing.

This is probaby a money-laundering check - and something that all banks have to take special care to guard themselves against as the penalties to them can be very expensive if it is discovered and they are found to have not taken adequate checks to ensure that their client was not involved.

Other banks may have different criteria and may not ask the same questions. My strategy here would be to approach some of them and explain your position to them.

Otherwise, why not give an on-line bank or a (proper) building society a try?

[Deleted User]

I guess that will be the only choice. Can you recommend any decent Building Societies?

Cheers.

Paul_Herring

I lose ALL self respect, pride and dignity if I sign on.

If you have all intentions of getting a job, instead of just staying on the 'dole' I'm failing to see what the problem is.

I started work when I was 16 (1988), and until 2007 had more or less continuous employment with one company or another.

2007 I had to move, and found myself jobless, and had no qualms about signing on (though the Job Centre did - they decided to question the reasons behind my leaving my previous job.) I had another job within weeks, but I was quite prepared to stay on the dole for however long it took me to find a job.

With all due respect, I believe some of your beliefs to be misplaced. JSA is specifically there for people trying to get a job; it's just that there are some who treat it as a wage instead.

MrsManda

Why do you need to open an account if you have no money? The bank is unlikely to give you an OD without any proof of income. What kind of account are you looking for? With no means of support, the bank is going to be suspious of where your initial deposit comes from.

If you just need a copy of your N.I. number you can write to the HMRC and ask them to send you a letter to confirm your N.I. number - I did this years ago when I had my purse stolen (which had my N.I. card in it as I'd just recieved it having turned 16 that week).

[Deleted User]

Ok. Weirdly enough today has gotten better. I've got a job offer which im ringing up about and I've got my bank half way sorted.