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basic bank accounts

Hi - I've posted here before re my niece & CCCS etc, but we now are having difficulty in opening a basic account. The problem appears to be acceptable identification.
She has no recent passport, no driving license, has only moved in with us 2weeks ago, and is still awaiting her ALG award - the JSA has stopped.
We have tried HSBC, Natwest, and Nationwide, but they all seem very reluctant without the above documents.
I thought it was a simple matter to open one of these, but that's not been our experience so far.
Any suggestions anyone??
When I married 'Mr Right', nobody told me his first name was 'Always'. ::rotfl:

Comments

  • fermi
    fermi Posts: 40,542 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Rampant Recycler
    Basic account should be easy to open, but only with regard to the fact that your credit history does not stop you.

    The banks are still obliged to perform the basic identity/anti-fraud checks when opening an account.

    Birth certificate maybe?
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  • Yep, offered that, but they still want a whole lot more.
    When I married 'Mr Right', nobody told me his first name was 'Always'. ::rotfl:
  • The Lloyds TSB basic account can be opened online and if she is on the electrol roll than no further ID is needed.
  • She only moved here on September 1st so is on electoral roll at previous address:(
    When I married 'Mr Right', nobody told me his first name was 'Always'. ::rotfl:
  • SusieT
    SusieT Posts: 1,267 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Does she have mail forwarding? It may be possible to set up the account in her old address and then change to your address once its opened. That way she would have the identification needed, otherwise perhaps set up a basic account in your name and run it for her until she is on the electoral roll and able to set up her own one.
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  • Hi - i don't think the 'mail forwarding' is a good idea, as it's her home situation is a major part of this problem.
    But I did think about setting up an acount in my name - maybe I'll do that.
    When I married 'Mr Right', nobody told me his first name was 'Always'. ::rotfl:
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