Implications of having a 'double' (same name)

slopemaster

We recently had a lot of trouble trying to open a (joint) bank account, and it eventually emerged that the reason is that there is a person who has the exact same name and same date of birth as OH.

This is a little bit scary and I can't quite get my head round the implications.

I am wondering if this may be behind problems he has had in the past 2 or 3 years trying to open other accounts - savings, not borrowing?
I had always assumed it was because he is not on the electoral register, but now I wonder whether this could be the reason, and if so whether anything can be done?
Presumably this other person may be on the register somewhere else, so when OH gives a different address they probably think fraud or money laundering?

EarthBoy

I think you've answered your own question here.

Why is your other half not on the electoral register? Is he a British/Commonwealth/Irish/EU citizen? If so, then by law they must go on the electoral register at their main address if they are over 18. The law requires the householder to provide this information, and they have committed an offence if they don't.

The solution is simple. Just get him registered.

If he's not a British/Commonwealth/Irish/EU citizen then you will have to take ID to the bank to prove who he is and where he lives, so they can be sure he's not this other person.

slopemaster

The reasons why he's not on the electoral register are a bit complicated, but I'm sure you're right and I will try again to persuade him.
However, will this not just make it look as though he is the same person on the register in 2 places?

EarthBoy

I don't see why. The electoral register doesn't show date of birth, so there won't be anything to connect the two different people.

It would actually help his case because it would be evidence that he isn't the other person.

patman99

You DON'T need to be on the Electoral Register unless you wish to vote. My friend and his family have not been on the register for 15 years, and they have had no problems at all.

The e/r is simply a register of those people who have expressed a wish to cast a vote in the local & national elections.

If it were a legal requirement, how would the system deal with those in temporary accommodation, or homeless people staying in night shelters?. The local authority would have to employ a team of people to process the constant stream of new forms from those who move from address to address on a regular basis.

slopemaster

EarthBoy wrote: »

The electoral register doesn't show date of birth, so there won't be anything to connect the two different people.
It would actually help his case because it would be evidence that he isn't the other person.

Ah, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks

EarthBoy

patman99 wrote: »

The e/r is simply a register of those people who have expressed a wish to cast a vote in the local & national elections.

This is incorrect. The Electoral Register is a list of those legally entitled to vote; not those who choose to do so. The Representation of the People Act 1983, Section 10 (1) obliges the local registration officer to do an annual canvass to find out who these are: "shall conduct an annual canvass in relation to the area for which he acts for the purpose of ascertaining the persons who are for the time being entitled to be, or to remain, registered in his registers."

Note that it says those entitled to be registered, not those who choose to be registered. Section 4 of the Act defines those who are entitled to vote and the qualifications are all based on age, citizenship and residency. The Act says nothing about choosing to vote or not.

patman99 wrote: »

My friend and his family have not been on the register for 15 years, and they have had no problems at all.

Every year you get a form from the local registration officer asking for the names of the people in the household who are entitled to vote. This is the "canvass" referred to in the Act. It is a legal requirement to return this form. Your friends are either a) sending the form back saying that nobody at that address is entitled to vote, in which case they are guilty of an offence because they have provided incorrect information, or b) they are ignoring the form altogether and just chucking it in the bin.

In the latter case, i.e. where the forms are not returned, councils are empowered to ascertain the information by other means instead, including contacting people by other methods, or checking other records, or even by making house to house enquiries. I realise that some councils might not bother to make such enquiries, which might explain why your friends aren't on the ER after 15 years.

patman99 wrote: »

If it were a legal requirement, how would the system deal with those in temporary accommodation, or homeless people staying in night shelters?.

The place where you are staying on 15 October is classed as your residence if you don't have a permanent address elsewhere. Homeless people can make a "declaration of connection" with a particular address and use that for voting purposes:

http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/no_fixed_address.aspx