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  • System
    System Posts: 178,365 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    He has no credit / residence history so is most likely to be offered basic facilities to begin with even if he gets the ID they require. BTW most basic accounts have debit cards.
    Mikhail wrote: »
    Hi,

    I know he can open a basic account, but I would appreciate if you could advise me where he can open a current account with a debit card, not a cash card.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Mikhail wrote: »
    Why should he register for Council Tax if he lives with me and I pay 'for two or more adults' rate?

    http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/downloads/bhcc/counciltax/2013-14_Residents_Guide_to_Brighton_Hove_Services.pdf

    Correct, it won't affect your CT rate if you don't currently get the SPD. But you said he's already on the electoral roll at this address anyway? If it's at a different address, he'll need to update that ASAP. Being correctly listed on the ER s a fairly fundamental requirement for most forms of credit.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • anqet
    anqet Posts: 28 Forumite
    edited 18 April 2013 at 10:26AM
    Try Barclays as well. One of the big branches. The Sloane Sq branch opened mine, I showed a job offer and foreign IDs, no proof of UK address. They even offered me overdraft from the very beginning.

    http://www.barclays.co.uk/Helpsupport/Identificationforbankaccounts/P1242557966027

    If not, he'll get approved for an HSBC Passport account with a 6-mo contractual period. It's aimed at newcomers. A friend of mine just opened hers with no job offer and no proof of UK address (she had proof of foreign address). She's EU as well.
  • olly300
    olly300 Posts: 14,738 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Mikhail wrote: »
    He's already in the UK, today is his 2nd day at work.

    He has no relatives here.

    He needs to speak to someone at work. I would start with a manager rather than HR as managers tend to be more useful in getting things done.

    He should explain that he can't open a bank account so they won't be able to pay his wages and then ask:
    1. Is there any bank they have an agreement with?
    2. What bank do they use?

    As long as the business doesn't just use a purely business bank they should be able to help.
    I'm not cynical I'm realistic :p

    (If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)
  • rubybloo
    rubybloo Posts: 10 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    edited 18 April 2013 at 6:38PM
    Go into a Lloyds TSB branch as they will open him an account. All he needs is his passport or Spanish identity card. I can't link to the Lloyds TSB website yet, but they have a list of acceptable identification, and they do not require proof of address if you can show a passport/identification card.

    I'm Australian and opened an account at Lloyds with my passport (with visa inside) the day I arrived in London three years ago, with no job and certainly no proof of address or electoral roll enrolment. I was immediately given a Classic current account with Visa debit card, and I think I may have gotten a tiny overdraft as well (£100). As far as I'm aware, there is no other bank that is as flexible with ID.

    We recently had a French girl lodging with us who had just emigrated & had no proof of address. I advised her to go to Lloyds as HSBC were giving her the run-around (despite being a French HSBC customer), and she had no hassles getting a full current account at Lloyds.
  • Mikhail
    Mikhail Posts: 262 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Many thanks to everyone!

    We went to Halifax and were able to open the Halifax rewards current account with a £100 overdraft.
  • I have a different problem. my wife and me both have A/Cs with NATIONWIDE for 25 years. we have retired to Spain and asked for both our a/c to be made joint. We was told that as our address is in Spain they will not allow us to do that. We are allowed to keep our own A/Cs but not allowed to make any changes can any one help . We cannot change banks as we have no address in the UK
    Many thanks Cath & Harry
  • ispookie666
    ispookie666 Posts: 1,194 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I had similar problems in 2009.
    I finally opened a step account with Natwest - had given my passport, accommodation letter/contrct and letter from employer.

    Things might have changed.
    “Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." - Desmond Tutu

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