Jobless, Homeless & in the middle of a divorce :(

m-audi

I wonder if anyone can offer any advice on my situation.

First let me explain my situation - It's probably quite a unique one (which I won't bore you with the details of). Essentially I'm in the middle of a divorce which is now in the stage of financial settlement. Shortly after my wife decided to have an affair I walked out and rented a short-term room in a flat share. Two months later the company I worked for went into administration and everyone redundant. I was left homeless & penniless (you get virtually nothing in statutory redundancy for a year employment). I've spent the best part of a year crashing at friends and a good deal of time literally sleeping on the street / parks / bus stops / wherever I could find, so had no fixed abode. I have no documents left - no passport etc. and my (soon to be) ex claimed they're not in the flat - hence I couldn't claim benefit or do anything. During that time my bank account has been closed and the ~£2000 overdraft handed to a debt collection agency - I have no hope of recovering that account or opening another one with them (Lloyds) they told me.

About my account: My salary was paid into my wife's account and when I left I got the company to pay it to a friends account. My account was left in the red on advice from my wife way before that - like over a year! (She looked after all finances as I'm rubbish with them!)

I'm now staying back at my parent's for a couple of months (great for a 30yr old who moved out of home at 18!) until this whole thing is over but I have a problem and can't find any meaningful advice or anyone who has been able to help, so I turn to you guys to see what you would do.

I'm about to settle in the divorce and my ex is going to buy me out of the property so I'll have a lump sum of money soon, but nowhere to put it. I can't think of a way to open an account without a job or address! I've just managed to get a copy of my birth certificate (thanks to my father) and that is all I have... to my name in fact!

My question is this. How the hell do I open an account or what do I do with a cheque for £xx,xxx with just a copy birth certificate?!

Can I just go into a bank and say I want to open an account for this money or something? I'm utterly clueless when it comes to finance matters!

Sorry for the long-winded approach to the question but if any of you can offer any advice I'd be extremely grateful!

RAS

To start with you need a basic bank account not one that requires a credit check. See http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/basic-bank-accounts

Secondly have you spoken to any of the debt charities about your situation?

Have you reported your passport as stolen?

m-audi

What are the basic bank accounts to choose from? I've only ever had a current account with debit card (and obviously a mortgage!)

Sorry to sound ignorant but I don't know anything about debt charities. The thing is - I will be able to instantly clear all my overdraft debt the moment we settle. I haven't reported my passport stolen - I didn't know you had to!

RAS

Added a link above.

You may need to think about ID; are you claiming any benefits?

m-audi

I haven't been able to. I tried to as soon as I was made redundant but the Job centre required ID. It was at this point I realised I didn't have my documents (passport etc). They point blank refused to help. I managed to get by with doing small cash-in-hand jobs for friends-of-friends, and a good deal of the time just went hungry. I'm quite a resourceful person so I didn't rely on benefit and couldn't get any! I may have a chance now if I use my parent's address & birth certificate perhaps?

Many thanks for the link above by the way

paulineb_2

Think you may need to get a replacement passport, am sure the DWP ask for two forms of ID, one photographic, but check, also its safer to report a lost passport.

marisco_2

You could apply for a replacement passport using your parents address and your birth certificate. As and when you look into any benefits you might be entitled to claim, make sure that you declare the capital you received from the sale of the house. Using that to clear debts and then claiming benefits with which to live on may be seen as deprivation of capital.

Gigglepig

Sounds like you have several issues going on, can you make an appointment with the local CAB and see if they can help talk you through how to approach some of these problems?

m-audi

Hmm... so I have to find money for a replacement passport and wait until that arrives I guess. I don't know how long any of this is going to take or when my settlement will be made, is there any place I can pay the money in to in the mean time do you know?
Thanks for all giving advice - I really appreciate it, I've never been in a pickle like this before!

paulineb_2

What about a post office account, sure they do a basic account where people can pay in benefits, wages etc.

paulineb_2

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/post-office-card-account