Bank account for someone with little ID

Beki88

Hi as the title says, I am looking for a bank account that would be easy to get for someone with little ID - and not great credit score either.
My mum doesn't have a passport/drivers info or any other form of photographic ID. She gets benefits paid into her basic post office card.
I have had a look on-line but a bit baffled with the options and ID needed.
After one where money/cheques can be paid in, no overdraft etc literally the basic bank account available. We only have a santander/hsbc near us but willing to look at other options. If anyone could help point us in the right way that would be great.
These are the things she has no idea if they are accepted:
Letters from DWP regarding benefits
Council tax letters
Letters from council about housing benefits
She did have a rent card but not sure about a recent one as she doesn't pay it anymore
Utility bills - letter from BT most others are managed online (and through my bank account as they required DD)
TV license letter

Thanks

SnowTiger

A Basic Bank Account would probably be her best option, see http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/basic-bank-accounts.

Barclays and Cooperative are both mentioned in that article, however other banks also offer them.

She will need two forms of ID. Basically, one has to be proof of ID provided by the government and the other has to be proof of address.

Letters from the DWP would probably be accepted as proof of ID. And a letter about council tax would probably be accepted as proof of address. Telephone bills are usually not accepted, but other utility bills are.

Is your Mother registered to vote? If not, that could be a sticking point.

solentsusie

SnowTiger wrote: »

A Basic Bank Account would probably be her best option, see http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/basic-bank-accounts.

Barclays and Cooperative are both mentioned in that article, however other banks also offer them.

She will need two forms of ID. Basically, one has to be proof of ID provided by the government and the other has to be proof of address.

Letters from the DWP would probably be accepted as proof of ID. And a letter about council tax would probably be accepted as proof of address. Telephone bills are usually not accepted, but other utility bills are.

Is your Mother registered to vote? If not, that could be a sticking point.

As SnowTiger says, being on the electoral roll is important and will help to confirm her identity.

Here is a link to ID required for Barclays. It is pretty standard across the board for most banks.

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

If she has no photo ID then one item from each of the columns. A benefits letter plus a utility bill, TV licence letter, council tax bill, rent book, tenancy agreement are accepted. They must be original copies and not printed from the internet.

As long as she has two of the above she should be fine without photo ID. You might want to try applying for one online with her. Whatever bank you choose will then tell you what ID they require you to take to the branch or send in to them.

My mother has the same issue as she doesn't have a passport or drivers license. This is not uncommon with older people. My mother was lucky in that she could be identified completely through their credit checks and didn't have to send or take in any further ID.

Good luck.

Beki88

Thank you for the replies. Very helpful
Yes she is registered to vote, when she moved into her bungalow it was one of the things I made sure she set up. She is only in her 60's but doesn't believe in bank accounts generally! Many thanks for your help again, I will have a look at applying on line with her.

pmduk

HSBC don't offer online applications for their basic account, but I believe Santander do. Santander don't offer a debit card, I'm not sure whether that's a sticking point.

Many basic accounts allow transactions at the Post Office Counter which might be useful to remember as it opens the possibility of using other banks without local branches. The list of services is here

eDicky

Santander accepted my online application for their 1-2-3 account (with debit card) immediately, literally in one second, unlike N&P BS who put me through hoops for weeks with ID requirements. So banks have widely varying verification policies.

Some prepaid debit cards operate as alternates to a bank account, with sort code and account number for transactions, such as Cashplus, who also accepted me immediately.

The above applications were made in the last few months, and were my first UK account applications.

Of course it facilitates unverified acceptance if someone is registered in the 'system' as a council tax payer, electoral roll (I'm not), utility bill payer, etc.