How do I get a debit card without tick box ID

earthan7dor1

I haven't had a bank account since santandersantander staff raided my only savings in the switch from Bradford & bingley - where I had left my money thinking it was safe -cynical laugh. (Santander fought dirty, falsely accusaccusng me of stealing my own money! FACT: withdrawals were only by ATM; Santander took my ATM card before b&b closed business; that had I accessed my own money I would have had to go into branch. FACT 2 withdrawals were heavier around Christmas/new year - I don't celebrate! FACT 3 ''statement' was on plain paper without any other normal statement dialogue! FACT 4 I existed on my pension SOLELY to leave that money safe for unexpected emergency; to keep adding to! Ditto cynical laugh!!!
Santander vehemently trashed my trust (in financial institutions - that's mild!
I have managed without till now, but as more is going 'online', I'm finding what I need is also online OK if they take postal orders, but not 'ecommerce, businesses. I can't keep asking friends to get things for me - its a hasstle and inconvenience.
I live off-grid; so no utility bill or other 'must have' ID. I don't 'spend' so no credit rating/DEBT. surprisingly THAT puts me in the 'bad risk' category! HOW DO THEY WORK THAT OUT! I just want debit(?) card I can load for when I need to buy online when they don't take postal orders or cash. is any organisation designed to welcome a frugal, debt free, non-conveyor belt person who does not dance in lock step with constrained 'protocol'. Nor do I want a Santander 2 stealing my hard saved money as their £thousands lottery! Thank you if you can help/advise. I'm happy not fitting stifling pigeon holes else!:EasterBun

nidO

Leaving aside all the superfluous stuff from your post, I gather you're asking how to open a bank account.
Walk into a bank of your choosing with whatever form of identification you have and ask them to open an account, any normal bank account will provide you with a debit card.

Just how "off-grid" are you? Do you not pay any council tax, have no passport/driving licence, no correspondence from HMRC/benefits agencies, no mortgage or council/HA tenancy agreement?

If you have absolutely nothing that proves who you are or where you live, you'll have to find your way to be slightly less "off-grid" than you currently are.

Archi_Bald

If you have an issue with Santander that you cannot resolve between you and them you should be taking it to the Financial Ombudsman. Although you would need to hurry up before it gets time barred.
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

If you have no current account, one option may be to get one. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-best-bank-accounts
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/basic-bank-accounts

If you don't want / can't get a current account, you can try prepaid cards. Although they can be quite pricey and they might not be accepted everywhere. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-cards

grumbler

Archi_Bald wrote: »

If you don't want / can't get a current account, you can try prepaid cards. Although they can be quite pricey and they might not be accepted everywhere. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-cards

Is it possible to top any up without a current account?

worried_jim

I love a good first timer rant!

mgdavid

I applaud the replies so far, for trying to make sense of what I could not ;-)

CKhalvashi

I suspect the main issue is AML, rather than any trust issue, and this is the issue that OP has......

Banks have to comply with the law, and AML is one of the strictest on banks.

Archi_Bald

grumbler wrote: »

Is it possible to top any up without a current account?

No idea. It's for the OP to find out what works for them. Perhaps they have a mate that would load the card(s) for them.

macman

Th reason you are a bad risk is quite simple-you have no recent credit history. Potential creditors want to see a record of credit being taken and repaid, and you presumably don't have that because of your lifestyle choice.
Electoral roll, passport, driving licence?
This should however not prevent you from getting a basic bank account as long as you can satisfy the proof of ID requirements: you just won't get an overdraft or credit.

JKSandy

grumbler wrote: »

Is it possible to top any up without a current account?

Yes, some allow you to top up with cash at the PO.

slink85

grumbler wrote: »

Is it possible to top any up without a current account?

a lot of prepaid cards can be topped up with cash at payzone / paypoint type outlets for a minimal fee