Opening a basic bank account or a savings account when not on the electoral roll?

agrinnall

Nick_C wrote: »

The end result is not the same.

You can split hairs for as long as you like, but the legal requirement is to be registered to vote. Anyone not registering who is eligible is in breach of the law.

Nick_C

agrinnall wrote: »

You can split hairs for as long as you like, but the legal requirement is to be registered to vote. Anyone not registering who is eligible is in breach of the law.

Not splitting hairs. Simply taking time to explain the changes as a lot of people don't seem to understand them.

travelling_about

Thanks for all your replies!!!

Re - council tax; that's not an issue as relative is not getting single person discount.

Reason for whether not sure should be on electoral roll is because I read up somewhere that you shouldn't be on the electoral roll if you are going to be out of the country for more than 6 months of the year. (on some council website - can't remember which one it was)

But what is their definition of "the year"? The tax year? The calendar year? Or the 12-month period from the date you move in?

I guess I could just join it and take myself off it when I go off travelling. However, I may be coming and going quite a bit. So would rather not have to do that every time.

Anyway, good to here you can bring in ID to open bank accounts if there are any issues due to not being on the electoral roll.

stehouk

if you have moved your bank accounts to your new address why do you need a basic account?
basic accounts are for people that cannot get a standard current account for a number of reasons, a poor credit history being one example, they also have restrictions on spending ie no overdraft facility and some debit cards have to be topped up from the account before spending

stehouk

i can reccomend the coop cashminder account. i used this account for several years while i i sorted my my finances out, but i wouldnt reccomend downgtading from a standard current account

eDicky

agrinnall wrote: »

the legal requirement is to be registered to vote. Anyone not registering who is eligible is in breach of the law.

What sort of penalty or other implications am I facing for not complying with this law (which I was unaware of)..?

EssexExile

https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register

agrinnall

eDicky wrote: »

What sort of penalty or other implications am I facing for not complying with this law (which I was unaware of)..?

As EssexExile has posted, £80 fine.

tenchy

eDicky wrote: »

What sort of penalty or other implications am I facing for not complying with this law (which I was unaware of)..?

In reality - none.

travelling_about

Re- bank accounts. Yes - I already have a current account and 2 savings accounts. So I don't really need another current account. But is it possible to have 2 currents accounts, or do you have to transfer everything over and close the old one?

I just thought of a basic bank account as I thought it would be easier to open - however, it appears most banks seems to keep them hidden away and only offer them to people who fail their test for a current account.

So I guess I should look at savings accounts which have a debit card / online banking.

I think I'm just a bit fed up with the banks I've had for the last 10 years or so, especially with the non-existent interest rates they have. (Although looking around, there don't seem to very good interest rates anywhere).

Anyone had any experience of Metrobank? Can you just get a savings account with online banking / debit card or do you have to get a current accoun too?