Business Bank Account/Canal Boat

Hanlon296

Hi,

I'm hoping someone can help, I've been running around in circles so far.

My situation is that I've been living on a canal box for just over 2.5 years, no permanent mooring (I move every 2 weeks). I've gotten around post by hiring a PO Box and that's been working fine. Until now...

I've recently just set up my business and no bank will accept my PO Box address as proof of identity - I knew I'd run into some trouble. Lloyds TSB refused (even though my personal account is with them), I've tried Metrobank because I heard good things and they told me that their search is based on an Equifax data base - so I contacted them, who said they use Royal Mail, so I contacted a nice guy on the phone there who said:

RM: Well, if you put your name at the top of that address, would it get to you?
Me: Yeah.
RM: Then your address is in our system, try the bank again.

Tried the bank. They've been promising to return my calls for over a week now but no such joy and I'm fast running out of options (and savings!) and I need to invoice soon to stay alive.

Can anyone advise on....anything really?! Just anything to move this forward. I'm not asking for a line of credit, just somewhere to dump my money each month. I have a UK passport, driving license etc. But I keep coming up against 'computer says no' and not an ounce of common sense so far.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Mr S Hanlon

lincroft1710

LloydsTSB de-merged some years ago, so presume you're with Lloyds. If so try TSB as I have heard they are capable of thinking outside the box. I am also presuming that the address on your driving licence is your PO Box No. rather than an actual address, or have you used friend's/relative's address. Which could be another avenue to explore

Hanlon296

Thanks Lincroft.

Yes, I'm with Lloyds (but will try TSB, thanks).

Address on drivers licence is a friends address, who is just going through a divorce - so that address will no longer be valid for much longer. Hence why I'm trying to find a sustainable solution.

I could give a family members address (I'm based in London, all family some +100 miles away), but that kinda defeats the point and I might not be home for 4-6 months or more.

Also, forwarding mail only last so long. I looked it up when I initially moved onto the boat, and I don't want to burden anyone with the task of forwarding my mail.

lincroft1710

Hanlon296 wrote: »

Thanks Lincroft.

Yes, I'm with Lloyds (but will try TSB, thanks).

Address on drivers licence is a friends address, who is just going through a divorce - so that address will no longer be valid for much longer. Hence why I'm trying to find a sustainable solution.

I could give a family members address (I'm based in London, all family some +100 miles away), but that kinda defeats the point and I might not be home for 4-6 months or more.

Also, forwarding mail only last so long. I looked it up when I initially moved onto the boat, and I don't want to burden anyone with the task of forwarding my mail.

If you get a loan there's nothing to stop you changing your address to the PO Box No as "a temporary measure" a few weeks later.

Savvy_Sue

lincroft1710 wrote: »

If you get a loan there's nothing to stop you changing your address to the PO Box No as "a temporary measure" a few weeks later.

Agree: get the account open, then change the address!