Any accounts not needing id?

gabyjane

This is on behalf of my brother who is homeless, he wants to open an account to put his money in as he is working and doesn't feel safe carrying it around. Thing is he doesnt obviously have an address or any id other than a birth certificate..he just wants to open one but without this stuff it's proving impossible!! any ideas please.
Thanks.

zzzLazyDaisy

He is going to have difficulties because banks must comply with the money laundering regulations.

Could you open a basic account in your name - which means it can't go overdrawn - and give him the atm card, so he can draw cash when he needs it?

Alternatively, maybe contact Shelter for advice?

PBA

A letter of introduction from a hostel manager/social worker should be ok. Or a notice of coding letter from HMRC, which he should have received if he's working. Appreciate he's homeless, but he must have a contact address if he's working. Could he register to vote at this address, would help banks find him.

gabyjane

Hi thanks for the replys, Lazydaisy without sounding horrible i dont want to open an account for him as he doesn't in my eyes ever have any plans to move into his own home ever! i have done this in the past and mail has piled up for him and he just throws it all away and he wants a bank account which i'm not prepared to get bad credit on if he decides to do anything silly with it. Another genuine reason at the mo is that i cant do anything with my address full stop as we have recently bought a new build and the postcode still isn't going through, hence why ive had no post for 6 weeks and why i cant do anything that involves my address...

PBA he is working infact he has 2 jobs! BUT he doesn't live anywhere other than our local woods! he lives in a tent and has done for the last year + this is why i think he will never move and iv'e bailed him out lots of times before so don't particularly want to sit down the bank for 2 hours for him to decide he doesn't care anymore..that sounds heartless but it isn't! you have to know him!
I will suggest the ideas you have said, i have suggested premium bonds just to get rid of the £1k he has sitting around!

barak

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Could you open a basic account in your name - which means it can't go overdrawn - and give him the atm card, so he can draw cash when he needs it?

Probably not - as an account in your name only would according to the Terms & Conditions be only for your own funds.

zzzLazyDaisy

Hi Gabyjane, no, you don't sound heartless. I had a VERY similar experience with my own son, who chose to live rough. Honestly, it really was his choice, he had alternatives but didn't want to know. And, yes, I got to the pint where I wouldn't bail him out any more, or let him use my address. So I do understand.

As far as the £1000 is concerned, could you look after it for him, for safety, and just give it him back as and when he needs it?

Apart from that, I'd speak to Shelter and/or CAB. But there comes a point when you have to let them make their own way in life, even though it isn't what you want for them. (((Hugs)))

moneylover

I agree that he best people to give advice are probably the Citizens Advice Bureau as they have heard it all before many times. There is no reason why you couldnt talk to them but it would be best if you went together. Its really difficult to get through on the phone so go in person. They do have an online website but it isnt as good as one to one advice www.adviceguide.org.uk

GreyPilgrim

Would a PO box be an option? I suppose it's an option for getting mail, but not sure it would qualify for ID Purposes. Then again, what do people who live on canalboats use? (genuine question there)


GP

Murdina

Just did an application for a BS account and then saw this. It would not accept PO addresses - don't know if this is general or not.

baby_boomer

It certainly is.

brodev

There must be an answer to this or it would mean that "travelling people" could not open bank accounts.