Cashing a cheque

actstamaster

I opened a Starling bank account using my passport in October, then I claimed asylum in the UK in Dec.
When Starling found out I'm an asylum seeker, they decided to close my account and send me the remaining balance via a cheque.
My problem is, when I claimed asylum, Home Office took all of my IDs including my passport and national ID, with only my international student card, a letter from Home Office and photocopy of my passport left. They told me I can use the letter as a form of ID, but no one seems to accepting that.
I don't have another UK bank account besides Monese, which does not support cheque deposit. I tried to open a bank account or look for pawnbrokers, but they all tell me they need a proper ID.
I have tried to get back my ID from Home Office, but they told me it's not possible until there's a decision on my asylum. I also reached out to Starling but they told me there's no way I can cash the cheque with them.
Is there anyway I can cash the check or open an account with the photocopy of my passport? I have tried Monzo but it doesn't work. I don't know how do I survive without my fund, even if I want to ask my family to send me some money from home by Western Union, they'd still need to see an ID.
Any advice please?

Thanks in advance, sorry for my poor English, it's not my first language.

danthemoneysavingman

The Home Office should give you advice on what to do. If you explain the above they should have advice you can use.
Perhaps you have tried this already?
If so, no idea who you would take a complaint to.

born_again

actstamaster wrote: »

I

Thanks in advance, sorry for my poor English, it's not my first language.

Sorry I can't help with your query..

But you written English is better than a lot of posts. Almost too good :rotfl:

Ben8282

Starling again!
Why did you choose to open a Starling account (and a Monese account for that matter)? Strange choices. A basic bank account would surely have been more suitable to your needs. How did Starling find out that you are an asylum seeker? Why should that have resulted in the closure of your account?
Take whatever the home office have given you to use as identification to a proper bank. You can hardly be in a unique position especially as so many asylum seekers deliberately destroy all their documents themselves and of course the home office would have retained your passport when you made your asylum application. There must be many others in the same position as you. The bank can't realistically refuse to open a basic bank account for you and you can then pay the cheque into it.

Flobberchops

What a situation.


Banks often have alternative or relaxed KYC rules for people who can prove their asylum status. Have a good hard read of the options open to you with the major high street banks and approach one or more of them.

Westie983

Hi,

You could try to open a savings account to then cash the cheque, not sure if you will get stuck with the ID though, but you should be able to get the photocopy of your passport verified then you maybe able to email or forward it on as ID,

Good luck with your application and you get all your origanl ID documents back.

Westie983

d123

OP, why don't you have an Asylum registration card? A quick look shows at least some banks (eg Nationwide) accept it as ID.

After your screening your case will be given to a caseworker.

You’ll be sent an asylum registration card (ARC) to your UK address, unless you’ve been detained.

https://www.gov.uk/claim-asylum/after-your-screening