Replace Post Office Card Account with Basic Bank Account - Without going into branch

BigBlueSky

An elderly relative has her pension paid into the Post Office Card Account (POca) which they have been threatening to close down for a number of years now.

We have just been ignoring the reminders, but it would seem that it is actually be closed down from 2021 - and no plans for the government to extend.

I'm looking for a replacement account for them. Ideally one that I can help them apply for online without the need for them to visit a branch, etc.

My concern with this is that she don't have any records with credit reference agencies. She is the sort of person who pays cash for everything.

Does anyone have any suggestions ? - The easier the better for us.

Thanks in advance

buglawton

You could consider Tesco bank. It's a full bank account but has no bank branches. Any face to face stuff is done at a Tesco Extra branches reception/currency exchange desk.

Problem is, if the account is mostly managed online, how will your relative manage day to day transactions anyway? Is she fine with cash machines? It may be time to appoint a financial Power of Attorney who can use modern online facilities. Getting a POA sorted in a hurry can be difficult if the relative becomes infirm.

BigBlueSky

buglawton wrote: »

You could consider Tesco bank. It's a full bank account but has no bank branches. Any face to face stuff is done at a Tesco Extra branches reception/currency exchange desk.

Problem is, if the account is mostly managed online, how will your relative manage day to day transactions anyway? Is she fine with cash machines? It may be time to appoint a financial Power of Attorney who can use modern online facilities. Getting a POA sorted in a hurry can be difficult if the relative becomes infirm.

Thanks for your reply.

They are very independent but don't like change. They wouldn't want a POA even though that may be the sensible thing.

Ideally they wouldn't want to have to visit a bank branch for anything. If we could get an account opened without that it would make life a lot easier (for both of us).

The Post Office account they use is only used for withdrawing the pension as and when required. No other facilities are needed. She can then just use her debit card as and when required to withdraw cash from the Post Office counter.

born_again

I assume that they are on the electoral roll.
If they are then lack of passed credit may not be a issue.

I know you want to do online, but is there any of the banks that have a local branch? As applying with them online at least gives some form of local access going forward.
As well as the big banks offer basic bank accounts that sound like what your relative suits.

BigBlueSky

born_again wrote: »

I assume that they are on the electoral roll.

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure whether they are on the electoral roll. I think they probably are, but not 100% certain.

The problem with a local branch is that they do not have any photo ID. They don't drive, and haven't had a passport for years. The only thing with a photo on is their bus pass (which I don't believe is a recognised form of photo ID for these purposes). I'm therefore expecting problems applying in branch.

They do have a Santander savings account (if that would help them open a basic bank account with them)

born_again

BigBlueSky wrote: »

They do have a Santander savings account (if that would help them open a basic bank account with them)

Should do as they have some history with them. You can do it online with Santander. You will have to apply for a normal acc. If they get it great, if any issues then it should drop to basic acc.

BigBlueSky

born_again wrote: »

Should do as they have some history with them. You can do it online with Santander. You will have to apply for a normal acc. If they get it great, if any issues then it should drop to basic acc.

Thanks. When you say have to apply for a 'normal acc' which one do you mean? - Wouldn't we just apply for the 'Basic Current Account' online ?

Thanks

molerat

https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/current-accounts/compare-our-range-of-current-accounts
Either Everyday or Basic. Everyday gives a normal debit card, basic gives a cash card and a top up debit card which you need to load. Do they already have on line access to their Santander account ?
Facilities available at PO https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/ways-to-bank/at-the-post-office

BigBlueSky

molerat wrote: »

https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/current-accounts/compare-our-range-of-current-accounts
Either Everyday or Basic. Everyday gives a normal debit card, basic gives a cash card and a top up debit card which you need to load. Do they already have on line access to their Santander account ?
Facilities available at PO https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/ways-to-bank/at-the-post-office

Thanks.

No, they don't have online access to their existing Santander account. It is a REALLY old one - It doesn't even have a sort code assigned to it, just a 9 character account number. A letter 'R' followed by an 8 digit number.

colsten

A state pension notification from the DWP, and may be a council tax bill is all they should need for Santander, if they need anything at all.

https://www.santander.co.uk/assets/s3fs-public/2018-09/Customer%20Identification%20Requirements.pdf

BigBlueSky

colsten wrote: »

A state pension notification from the DWP, and may be a council tax bill is all they should need for Santander, if they need anything at all.

https://www.santander.co.uk/assets/s3fs-public/2018-09/Customer%20Identification%20Requirements.pdf

Thank you - That is great!