Basic Bank Account for Homeless

Mary444

I have a friend who is currently in a homeless accommodation, he has lost pretty much everything after a car accident left him unable to work, he has huge mental health problems, lost mobility and some form of brain injury making it very difficult to use online.

He has has massive struggles in during the pandemic which have made his mental health issues critical, he is suicidal most days and all I can do is try to help with small things that are huge for him
.
His bank recently decided that they did not want to have him as a customer anymore after he asked to take a complaint to the financial conduct authority (he has been a customer for over 35 years) .

He was left with a some debts he can't service so he is not going to be able to get any credit and a Basic Bank Account has been recommended.

The problem is that he has very little in the way of identity that he can use to open an account, his passport has expired and he does not have money to renew, he does not have any bills to confirm his address and the only thing he has that shows his address is bank account (the statements are electronic).

He does not have energy bills, water or council tax bills, so I am trying to find him a bank who will allow him to open an account with his expired passport and his previous bank statement, he might have a mobile phone statement too but that too is electronic. Which means trying to find a way to print the electronic versions out (normally a simple thing but he has no printer and very limited wifi from hotspots).  However, from what I have read (for example on Metro Bank) they do not accept printouts anyway and they want a valid passport.

Can anyone recommend a bank that will help homeless people in this situation. 

MovingForwards

His homeless shelter should be able to assist him. If not speak with Shelter and according to a browser search the HSBC / Lloyds open up accounts.

Have you tried contacting any banks to ask?

[Deleted User]

Could you ask the existing bank to reconsider due to his mental health problems?
If not, ask them to make send paper statements.

Letters from the homeless accommodation, social work department, HMRC and DWP can also used as ID

Mary444

MovingForwards said:

His homeless shelter should be able to assist him. If not speak with Shelter and according to a browser search the HSBC / Lloyds open up accounts.
Have you tried contacting any banks to ask?

The homeless shelter are next to useless, they have very limited staff and do not have anything to offer.
He has asked for paper statements but has to wait until the next ones are due, but he is on a notice period countdown.
He does not have anything at the shelter and they discourage using their address. he does not have anything due (assessments etc)

Mary444

\dahj said:

Could you ask the existing bank to reconsider due to his mental health problems?
If not, ask them to make send paper statements.

Letters from the homeless accommodation, social work department, HMRC and DWP can also used as ID

I was thinking along the same lines about mental health, it is despicable, be borrowed money to pay of his overdraft because they brought in a 39.9% overdraft rate for authorised overdrafts.

MovingForwards said:

His homeless shelter should be able to assist him. If not speak with Shelter and according to a browser search the HSBC / Lloyds open up accounts.
Have you tried contacting any banks to ask?

I was trying to save some time by asking the good folk on the forum who may have experience

MovingForwards

He can request copy statements, he can request a letter from the DWP to confirm benefit entitlement.

There's nothing wrong with asking, but also as time is short make a few calls as well.

Mary444

MovingForwards said:

He can request copy statements, he can request a letter from the DWP to confirm benefit entitlement.

There's nothing wrong with asking, but also as time is short make a few calls as well.

I do not know if you are aware but the DWP has 9 million new claimants, getting through to them is virtually impossible as most staff have been moved to handled new claims.  Companies are now firing people or going giving 45 day notice of redundancy so it will not be getting better any time soon.
He can't even get through to say stop paying to existing account.
He has had no replies.
How are the homeless supposed to prove their address if they do not have a permanent address?

[Deleted User]

Mary444 said:

MovingForwards said:

He can request copy statements, he can request a letter from the DWP to confirm benefit entitlement.

There's nothing wrong with asking, but also as time is short make a few calls as well.

I do not know if you are aware but the DWP has 9 million new claimants, getting through to them is virtually impossible as most staff have been moved to handled new claims.  Companies are now firing people or going giving 45 day notice of redundancy so it will not be getting better any time soon.
He can't even get through to say stop paying to existing account.
He has had no replies.
How are the homeless supposed to prove their address if they do not have a permanent address?

It's a challenge for homeless people getting banking at the best of times. 

Here is blog with some further ideas:
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/how-to-beat-id-issues-when-opening-a-bank-account