Basic Bank Account - no recent address history

Finchley_Isak

Posting for my illiterate father, who has got himself into a great deal of trouble.

He has had one bank account in his time, with an overdraft. About 10 years ago, he lost control of the overdraft and the account was closed, although no repayment plan was ever agreed. He has no paperwork relating to this account, as he never advised the bank (TSB, then Lloyds) of his change of address after he left my mother and I in the mid nineties.

He went on to cohabit with several women, in between stints of living in his car. At no time was he on the electoral roll, or bothered updating his address with HMRC, or the bank.

He has worked in the construction industry, and the various contractors he has subbed for have paid him (legitimately) in cash since the account was closed. But as these fellows have retired, he's has to take work from younger builders who only want to pay using BACS or cheque. The various pawnbrokers have started withdrawing their encashment services and he currently has several thousand pounds in cheques, which he cannot cash. I've been lending him money to buy petrol to carry on working (to earn cheques he cannot cash).

I suggested he visit a bank to open a Basic Bank Account - and that he be honest with them as to his history. Several refused to interview him at all, and one has refused on that basis that his address cannot be verified. Together, we attempted to register at Noddle and Experian without success as they too couldn't identify him. He has letters addressed to him at his current lodgings from the DVLA, but these apparently weren't sufficient to prove his address. I thought perhaps a CIFAS marker might be the trouble, but its impossible to find out.

I'd like to get him set up with a bank account soon, as he's become rather pitiful and I'm concerned by the level of despair he's displaying. He's also in poor health and I doubt he'll be able to carry on working much longer, and he'll of course need banking to claim the benefits he'll ultimately be needing (and in less than 5 years, some small fraction of the state pension, given he's been delinquent for so long). I understand that basic bank accounts are available to anyone in poor credit, or even on the way to bankruptcy, but not sure how to force the issue. As I say, he's tried several banks and every rejection makes it harder to tell him to try again.

jonesMUFCforever

Letters from DVLA ? If he has a UK photo driving licence (or get one) most banks would open an account with single ID. Problem solved. Might be an idea for you to take him to your bank where if possible you could get 3rd party authority to help him deal with modern banking.

Finchley_Isak

He definitely has shown a photo driving licence, along with a passport and his DVLA letters. We suspect, because he was asked questions about the address he left 25 years ago, that the address history gap is the sticking point. I'm trying to persuade him that another bank might take a different view given he can prove his current address, but its hard to get through the panic.

What he really needs is an advocate, but its not strictly a debt problem, and he's not old/vulnerable enough for any other kind of support. He can handle his construction jobs perfectly, but has a fatalistic attitude to this. I'm in a finance related profession, but this isn't my area at all.

jonesMUFCforever

He does not need an address history - just confirmation of where he is living now - as long as it is a full photo driving licence (in date) he should be fine.
At this time banks are not keen on sitting down with customers so could you help him apply online?
All you would need to do after is take him with the application reference and his ID to a branch to be verified. He could be in and out in 10 minutes.

MovingForwards

Banks only ask for 3 years address history, normally. Can't see them caring about 25 years ago.

As suggested above, you go to the bank with him as it's possible there's misunderstanding going on, especially as he has ID. 

colsten

If he isn’t on the Electoral Register, he should get on it straight away. This can be done online

DebtHurricane

Try applying for a HSBC basic bank account online. When asked to go in branch to take ID, as long as the ID shows the current address there is no need to worry about any old addresses. They won’t care. Maybe giving the bank staff too much info is clouding the issue with over analysis

jonesMUFCforever

Just as I advised on 13th August.

Shakin_Steve

Finchley_Isak said:

He definitely has shown a photo driving licence, along with a passport and his DVLA letters. We suspect, because he was asked questions about the address he left 25 years ago, that the address history gap is the sticking point. I'm trying to persuade him that another bank might take a different view given he can prove his current address, but its hard to get through the panic.

What he really needs is an advocate, but its not strictly a debt problem, and he's not old/vulnerable enough for any other kind of support. He can handle his construction jobs perfectly, but has a fatalistic attitude to this. I'm in a finance related profession, but this isn't my area at all.

See if you can get him an appointment (telephone or face to face) with CAB. They may be able to convince him that he's entitled to a basic bank account, and give him the confidence to move forwards.

DebtHurricane

jonesMUFCforever said:

Just as I advised on 13th August.

Sorry jonesMUFCforever- I didn’t see that you’d already said that before me. 

OP- I only mentioned the HSBC account specifically as they offer basic accounts to homeless / no fixed address customers so I reckon they’re more lenient with things like this.  

I also think a lot of branch staff often don’t know the correct procedures a lot of the time (based on personal experience anyway), so sometimes it’s best not to give a back story if it’s going to muddy the waters, creating an issue when there isn’t an issue. 

jonesMUFCforever

DebtHurricane said:

jonesMUFCforever said:

Just as I advised on 13th August.

Sorry jonesMUFCforever- I didn’t see that you’d already said that before me. 

OP- I only mentioned the HSBC account specifically as they offer basic accounts to homeless / no fixed address customers so I reckon they’re more lenient with things like this.  

I also think a lot of branch staff often don’t know the correct procedures a lot of the time (based on personal experience anyway), so sometimes it’s best not to give a back story if it’s going to muddy the waters, creating an issue when there isn’t an issue. 

Lloyds/Halifax do this as well even accepting a 'doss' house as an address if accompanied by a social worker.