How to get a bank account with no photo ID?

sleepyfrog

My autistic son turned 18 on Sunday so I tried to open a bank account for him so that he can start to manage his own money - however I've hit a brick wall.

Due to his condition he doesn't need a passport or driving licence, he doesn't have a credit history, all the utility bills are in my name and all correspondance from the DWP is addressed to me as I am obviously his appointee. The only thing he has is a birth certificate and the medical reports. I can't go into a branch as all the banks close by aren't seeing people for new accounts. Online applications all get immediately refused.

I can't get a driving licence for him for the same reasons, and our doctors are not seeing people in relation to passports (we don't know any other professional that could vouch for him, plus the cost of a passport is difficult as a single parent on a low income)

I've talked to my own bank and even though I have 30+ years credit history they can't help.

Does anyone have any suggestions how he can get an account? How do other disabled people in this position manage?

jonesMUFCforever

Some banks will accept;
1. HMRC letter - tax coding for current tax year - if he has not received one phone up local tax office to ask for one .That covers ID.
2. Medical card - with full name and address from local surgery - will confirm address.
3. You don't say which bank you are with but if it is Lloyds, Halifax, BoS, or TSB they all have under 19 accounts whereby they should be able to accept you as introducer?

colsten

Without a photo ID, you/he will likely not get very far, I'm afraid. There are probably also other matters for which he will require a photo ID in future, so you have to bite the bullet and get him a passport, I think.

Have you asked his social worker for help, or Citizens Advice?

NB. He doesn't need a doctor to certify his passport application - if any countersignatory is required at all, there is a very long list of people who can act in that capacity. May be even yourself?
https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

where_are_we

  Will his DWP correspondence now be addressed to him because he has become 18? Phone them up and request a confirmation letter in his name. Has he had a savings account with a building society eg Nationwide who do current accounts? Would it be any easier, if you opened a new joint current account with him at your own bank? That way he could be more or less independent doing all transactions and he would have his own debit card with just his name on it. However you would be jointly responsible for any adverse financial implications although, on the other hand, you would be able to monitor things.

xylophone

https://www.halifax.co.uk/banking-with-halifax/extra-support/autism-or-learning-disability.html
I wonder whether a call to Halifax would prove fruitful?

bundoran

colsten said:

Without a photo ID, you/he will likely not get very far, I'm afraid. There are probably also other matters for which he will require a photo ID in future, so you have to bite the bullet and get him a passport, I think.

Have you asked his social worker for help, or Citizens Advice?

NB. He doesn't need a doctor to certify his passport application - if any countersignatory is required at all, there is a very long list of people who can act in that capacity. May be even yourself?
https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

Someone's mother cannot countersign:

"Who cannot be your countersignatory

You cannot ask someone to countersign your passport if you’re:

• related to them by birth or marriage
• in a relationship with or live at the same address as them"

Countersigning passport applications and photos - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Atlas234

The virgin money M account says they will accept 'none-standard' proof of identification.
Not sure what things exactly are acceptable to them, it says pop into a store to discuss

MovingForwards

Call your bank, explain your son needs an account but he doesn't have photo ID due to disabilities and having no use for a licence / passport, then explain what he does have in his name and ask how a basic account can be set up for him.

As he is 18 you may need to look at going the formal / legal route to have authority to act on his behalf financially eg power of attorney or if he lacks capacity to understand the purpose of a POA and can't sign the papers then you will need to apply for deputyship. Both are submitted to the office of the public guardian.

jsmith9

"I've talked to my own bank and even though I have 30+ years credit history they can't help."

Not sure what you mean by this but perhaps you could expand...

In any case, under the Equalities Act, all businesses (including banks) have an obligation to treat customers fairly, including those with special needs.

I would go back to your bank and explain this, and if they still refuse then raise a complaint.

born_again

jsmith9 said:

"I've talked to my own bank and even though I have 30+ years credit history they can't help."

Not sure what you mean by this but perhaps you could expand...

In any case, under the Equalities Act, all businesses (including banks) have an obligation to treat customers fairly, including those with special needs.

I would go back to your bank and explain this, and if they still refuse then raise a complaint.

But they are treating everyone equally. It is a basic security check they have to complete. So be that your son, or someone else with no photo ID they will say the same.
The fact you have banked with the same bank for 30 years means little.

My Wife has no photo ID and we struggled to open a new account for her. In the end it was a case of finding out what paperwork they will take and work from there.

As other have said, try asking round some of the local banks/building society's to see if they can help. 

jsmith9

Sorry, I was not clear @born_again. What I meant was the bank has to treat everyone fairly and take account of any special needs. They must make efforts to assist vulnerable people, which to be fair they may have done, hence my question about exactly what did the bank say. What they are not supposed to do is just say 'no' without considering the needs of the potential customer.