No ID, need bank account!

rhonapops

A friend of mine is in a very difficult situation which I am worried could soon make her very vulnerable. She must be 30 now or thereabouts and she has never been able to get a bank account. She does not know the details of her mother nor can find them out which has prevented her from getting a passport. She does not have any bills in her name as she lives with her dad and everything has to go through his bank account as she cannot open one. 
There needs to be a way that she can have a bank account. Her dad is seriously ill in hospital and if he doesn't make it, she is going to be in a very vulnerable position. Any advice? 

elsien

If she works, she has a payslip and P60. Or letters from HMRC. 
if she doesn’t work, she most likely claims benefits so will have a benefit letter as proof of address
She can get hold of a copy of her birth certificate which will give her mother’s details. Or she could quite simply just ask her father!
She can also apply for a provisional drinking license, check she is on the electoral register, show a GP letter. Etc. (These are not necessarily accepted as primary ID but can be useful as back up.) 
It doesn’t sound as if she’s tried particularly hard. Not having photo ID makes it harder to get an account. But it’s not impossible. 

Mnoee

Ordering a copy of your birth certificate is both cheap and easy: https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

That, along with her father's passport number or birth certificate will allow her to apply for a passport. 

Fighter1986

1. Birth certificate

2. Driving license

3. Passport

eskbanker

elsien said:

She can also apply for a provisional drinking license

Not sure that hitting the bottle would be the answer at a time like this!

elsien

Oh, I don’t know.  

General_Grant

or even a driving licenCe - though what ID do you need for one of those (think I produced a cheque guarantee card but that was decades ago)?

rhonapops

Some more information from her which may help... 

I have a birth cert but its useless for a bank account. They wont let you use it. I applied for all the banks and they all left me either saying they couldn't process my application or I needed to take a passport or DL to the bank to finish it. You have to apply for a for a general account and they decide if its a basic or not. However I wasn't given an option as you need the same information for a basic as you do for a general. I did all this last year when the lockdown happened. My savings account was started when I was a baby but because I don't have ID the bank wont let me open a current account without a passort. I didnt apply because I dont want anything to happen to my savings account as my wages go into that account. 

My mum left me when I was a baby and in sole care from my dad and when they were alive my grandparents. My dad isnt on my birth cert and I was never adopted. My mum changed her name at some point and without a card I cant go online and find out how to get copies of name changes and other information. I dont know enough except what is on my birth cert. Also I dont know anyone on the list of peoplr to cosign as I dont know anyone personally. I dont have a gp anymore and no medical card. I only know my medical number because I had covid and had a test. 

Fighter1986

Yep so use your birth certificate to get a provisional driving license. Register with a GP. 

colsten

Has she sought the help of her Citizens Advice Bureau? I am sure they can guide her through the process of applying for a provisional driving licence at least.

elsien

She doesn't  need to know about her mother's name changes or anything, just the details from her own birth certificate as they were when she was born.
So looking at  nationwide (as an example)
Proving your identity | Nationwide
As she doesn't have photo ID she could either use provisional driving licence or her P60.  As she is working, is there anyone at her workplace (eg the manager) who could write a letter for her? 
They also say if you don't  have enough from that list, they would consider other things such as HMRC tax documentation. Or if she gets statements from her savings account she could use that?

Going into branch is going to be easier than online so is that something she would be able to do now?
Does  she not get any letters/statements/documentation from anyone at all, ever?