No Photo ID

SeniorBrowns

We have been unable to open a bank account as the bank requires photo ID. We do not have a current passport or a driving licence. They will not accept a 'Citizens card'. How is it that the Governments own web site states that many do and in the forthcoming elections our expired passports are acceptable. It seems that unless you have up to date technology which includes using all the Apps we are being bombarded with you are denied access to the best rates available. This is ageism.

dunstonh

 How is it that the Governments own web site states that many do and in the forthcoming elections our expired passports are acceptable.

expired passports cease to be passports.  They are not acceptable for AML checks.     Elections do not have to apply AML rules.

 It seems that unless you have up to date technology which includes using all the Apps we are being bombarded with you are denied access to the best rates available. This is ageism.

It is not Aegism at all.   Electronic ID checks fail due to lack of data or accurate data.   In the majority of cases, they work.  Its only when they fail that you need to revert back to manual checks.   It is unfortunate if you have chosen not to have photo ID and have chosen a provider that will only accept photo ID (and not the alternatives).

refluxer

SeniorBrowns said:

We have been unable to open a bank account as the bank requires photo ID. We do not have a current passport or a driving licence.

I've got accounts with a lot of different banks and building societies and have only ever had to provide photo ID for one and that was Chase. In my experience at least, the majority don't require photo ID and even if you were to fail an online ID check, you can usually prove your identity via other means such as bank statements, utility bills or official government documents (eg. HMRC).

If the bank you're trying to open an account with is being awkward, then I would just move on to the next one on the list. Which one is it, out of interest ?

Malthusian

SeniorBrowns said:

It seems that unless you have up to date technology which includes using all the Apps we are being bombarded with you are denied access to the best rates available. This is ageism.

No, it is because customers who cost less to service get cheaper products and higher interest rates.
A 94-year-old who downloads HipstrBank's app and opens their savings account will get the exact same interest rate as a 20-year-old who does the same. 
A passport costs £8.25 per year which is a very low cost for the convenience of having a universally accepted form of photographic ID, even if you don't plan on leaving the country.

AmityNeon

What's wrong with renewing your passport? I have relatives in their 80s who keep their passports up to date.

Considering the UK's lack of government-issued ID cards, passports and driving licences are the only standards of photographic identification accepted at the national level (the PASS scheme is voluntary piffle barely sufficient as proof of age). It's not about whether you intend to or have the capacity to travel/drive.

TheBanker

As others have said, this is not ageism. An 18 year old is subject to exactly the same ID requirements as an 80 year old. If the 18 year old doesn't have ID, they can't open an account either. 

There are a range of banks, offering a range of accounts through different channels. If you are able to use technology, you will probably get better rates which reflect the lower costs to the bank. If you want or need to use a branch based or postal account, then you are likely to receive lower rates because it costs the bank more to deal with you.

What type of account are you trying to open? 

ranciduk

£93 to renew a passport is scandalous (by mail)

some people don’t have £93 lying around they can spare on renewing a passport that they won’t use ( for holidays anyway)

dunstonh

ranciduk said:

£93 to renew a passport is scandalous (by mail)

some people don’t have £93 lying around they can spare on renewing a passport that they won’t use ( for holidays anyway)

Well, those people wont be needing an app based savings account then.

auser99

refluxer said:

SeniorBrowns said:

We have been unable to open a bank account as the bank requires photo ID. We do not have a current passport or a driving licence.

I've got accounts with a lot of different banks and building societies and have only ever had to provide photo ID for one and that was Chase. In my experience at least, the majority don't require photo ID and even if you were to fail an online ID check, you can usually prove your identity via other means such as bank statements, utility bills or official government documents (eg. HMRC).

If the bank you're trying to open an account with is being awkward, then I would just move on to the next one on the list. Which one is it, out of interest ?

Metro took some photo ID and a photograph of me recently. But that was because I had to go in and unlock my account due to them being over cautious on sending funds to another bank.

Band7

auser99 said:

refluxer said:

SeniorBrowns said:

We have been unable to open a bank account as the bank requires photo ID. We do not have a current passport or a driving licence.

I've got accounts with a lot of different banks and building societies and have only ever had to provide photo ID for one and that was Chase. In my experience at least, the majority don't require photo ID and even if you were to fail an online ID check, you can usually prove your identity via other means such as bank statements, utility bills or official government documents (eg. HMRC).

If the bank you're trying to open an account with is being awkward, then I would just move on to the next one on the list. Which one is it, out of interest ?

Metro took some photo ID and a photograph of me recently. But that was because I had to go in and unlock my account due to them being over cautious on sending funds to another bank.

Metro taking a photo of you doesn't prove your ID. It's just a precaution in case the account holder contests the payment. As and if this happens, the account holder would have to pass whatever ID check Metro do at the time.

Albermarle

We have been unable to open a bank account as the bank requires photo ID

I have a variety of bank/savings account; pension providers and S&S ISA's . I have never once been asked to  provide photo ID, even in recent times.

As others have said, just try a different bank. 

 It seems that unless you have up to date technology which includes using all the Apps we are being bombarded with 

Only a handful of accounts are 'app only' Most big providers have apps but you do not need to use them if you do not want, and many smaller providers do not have an app.

As long as you have a computer at home and internet access, you can access the vast majority of financial providers.