20 year old nephew doesn't have a bank account

Hi all

Any advice please, my brother and nephew still live at home and my nephew doesn't have a bank account therefore doesn't have a job. He has no ID and my parents won't put him on any of the bills (to use as proof of address).

My brother has had bad debt in the past so they're worried about him wracking up debt but without an account, he can't get a job.

My brother is pretty useless and always has an excuse for not getting him an account. We've suggested getting a doctors letter to use as proof but he hasn't done this either. My nephew isn't the sharpest tool so is heavily reliant on his Dad (also not the brightest!).

I feel like he's utterly wasting his life. He has barely any qualifications so I have no clue what life he can lead. I just wondered does anyone know any other way to get an account sorted for him.

Thanks.
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  • Grumpy_chap
    Grumpy_chap Forumite Posts: 13,185
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    Hi all

    Any advice please, my brother and nephew still live at home and my nephew doesn't have a bank account therefore doesn't have a job. He has no ID and my parents won't put him on any of the bills (to use as proof of address).

    My brother has had bad debt in the past so they're worried about him wracking up debt but without an account, he can't get a job.

    My brother is pretty useless and always has an excuse for not getting him an account. We've suggested getting a doctors letter to use as proof but he hasn't done this either. My nephew isn't the sharpest tool so is heavily reliant on his Dad (also not the brightest!).

    I feel like he's utterly wasting his life. He has barely any qualifications so I have no clue what life he can lead. I just wondered does anyone know any other way to get an account sorted for him.

    Thanks.
    If your nephew is old enough to get a job, then he is old enough to get a bank account - why not any of the basic accounts without overdraft etc facilities?
  • beckysbobbles12
    beckysbobbles12 Forumite Posts: 22
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    If your nephew is old enough to get a job, then he is old enough to get a bank account - why not any of the basic accounts without overdraft etc facilities?
    You still require ID to open any bank account, even the basic ones.
  • Nebulous2
    Nebulous2 Forumite Posts: 4,918
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    Does he get any benefits? On the electoral roll? Has he a birth certificate? 

    A benefits letter might help, also a letter with his National Insurance number.

    Some of the charities working with homeless people manage to support people to get bank accounts with very limited supporting evidence. Some banks will definitely be more accommodating than others.
  • Brie
    Brie Forumite Posts: 7,398
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    you (aka he) could start with the voter ID card as free and has a photo on it.  needs to register to vote first though.  If he's not working he should be on benefits of some sort - UC or something - and that will help at the bank given that he needs to have somewhere for the benefits to be paid.
    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”

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  • Just apply for a license 
  • sheramber
    sheramber Forumite Posts: 17,489
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    He could apply for a provisional driving licence.
  • Rob5342
    Rob5342 Forumite Posts: 893
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    Or a passport. Nobody has any ID until they get themselves some.
  • xylophone
    xylophone Forumite Posts: 42,602
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    Are your brother and his son entirely dependent on your parents? That is to say, do they have no state benefits?
  • sheramber
    sheramber Forumite Posts: 17,489
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    Rob5342 said:
    Or a passport. Nobody has any ID until they get themselves some.
    Passport more expensive and more hassle to get , since it requires a visit  for a first passport, than provisional driving licence
  • born_again
    born_again Forumite Posts: 11,690
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    provisional driving licence is not always taken as a form of ID. 
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