Bank Switching - any alternative ID for people who don't have a Passport or Driving Licence?

ih8stress

As per the title, I wondered if there were any (preferably cheap or free) alternative ID's that Banks and other organisations accept for people who do not possess a passport or Driving Licence?

I would like to do some bank Switching offers in the near future but no longer have a driving licence and don't have a passport.

Thanks

eskbanker

There isn't a 'one size fits all' answer to that question - each bank is entitled to set its own ID verification processes, so what works for one may not work for another, i.e. you need to read up on the policies in place for any banks you're considering applying to.

In most cases, ID will be verified electronically anyway, provided applicants have enough of a footprint with the credit agencies, so the requirement to product documents is the exception rather than the rule.

born_again

Don't know if the new voting ID cards might be OK. Would need to ask the bank concerned.

Good lady uses letters from DWP etc.

boingy

Lots of online accounts magically verify your ID electronically with a combination of the Electoral Register, other things and, um, magic (yeah, ok, I don't know how exactly they do it). However many of the app-based banks need you to take pics of your ID and that almost always means driving licence or passport. 

It shouldn't be this way but it may well be worth getting yourself a passport even if you have no plans to go abroad. It's not a very cheap option but that and a driving licence are the closest we have to universal ID in the UK.

Zanderman

boingy said:

Lots of online accounts magically verify your ID electronically with a combination of the Electoral Register, other things and, um, magic (yeah, ok, I don't know how exactly they do it). However many of the app-based banks need you to take pics of your ID and that almost always means driving licence or passport. 

It shouldn't be this way but it may well be worth getting yourself a passport even if you have no plans to go abroad. It's not a very cheap option but that and a driving licence are the closest we have to universal ID in the UK.

I think a driving licence is cheaper (and wallet-sized)? If a non-driver a provisional one is fine for ID I believe, no need to actually know how to (or even want to) drive.

boingy

Zanderman said:

boingy said:

Lots of online accounts magically verify your ID electronically with a combination of the Electoral Register, other things and, um, magic (yeah, ok, I don't know how exactly they do it). However many of the app-based banks need you to take pics of your ID and that almost always means driving licence or passport. 

It shouldn't be this way but it may well be worth getting yourself a passport even if you have no plans to go abroad. It's not a very cheap option but that and a driving licence are the closest we have to universal ID in the UK.

I think a driving licence is cheaper (and wallet-sized)? If a non-driver a provisional one is fine for ID I believe, no need to actually know how to (or even want to) drive.

A driving licence is indeed much cheaper but only if your health allows you to have one. As you get older that becomes harder to achieve. I don't know anything about the OP but they said they no longer have a driving licence, which is usually due to health and/or age. Passports don't have those restrictions. Personally I wish we had some sort of national photo ID card but I realise that the civil liberties lobbyists will always object to such things...

wmb194

born_again said:

Don't know if the new voting ID cards might be OK. Would need to ask the bank concerned.

Good lady uses letters from DWP etc.

No, the hurdles to obtain these voter ID cards are far too low.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

p00hsticks

boingy said:

It shouldn't be this way but it may well be worth getting yourself a passport even if you have no plans to go abroad. It's not a very cheap option but that and a driving licence are the closest we have to universal ID in the UK.

I'd second this, as someone whose ended up doing exactly that. In my view, the cost per year balanced against the amount of hassle it saves when trying to prove your ID makes it well worth it.   

ih8stress

Thank you to everyone for their comments.  It looks like a passport is my only option - unless they would consider a senior bus pass, which I doubt, ha ha.

I'll probably struggle in providing utility bills in the future too, so my days of switching might be over

pridehappy

Most people should have a birth certificate, you should be able to use this at most banks/building societies. You might also be able to use a utility bill or another bank statement as proof of identity.

EarthBoy

pridehappy said:

Most people should have a birth certificate, you should be able to use this at most banks/building societies. You might also be able to use a utility bill or another bank statement as proof of identity.

Birth certificates are not proof of identity because anyone can easily obtain them from the register office.  Some banks will accept them for opening a child's account, by the parents, but no banks will accept them for opening adult accounts.