Switching Banks - identity proof

ian16527

I am thinking of switching our joint account from Barclays to First Direct.
Problem is my wife has let her passport expire and has no other photo id other than her bus pass. She has no intention of travelling abroad again due to having lymphoma.
I am switching for the bonus and regular saver account.

Any other methods of ID?

prettyandfluffy

Does it say the passport has to be current?

AmityNeon

If you don't/can't switch, you'll receive £0 bonus and have no access to the regular saver.

If your wife applies for photo ID (£34 or £82.50) and you switch, you'll net £92.50 or £141, gain access to the regular saver, and have an identity document for future purposes.

boingy

I'd suggest setting up a "burner" account in just your name at another bank (I've used Metro a few times) then switching that for the bonus. In the longer term definitely consider renewing the passport even if it will not be used for travel. It costs but in the UK that or a driving licence are the closest thing we have to a nationally accepted form of ID.

General_Grant

ian16527 said:

I am thinking of switching our joint account from Barclays to First Direct.
Problem is my wife has let her passport expire and has no other photo id other than her bus pass. She has no intention of travelling abroad again due to having lymphoma.
I am switching for the bonus and regular saver account.

Any other methods of ID?

I opened a current account with First Direct a few months ago.  I didn't have to provide any ID - either their electronic search came up with the right answer or they accepted that I was the same person who had an account with them some years ago.

Have you actually been asked to provide ID?

35har1old

prettyandfluffy said:

Does it say the passport has to be current?

The terms state current passport
Certified copy 

ian16527

General_Grant said:

ian16527 said:

I am thinking of switching our joint account from Barclays to First Direct.
Problem is my wife has let her passport expire and has no other photo id other than her bus pass. She has no intention of travelling abroad again due to having lymphoma.
I am switching for the bonus and regular saver account.

Any other methods of ID?

I opened a current account with First Direct a few months ago.  I didn't have to provide any ID - either their electronic search came up with the right answer or they accepted that I was the same person who had an account with them some years ago.

Have you actually been asked to provide ID?

Its in their terms. It may be different for a joint account as you have to click a different link.

ian16527

I've decided to renew the passport but If I have to get certified copies I don't think I will bother - life's too short

Thanks everyone

AmityNeon

https://identify.firstdirect.com/
(linked from below)

Paper/post proof should only be a last resort. See:
https://www.firstdirect.com/help/security-centre/what-we-need-to-keep-you-safe/

Largs

I applied 2 days ago (to see if I can get a 2nd bonus for switching) and at first the APP was wanting me to take a photo of passport, I was having trouble so went to another room and was trying to switch on the torch but somehow closed the APP and had to start over, this time it never asked for a photo and let me open the account.  Odd.

artyboy

Banks terms may well include details of ID documents they may require but in practice, across the dozen or so tactical switches I've made over the past 5 years, I've never once been asked for anything. 

I think provided you have a credit file that's accurate, and you're on the electoral roll, then banks can typically verify your identity electronically without having to resort to asking for bits of paper. Not guaranteed, but worth trying, especially as suggested above via a 'burner' account