No passport or driving licence

eskbanker

CliveOfIndia said:

eskbanker said:

What she can (and must) do is to get a driving licence or renew her passport....

With the utmost respect to your long-standing (and, I might add, extremely helpful) tenure on this forum, I'm intrigued as to why you say this.

I can completely understand why some people have no need of either a passport or driving licence.  I find it slightly odd that you need one of these forms of ID to get the account.

Whilst I fully understand the bank's requirement to prove one's identity, is there no other way of doing this?

On the other hand, of course the bank has no obligation to do business with anyone.  I suspect it may be a case of "If you want to be our customer and get some free cash, you abide by our requirements - like it or lump it, we're not forcing you to apply" ?

To clarify - I'm not in any way arguing with you.  I'm genuinely interested in the nuances behind this.

I'm not sure there's much nuance behind this - as you say, institutions can basically set their own rules about ID verification, but the overarching Know Your Customer regulatory requirements mean that the usual interpretation is that presentation of government-issued photo ID is mandated, which, in the absence of national identity cards, effectively means passport or driving licence (assuming automated online verification fails).  The fact that people may not have any other requirement for such documents (such as driving or travelling) is ultimately irrelevant....

boingy

I'd quite like to see the introduction of a national ID card. There are plenty of objectors to such things but, for me, they only become sinister if they are compulsory. It's not like the govt would be gaining any information about us that they don't already have.

CliveOfIndia

boingy said:

I'd quite like to see the introduction of a national ID card. There are plenty of objectors to such things but, for me, they only become sinister if they are compulsory. It's not like the govt would be gaining any information about us that they don't already have.

Yep, there are certainly lots of arguments for having some sort of National ID card.

Here in Scotland they have the "Young Scot Card".  A voluntary (and free!) scheme that gives youngsters a whole host of discounts, and is accepted as a form of ID - although, as my lad found out recently, only in Scotland.  He went to visit some old friends in England, went to the supermarket to buy some drinks and sweets and what-not for an evening in with the gang.  Got challenged about his age, automatically whipped out his Young Scot card, only to be told "What on earth is that?"    The driving licence sorted it - but yeah, some sort of voluntary ID card is a great idea for those those don't have/need a licence or passport.

AmityNeon

Nickyno said:

She doesn't drive, and cannot afford to renew her passport as she is a single parent to 3 children 5 and under,  she cannot afford to go on holiday and so renewing her passport is pointless.

The UK lacks government-issued identity cards so we have to manage with the current systems in place, which means passports and driving licences. Businesses must be confident in their procedures to ensure they can accurately verify their customers' identity in order to comply with legislation; they have little regard for an individual's travel plans or desire/capacity to drive.

Whilst we can discuss hypothetical ideals on what should be acceptable or what could be legislated to improve the circumstances of those facing difficulties in financing and obtaining photo ID, such discourse would obviously have no material effect on an individual's circumstances right now, i.e. your daughter and free cash.

If a passport opens the door to multiple switch incentives, both currently available and those inevitably offered in the future, why reject the opportunity to receive an effectively free passport and free cash? Think of it like cashback: spend some money to renew a passport, and receive more than double the renewal fee in cashback; if you don't renew, you get nothing.

Barkin

£8.25 per year for a passport seems like a bargain to me just for the convenience. 

An added bonus is that I can use it to travel abroad... 

boingy

CliveOfIndia said:

Here in Scotland they have the "Young Scot Card".  

I would have loved the English equivalent of that when I was a kid. I always looked old for my age so I used to carry a photocopy of my birth certificate so I could get child rates on buses and trains! Mind you, it balances out. A couple of years later I could get served in pubs and off licences without challenge - I was very popular with my mates..

gt94sss2

CliveOfIndia said:

eskbanker said:

What she can (and must) do is to get a driving licence or renew her passport....

With the utmost respect to your long-standing (and, I might add, extremely helpful) tenure on this forum, I'm intrigued as to why you say this.

I can completely understand why some people have no need of either a passport or driving licence.  I find it slightly odd that you need one of these forms of ID to get the account.

Whilst I fully understand the bank's requirement to prove one's identity, is there no other way of doing this?

Banks (including Barclays) do offer other ways to prove your id for those who don't have a passport or driving licence.

Barclays list is at https://www.barclays.co.uk/help/accounts/opening/what-id/ and they can accept things not on their list.

However, its perfectly legitimate for them to make a condition of their switching offer that you apply via their app..

Nickyno

gt94sss2 said:

CliveOfIndia said:

eskbanker said:

What she can (and must) do is to get a driving licence or renew her passport....

With the utmost respect to your long-standing (and, I might add, extremely helpful) tenure on this forum, I'm intrigued as to why you say this.

I can completely understand why some people have no need of either a passport or driving licence.  I find it slightly odd that you need one of these forms of ID to get the account.

Whilst I fully understand the bank's requirement to prove one's identity, is there no other way of doing this?

Banks (including Barclays) do offer other ways to prove your id for those who don't have a passport or driving licence.

Barclays list is at https://www.barclays.co.uk/help/accounts/opening/what-id/ and they can accept things not on their list.

However, its perfectly legitimate for them to make a condition of their switching offer that you apply via their app..

I had already rang the number above and they just told me to visit their website.

GrubbyGirl_2

retiredbanker1 said:

GrubbyGirl_2 said:

if the passport has onle recently expired she might be able to use it, otherwise she has no choice but to get a new one

Sorry but this is 100% incorrect  - if you cannot travel with it it cannot be used by a bank for ID.

You'll note I said "might".  I was able to use my recently expired passport - just saying!

35har1old

Olinda99 said:

in a lot of countries people have identity cards and they use these to verify their identity

I suppose in the UK the nearest we get to this is either a driver's license or a passport

yes a passport costs money but I'm guessing that an identity card is not free

Olinda99 said:

in a lot of countries people have identity cards and they use these to verify their identity

I suppose in the UK the nearest we get to this is either a driver's license or a passport

yes a passport costs money but I'm guessing that an identity card is not free

Electoral ID in Northern Ireland is free