Why so expensive to get ID in the UK? Why no free national identity cards?

Beachcomber372

jadex said:

Don't know why £450 for 4 passports is quoted unless they all apply by paper form and want unnecessary 54-page version. If confirmation of likeness by counter signatory is required then still 34-page passport is cheaper.

Some fin-tech apps (like ZING) accept provisional driving licence which costs £34 and can be obtained without a passport. With those apps you get sort code, account number and debit card.

They are basic passports. Extra costs were getting passport photos done, sending off documents (birth certificates) secure delivery and paying for the birth certificates to be returned. And we still have to find someone qualified that knows us to verify our identities.

Beachcomber372

DullGreyGuy said:

Ergates said:

born_again said:

eskbanker said:

born_again said:

Beachcomber372 said:

My partner and 16,19 and 21 year old sons need ID for opening bank accounts. Proving their identity is very difficult so we've decided to apply for passports for them even though we have no intention of going abroad. All the costs of getting 4 passports is going going to cost about £450 and they will need renewing every 10 years at more cost. How can people on a low income be expected to pay so much just to prove who they are to do basic things like opening a bank account, voting etc.. Why aren't all UK citizens issued a free National Idenity Card?

Driving licence 👍

If you already happen to have learned how to drive then yes, licences are a useful alternative to passports for photo ID, but if OP is looking at this from the perspective of low income people not taking foreign holidays, many won't have been able to afford the fully-loaded cost of acquiring a driving licence, i.e. lessons, etc.

Agree. But can be a cheaper option that a passport.
Mrs has no photo ID but managed to open a account. Took some work, visiting branch & paperwork, but can be done.

Would love a national ID card, given we all get a NI number. Would make life so easy. 

Learning to drive and taking a test is not a cheaper option than getting a passport.

Who said anything about learning to drive or taking a test @ergates? There is no legal obligation to actually learn to drive when you get a provisional driving license. 

As has already been shown, HSBC at least and likely other banks too accept the provisional driving license as proof of ID. 

That's just HSBC and my younger sons didn't even have enough ID for that. Provisional driving licence isn't universally accepted as ID

Beachcomber372

elsien said:

Beachcomber372 said:

JadedAngel88 said:

I recently had to return my driving license to DVLA because I'm not allowed to drive due to medication I take.  

I don't have a passport and was stumped for something to prove my id. I have a citizen card. 

https://www.citizencard.com/apply-for-a-uk-id-card-online

It does say they charge £15 but I found a code so it was free. The codes can easily be found online. Apparently NUS or FREEVOTERID will work. 

Citizen card not acceptable as ID for opening bank account or many other things.

You say you need photo ID for many other things other than a bank account.

I can’t remember the last time I used photo ID for any other purpose.

I’m coming to the view you’ve only posted because you think that National identity cards are a good idea regardless of the purpose, not because people are genuinely having issues with their bank account. 

So out of interest, what do you consider? are the multitude of other reasons that photo ID is needed for? 

Of course I think National Identity cards are a good idea. A universally accepted means of ID would save a lot of hassle, time and money. I haven't looked into how many other reasons photo ID is required but off the top of my head Government Gateway, proof of age for travel, pubs, buying alcohol, concerts, cinema, hotels etc.... there must others I haven't even considered.

adindas

born_again said:

Beachcomber372 said:

My partner and 16,19 and 21 year old sons need ID for opening bank accounts. Proving their identity is very difficult so we've decided to apply for passports for them even though we have no intention of going abroad. All the costs of getting 4 passports is going going to cost about £450 and they will need renewing every 10 years at more cost. How can people on a low income be expected to pay so much just to prove who they are to do basic things like opening a bank account, voting etc.. Why aren't all UK citizens issued a free National Idenity Card?

Driving licence 👍

Generalisation, you are assuming all adults have driving licence ?? And how much does it cost to get a driving licence ??

daveyjp

elsien said:

Beachcomber372 said:

JadedAngel88 said:

I recently had to return my driving license to DVLA because I'm not allowed to drive due to medication I take.  

I don't have a passport and was stumped for something to prove my id. I have a citizen card. 

https://www.citizencard.com/apply-for-a-uk-id-card-online

It does say they charge £15 but I found a code so it was free. The codes can easily be found online. Apparently NUS or FREEVOTERID will work. 

Citizen card not acceptable as ID for opening bank account or many other things.

You say you need photo ID for many other things other than a bank account.

I can’t remember the last time I used photo ID for any other purpose.

I’m coming to the view you’ve only posted because you think that National identity cards are a good idea regardless of the purpose, not because people are genuinely having issues with their bank account. 

So out of interest, what do you consider? are the multitude of other reasons that photo ID is needed for? 

A few other reasons.

Securing employment
Voting 
Railcards
Flights inside the UK
Buy alcohol, vapes

DullGreyGuy

Beachcomber372 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Ergates said:

born_again said:

eskbanker said:

born_again said:

Beachcomber372 said:

My partner and 16,19 and 21 year old sons need ID for opening bank accounts. Proving their identity is very difficult so we've decided to apply for passports for them even though we have no intention of going abroad. All the costs of getting 4 passports is going going to cost about £450 and they will need renewing every 10 years at more cost. How can people on a low income be expected to pay so much just to prove who they are to do basic things like opening a bank account, voting etc.. Why aren't all UK citizens issued a free National Idenity Card?

Driving licence 👍

If you already happen to have learned how to drive then yes, licences are a useful alternative to passports for photo ID, but if OP is looking at this from the perspective of low income people not taking foreign holidays, many won't have been able to afford the fully-loaded cost of acquiring a driving licence, i.e. lessons, etc.

Agree. But can be a cheaper option that a passport.
Mrs has no photo ID but managed to open a account. Took some work, visiting branch & paperwork, but can be done.

Would love a national ID card, given we all get a NI number. Would make life so easy. 

Learning to drive and taking a test is not a cheaper option than getting a passport.

Who said anything about learning to drive or taking a test @ergates? There is no legal obligation to actually learn to drive when you get a provisional driving license. 

As has already been shown, HSBC at least and likely other banks too accept the provisional driving license as proof of ID. 

That's just HSBC and my younger sons didn't even have enough ID for that. Provisional driving licence isn't universally accepted as ID

It's not just HSBC, NatWest, Nationwide and Barclays all state provisional is accepted, Santander is the only bank that explicitly says its not accepted. Lloyds says they accept driving licences without commenting on full only or provisional too. 

For minors there is often more latitude on these things because of their age. 

friolento

elsien said:

Beachcomber372 said:

JadedAngel88 said:

I recently had to return my driving license to DVLA because I'm not allowed to drive due to medication I take.  

I don't have a passport and was stumped for something to prove my id. I have a citizen card. 

https://www.citizencard.com/apply-for-a-uk-id-card-online

It does say they charge £15 but I found a code so it was free. The codes can easily be found online. Apparently NUS or FREEVOTERID will work. 

Citizen card not acceptable as ID for opening bank account or many other things.

You say you need photo ID for many other things other than a bank account.

I can’t remember the last time I used photo ID for any other purpose.

I’m coming to the view you’ve only posted because you think that National identity cards are a good idea regardless of the purpose, not because people are genuinely having issues with their bank account. 

So out of interest, what do you consider? are the multitude of other reasons that photo ID is needed for? 

If you are over 25 abd only ever apply for one bank account, you probably can’t make best use of a Government issued ID. Though you would find it hard to register for your Personal Tax Account, and getting your regular State Pension Forecast would also be massively more difficult without it 😎. We also need ID for voting these days, although age discrimination is in effect for this for younger people. 

If you are into having multiple financial accounts (current, savings, investments, trading etc), you will invariably and increasingly be asked for government- issued ID. 

You also need proof of ID for age restricted products, and you might need it for legal purposes (e.g. proving you are a legal heir). Many job applications, especially in the Public Sector, require proof of ID. Landlords are required by law to check the ID of their tenants. You need photo ID if you want to pick up an Amazon parcel at the Post Office……And so on.

Beachcomber372

DullGreyGuy said:

Beachcomber372 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Ergates said:

born_again said:

eskbanker said:

born_again said:

Beachcomber372 said:

My partner and 16,19 and 21 year old sons need ID for opening bank accounts. Proving their identity is very difficult so we've decided to apply for passports for them even though we have no intention of going abroad. All the costs of getting 4 passports is going going to cost about £450 and they will need renewing every 10 years at more cost. How can people on a low income be expected to pay so much just to prove who they are to do basic things like opening a bank account, voting etc.. Why aren't all UK citizens issued a free National Idenity Card?

Driving licence 👍

If you already happen to have learned how to drive then yes, licences are a useful alternative to passports for photo ID, but if OP is looking at this from the perspective of low income people not taking foreign holidays, many won't have been able to afford the fully-loaded cost of acquiring a driving licence, i.e. lessons, etc.

Agree. But can be a cheaper option that a passport.
Mrs has no photo ID but managed to open a account. Took some work, visiting branch & paperwork, but can be done.

Would love a national ID card, given we all get a NI number. Would make life so easy. 

Learning to drive and taking a test is not a cheaper option than getting a passport.

Who said anything about learning to drive or taking a test @ergates? There is no legal obligation to actually learn to drive when you get a provisional driving license. 

As has already been shown, HSBC at least and likely other banks too accept the provisional driving license as proof of ID. 

That's just HSBC and my younger sons didn't even have enough ID for that. Provisional driving licence isn't universally accepted as ID

It's not just HSBC, NatWest, Nationwide and Barclays all state provisional is accepted, Santander is the only bank that explicitly says its not accepted. Lloyds says they accept driving licences without commenting on full only or provisional too. 

For minors there is often more latitude on these things because of their age. 

DullGreyGuy said:

Beachcomber372 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Ergates said:

born_again said:

eskbanker said:

born_again said:

Beachcomber372 said:

My partner and 16,19 and 21 year old sons need ID for opening bank accounts. Proving their identity is very difficult so we've decided to apply for passports for them even though we have no intention of going abroad. All the costs of getting 4 passports is going going to cost about £450 and they will need renewing every 10 years at more cost. How can people on a low income be expected to pay so much just to prove who they are to do basic things like opening a bank account, voting etc.. Why aren't all UK citizens issued a free National Idenity Card?

Driving licence 👍

If you already happen to have learned how to drive then yes, licences are a useful alternative to passports for photo ID, but if OP is looking at this from the perspective of low income people not taking foreign holidays, many won't have been able to afford the fully-loaded cost of acquiring a driving licence, i.e. lessons, etc.

Agree. But can be a cheaper option that a passport.
Mrs has no photo ID but managed to open a account. Took some work, visiting branch & paperwork, but can be done.

Would love a national ID card, given we all get a NI number. Would make life so easy. 

Learning to drive and taking a test is not a cheaper option than getting a passport.

Who said anything about learning to drive or taking a test @ergates? There is no legal obligation to actually learn to drive when you get a provisional driving license. 

As has already been shown, HSBC at least and likely other banks too accept the provisional driving license as proof of ID. 

That's just HSBC and my younger sons didn't even have enough ID for that. Provisional driving licence isn't universally accepted as ID

It's not just HSBC, NatWest, Nationwide and Barclays all state provisional is accepted, Santander is the only bank that explicitly says its not accepted. Lloyds says they accept driving licences without commenting on full only or provisional too. 

For minors there is often more latitude on these things because of their age. 

But we don't want to be restricted to certain banks, we are looking for ID that's accepted for most things and currently a passport seems to be the best (although expensive) option. Also people with certain health conditions or disabilities may not qualify for a provision licence.

BooJewels

elsien said:

Beachcomber372 said:

JadedAngel88 said:

I recently had to return my driving license to DVLA because I'm not allowed to drive due to medication I take.  

I don't have a passport and was stumped for something to prove my id. I have a citizen card. 

https://www.citizencard.com/apply-for-a-uk-id-card-online

It does say they charge £15 but I found a code so it was free. The codes can easily be found online. Apparently NUS or FREEVOTERID will work. 

Citizen card not acceptable as ID for opening bank account or many other things.

You say you need photo ID for many other things other than a bank account.

I can’t remember the last time I used photo ID for any other purpose.

I’m coming to the view you’ve only posted because you think that National identity cards are a good idea regardless of the purpose, not because people are genuinely having issues with their bank account. 

So out of interest, what do you consider? are the multitude of other reasons that photo ID is needed for? 

As mentioned, I had to relent and get a passport as it was becoming increasingly difficult to carry out some 'legal' tasks.  I needed photo ID when I gifted my son a house deposit, for registering an LPA with a bank (and several variants of using the LPA), for putting an estate house on the market (twice), getting an original will from a solicitors for Probate, selling said properties with solicitors, getting into my Government Gateway and there have been others.   They might as well have put through the ID cards, as the need for photo ID has effectively made passports and DLs into them.

eskbanker

Beachcomber372 said:
But we don't want to be restricted to certain banks, we are looking for ID that's accepted for most things and currently a passport seems to be the best (although expensive) option.

This is the crux of the issue!

Can you get by without full official photo ID? Yes, as explained above.

Do you have the luxury of full choice of all possible products without it?  Well, no....