Diffuclty in opening a new account

lkoky

Hi there,

This year I have moved from Belfast to Cambridge due to career change. Until now I have only bank with one bank, even though their current & saving account offer crappy interest but for my day-to-day usages they are fine. The only problem now is they dont have any braches in England.

So after discover this site, I set off to find best Saving & Current account for my money since April. What I didnt expect is how diffcult it is to open a new bank account.

I dont have any bad credit record before, in fact I have been using a visa credit card with my current bank for the last 6 years and I always clear the balanced. Never once in my life time I paid a penny of interest. Also I have full-time employment with salray >20K per annum. Therefore it really puzzled me why my application for new accounts have been turned down or taking longer to process?

So far I've tried to open a 'Premier Plus Current Account' with A&L but turned down, nonetheless they approved my 'Online Saver' application. I handed in my application for a current account in HSBC last Saturday (25/6/2005) and I still havent heard anything from them.

The only thing thatmight work agaisnt me is I am a foreigner. Just wonder is this sort thing normal or just me?

BTW, whenever one apply for a credit card or online account, the bank will send you a pack of application form to fill in and also asking for some id doc proof. My question is who do you ask for signature to say the photocopies of your id doc is genuine?

Thanks.

Cagey

Didn`t think photocopies were acceptable. Surprised A&L knocked you back but can`t give any help on this issue,hopefuuly someone can.

Bossyboots

lkoky wrote:

My question is who do you ask for signature to say the photocopies of your id doc is genuine?

Thanks.

You go to a solicitor with the original documents and ask them to copy them and certify them as true copies of the originals. These then have the status of original documents.

steady__eddie

Originally Posted by lkoky
My question is who do you ask for signature to say the photocopies of your id doc is genuine?

Thanks.

I presume that it's going to cost "a few bob" for a solicitor to get his pen out, D.V.L.A. accept the signature of a man of the cloth or a J.P. on the back of a photo. If you know one, it could work out cheaper.

grumbler

steady__eddie wrote:

I presume that it's going to cost "a few bob" for a solicitor to get his pen out...

It depends ... Once it cost me just £3(!) to have a dozen of A4 photocopies (made by myself) sertified.

steady__eddie

That was obviously a BOGEF (Buy one get eleven free)

dunstonh

My question is who do you ask for signature to say the photocopies of your id doc is genuine?

Bank Manager, IFA, Accountant will do this as well, in addition to those already mentioned. Bank manager wont do it for non customers and even then they are fussy. The rest will charge a fee, unless you have an existing arrangement with one.

lkoky

grumbler wrote:

It depends ... Once it cost me just £3(!) to have a dozen of A4 photocopies (made by myself) sertified.

That sounds like a trementdous deal.

Anyway seriously what is the amount of money I am expecting to pay just to ask a solicitor to certified photocopied id doc?

Many thanks.

Chadsman

You used to be able to get any professional to certify documents eg: teacher, doctor, minister of religion,...

cattie

I have a friend who works in a solicitors office & recently when I went to meet her for lunch a girl came in with a document to be certified & was charged £5. Don't know if this was because she was on benefits though.

Myself in the past have used a teacher friend to sign documents for me.