Bank-account question on behalf of my highly confused fiance.

[darklisruthven]

Right, Steve is 32, and due to getting by on odd jobs, not being the best with money, and hating doing form filling etc, has thus far avoided getting a bank account. Now he has inherited some money via a cheque and needs to bank it.
He is having real problems opening a bank account.
He doesnt have a driving licence or a passport and isnt the bill payer for his house (a relative is), so he has no ID that the bank find acceptable. The bank say that as he is over 21, they cannot accept his birth certificate.
He is a genuine UK citizen, just someone who has avoided the standard ticky boxes until now.
What can he do to open a bank account which he needs to do (and the fact he is looking to get a new more reliable job so would need a salary paid into one)????

[LovesVintage43]

Can you try a building society instead? I had this problem when I was a similar age...I had been paid weekly with cash from the age of 18 so had no need for a bank account, I got one at the time with Woolwich as I don't think they were as strict and didn't need a regular amount going in. Could also try an online bank like Smile or First Direct?

[Tropical_Trish]

Right, Steve is 32, and due to getting by on odd jobs, not being the best with money, and hating doing form filling etc, has thus far avoided getting a bank account. Now he has inherited some money via a cheque and needs to bank it.
He is having real problems opening a bank account.
He doesnt have a driving licence or a passport and isnt the bill payer for his house (a relative is), so he has no ID that the bank find acceptable. The bank say that as he is over 21, they cannot accept his birth certificate.
He is a genuine UK citizen, just someone who has avoided the standard ticky boxes until now.
What can he do to open a bank account which he needs to do (and the fact he is looking to get a new more reliable job so would need a salary paid into one)????

Dark, I would advise calling into Nationwide, and asking to see an advisor.
If you don't get much joy there, Martin Lewis,
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/
try that. I have learned so much from this site.

[darklisruthven]

Great thanks guys, will get him to look into these options.

[Tropical_Trish]

Good.
Hope you are successful dark.
If you have any probs wondering what to do with a lump sum ... re investment, interest, check out the site, it really pays you to do so.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

[squern]

I used to take people in similar circs to the Bank of Scotland (NOT the Royal, the other one). I always found them helpful.
What about other sorts of records/ID: payslips, tax - ( HMRC must have records for him, so P45, P46, or similar),

[liverdodo]

Perhaps a saving account might be easier to open than a currant account, you get a card & you can pay wages in. Then after a few months apply for a current account.

A few years ago I had to apply for passport, driving license, (never used either) and get a letter from National Insurance office, before I was allowed a current account....Time consuming & very costly

[Oldandintheway]

Passport
Membership of any service groups eg. Army Reserve/Red Cross/Fire Service volunteer etc.
Store Lay By/Hire purchase agreements
Photo ID of any club memberships
Tax file number
Rental contract
Mobile phone contract
Social Security (dole) ID records
Statutory declaration from former employer/s,clergy/Justice of the Peace/Police
Electoral register
Any other licence types eg. gun/motor boat/etc.

Just putting these ideas out there!

But online accounts & or Building Society could be the way to go.

[Anniemcc2]

is there a Credit Union in your area?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/credit-unions

http://www.ukcu.co.uk/