Yup, my step-daughter, this morning received the all important NI number, and after a lot of fiffing and faffing, I managed to get her a Bank account, for her salary to be paid in.... Cannot believe how my bank, twice refused to open an account for her, citing lack of credit score.... Of course you silly prats..!!! Even if the is on the pads address, she doesn't register on the electoral roll because she is not a EU national...!!! So, I saw the proverbial, popped over to HSBC across the road, made an appointment for this morning and voila'........ It should be all in the post in the next few days... I understand that it is going to be a pretty basic current account, with no benefits, but it is a start for better things. So, a good day allround..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A coincidence. My 18 year old half-Pinoy son Alex, born in Manila, has been struggling to open an account with Natwest. He is on the electoral roll. He made an appointment and was told that he had to turn up with valid photo ID (he was just in the course of renewing his UK Passport, but took with him his Philippines birth certificate - which they said was useless. He got himself an NI number, a job and a passport and called in to see them again today with his first salary cheque. He was told to come back on Thursday and present his documents "at a meeting", which they have set for the less than perfectly convenient time, for an employed young man, of 10.30. What on earth has got into these people? Britain now has more meaningless red tape than the Philippines.
They cant deal with out of the ordinary circumstances. My wife ( and I ) had fun and game getting her name on my account. It all boiled down to the frontline staff being unfamiliar with unusual customers.
Banks don't like to advertise their BASIC BANK ACCOUNTS because they don't make money on them, but they are obliged to make them available. If you approach a bank asking to open a bank account they will probably not mention the BASIC BANK ACCOUNT and you will be given forms for an ordinary current account. When you application fails that will be recorded on your credit files at the credit reference agencies, such as Equifax, Experian and CallCredit, which could further hinder your prospects of getting credit in future. So, you need to ask for a BASIC BANK ACCOUNT by name, from the outset. For example, the Co-op basic bank account is called CASHMINDER. The process to open these is pretty straightforward and you usually need photo ID (eg passport) and proof of address. You won't need to be credit-scored as such and you may even be able to open such an account even if you are an undischarged bankrupt. But, if you have been comvicted of fraud, it is unlikely you will be offered such an account. They may well still do an ID check with credit reference agencies first and to ensure there are no CIFAS fraud markers on your credit file. So, Photo ID is not really a problem, as you will have a passport. If you cannot prove proof of address via an electoral roll entry then get your name onto a utility bill at your address. Once you have done that, it is not really a problem getting a Basic Bank Account with either the Co-op, Barclays or HSBC. You won't get a cheque book or an overdraft facility (but Barclays do have a £15 'buffer') but you will get a cash card, direct debits and standing orders. On-line banking may also be available. In many cases you should be able to open these accounts by post if you get certified copies of documents such as your passport.
My wife got the Lloyds BASIC BANK ACCOUNT aka Cash Account. As Howerd says, BASIC is the word here. The account is limited and cash withdrawals can only be made at Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland and Halifax cash machines. The account doesn't allow for Planned Overdrafts, cheque books or credit interest.It does however serve the purpose for now.
When Elsa arrived in the UK back in 2005, she had no problem opening a basic current account at HSBC, but after 6 months, they happily upgraded her to a fully functioning current account.
Had issues with Natwest myself. Went down with all the documents to add Joy to my bank account, we filled in the form and Natwest promptly lost it! We went again and Natwest promptly forgot to take a photocopy of one of our documents (we had them all on us).. And so I had to travel down a third time before she could have her name on the account.
Similar kind of thing happened to us. I put it down to them not knowing they had to do it. Nobody, except higher up the chain of command new exactly what was required.
Opened a joint account with the missus a couple of weeks ago had to educate our manager but she was nice ,cards cheque book and all arrived 3 days later
