HELP!! How can he get a bank a/c??

A question about : HELP!! How can he get a bank a/c??

A friend of mine lives in the Essex area in a private rent, multioccupied accommodation. (Shared kitchen/bathroom; private room)

In order to open a Bank Account, he needs to have a ultility bill with his name and address on it. However, he pays the landlord rent (as do the other 5 tenants) and the bills are inclusive - so NO ultility bills to provide with *his* name attached to the address.

He has attempted to open an account with 3 different High Street banks. He has taken his birth certificate, driving license, pay slips, national insurance card all as proof of ID, yet, because he doesn't have a bill with his name on it, they won't touch him!!!!! (He's lived in that accomodation for over 2yrs now)

Someone, please advise!!!!! This seems to be such a ridiculous scenario to be in.

Best answers:

• AFAIK they should accept other forms of ID provided it's got your name and address. If someone doesn't have the bills etc that are suggested the bank should be able to suggest other forms of ID they would find acceptable. For address this would include letters from official sources e.g. benefits agency, solicitor etc., or a statement for any bank a/c or credit card etc, or a council rent card or a tenancy agreement.
  The government leaflet about this is available on the Halifax website here:
  https://www.halifax.co.uk/security/pd..._terrorism.pdf
  Incidentally, I notice now that the banks and utility companies are trying to avoid sending us paper statements/bills wherever possible (they prefer online statements no doubt to cut costs) but an online statement will not have an address on it and could easily be faked. Couldn't this prove probematic for anyone that went for completely paperless billing?
• Payslips, birth cert and NI card do not prove ID, as there is no signature, address or photo. If he takes his passport and driving licence tho that will be ok for any bank.
• Thank you for your replies (and the interesting link).
  He does not have a passport and he did take his driving license ... maybe he was simply talking to the wrong person behind the counter.
  I've contacted First Direct today and they are sending me a package with a card in it to pass onto him. Hopefully, that might prove a better route!
  Thanks again
• Is he on the electoral roll ?
  Try derbyshire, apparently if he's on the electoral roll he does not need ANY ID ?
• I only know about the bank I work for, although I can't say which bank that is.
  We require 2 items - one to prove identification and one to prove address. Either Passport or Driving Licence are usually used to prove ID. If passport is used as ID, then D/L can be used as proof of address. However in this case he is using the D/L for ID and therefore needs another form of proof of address.
  If he is on the voters role at his address, he will not need anything as the bank will do a voters role search when opening the account. If he is not on the voters role, can he provide a statment from another bank or building society? Can he provide somthing from a government department - e.g. a letter from the Inland Revenue or Social Security? Does his employer have an arrangement with their bank to introduce new customers? (Some companies do have arrangements like this, where they can write a letter confirming their employee's details, which is accepted by the bank). If he is a student can he get a letter from his college?
• Acceptable documents to prove identification and address can vary from one financial institution.
  Financial Services Authority (FSA - banks' regulator) has a section on this topic:
  https://www.fsa.gov.uk/consumer/02_HO..._how_open.html
  When I'm opening accounts I have to ask for 2 proofs of identity and 2 proofs of address and if I'm asked to accept documentation which is outwith our recommended list then I simply refer it to our compliance department for guidance.