Au pair bank account problem

It is getting really hard. I had a client who found it almost impossible!

Try Halifax or Lloyds. Done this for previous au pairs and as long as I go in with them, no issues.

Haven't been able to here. I wasn't prepared to put her on the utility bill (not here long enough) just paid cash and she doesn't seem worried.

We book theatre tickets on our credit cards if ever the need arises.

With our last au pair, we added her to a utility bill. Whatever you add her to you'd need to be sure they sent you a bill fairly sharpish after.

We also went into our own bank which we used anyway to see if they'd be more flexible and could use the fact that we vouched for her or not (not sure if it helped!).

We've had the same problem with ours.

We just pay them cash, but I warn in advance that they won't be able to get one. If they do want to order something online, I tend to buy it for them and then they pay me back.

I'd recommend trying a different bank too. First Direct/HSBC always seem more competent than NW. I was recently trying to convert my teenage DDs child NW Acs into regular acs (and they're uk citizens) and called NW 'helpline' to see what docs we needed to take to the appt. As they are teenagers obviously like you we struggled with acceptable ID though of course I offered their passports only to be told no, but we will accept a letter from their school! Right, so, a meaningless letter from an unidentifiable person from a school that may or may not exist or an official document issued by th UK government? Hmm. Good luck!

What about a driving licence?

Can you add her to your utility or council tax bills?

I think my cousin had a similar problem a few years ago and managed to get an account with HSBC. I agree it'd be s good idea for you to enquire at your local back + provide a letter to say that she lives with you and is your au pair.

We had a similar problem recently, moving back to the U.K. after a long time abroad. Accommodation is provided with our job so we had no utility bills and eventually we had to get HMRC to send us a letter confirming our NI numbers. We are with Natwest and it was a real PITA, they wouldn't accept a letter from our employer or even our work contracts where it is stipulated that we have to live on site.
Does your AP have a NI number?

My mother tried to open a British account last year when she came to see me and was told she could not because she was not a UK resident . Thankfully I had opened a bank account into thousand 10 when residency was not a requirement as I was not living in the UK . Can you register her at your address so she can at least sell that or bring a contract that you both signed when she became your au pair ?

There are ways round it and is usually easiest to accomplish with your own bank and you going with the AP to open the account and providing a letter on recommendation.

Won’t or can’t? If she is having trouble can you find out what else it is she needs to enable her to open it? Does she maybe need proof she is working in the UK? Or can you pay her into her Spanish bank account? I have no idea about any of this - just speculating. Sorry if i isn’t helpful.