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Original poster

Opening a bank account

58 replies

dadadeedadada · 21/03/2022 15:53

Just as the title says really. My son (18) is trying to open his first bank account because he has a job offer. At the moment he is still a student and we are waiting for his provisional driving license to come back (sent in December they sent the form back 2 weeks ago because he hadn't crossed one of the boxes, he crossed the box and I sent it back) he does not have a passport.
I went down to the bank with him to explain why he does not have photo ID, yet.
I had his birth certificate, a child benefit letter that he's named on, my tax credit award that he's named on, his national insurance number letter that is addressed to him and my own photo ID.
The lady at the bank said she couldn't help, he has to have photo ID. She did say he could get a letter of confirmation from his college and a letter of introduction from the GP. The letter from the GP (who wouldn't know him if she fell over him to be honest) has to be very specific, letter headed paper, proper signature from the doctor etc.
I've just tried to phone DVLA, got "all our lines are busy, bye" just phoned the doctors who will print his details of the computer but the GP won't sign it and it won't be letter headed paper.
I'm worried his job offer will disappear before we can get an account sorted. Can anybody give any suggestions on what to do next, or do we just have to wait?
The bank we tried was Lloyds, would he fare better with a building society.
How do people without photo ID get bank accounts? I can't imagine somebody claiming UC or whatever having the cash to throw at the DVLA or the passport office so there must be a way.
Please help, and thanks for reading all that, I know you don't like a drip feed round here so I've tried to get it all out at once, haha.

OP posts:
Original poster
dadadeedadada · 21/03/2022 15:54

Oh, and his employer won't pay into my account, tax implications apparently.

OP posts:
Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 21/03/2022 16:00

www.finder.com/uk/how-to-open-a-bank-account-without-id-in-the-uk

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 21/03/2022 16:02

Not sure about the tax implications thing, wonder if anyone else might be able to shed some light on that

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Benefits General health General money
Namechangehereandnow · 21/03/2022 16:07

I’m surprised your son doesn’t have a bank account already Confused …. Mine have had them since aged 12 … that’s pretty usual nowadays.

We applied for driving licenses online, arrived within 2 weeks.

Comefromaway · 21/03/2022 16:14

@Namechangehereandnow

I’m surprised your son doesn’t have a bank account already Confused …. Mine have had them since aged 12 … that’s pretty usual nowadays.

We applied for driving licenses online, arrived within 2 weeks.

It's Catch 22, you can only apply for a driving licence online if you have a current, valid passport. Paper driving licence applications are taking months.
Comefromaway · 21/03/2022 16:16

@Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs

Not sure about the tax implications thing, wonder if anyone else might be able to shed some light on that
No tax implications I can think of but it would be against many companies Modern Slavery policy to pay into an account that the employee was not named on.
Original poster
dadadeedadada · 21/03/2022 16:35

@Namechangehereandnow I'm poor, no money to go in bank accounts for kids, all pocket money in cash, no passport because, I'm poor we have had one holiday in his lifetime in the uk so couldn't apply for a driving license online. It looks like we'll just have to wait 6 - 10 weeks for the license to come back and hope the job is still there.

OP posts:
Babysharkdoodoodood · 21/03/2022 16:37

Have a look at basic bank accounts like Co-op and Post Office. Martin Lewis website MSE has details

Original poster
dadadeedadada · 21/03/2022 16:37

I was confused about tax implications as well, he's a student, they don't pay tax, do they? I thought it was probably a financial abuse thing. Thanks for the reply's anyhow?
Anybody else long for the days when you were treated like a valued customer not a potential criminal at every turn.

OP posts:
SolasAnla · 21/03/2022 16:45

He fills in your bank details on his application form.
You photocopy your bank statement with the name, address and transations removed leave the IBAN and BIC and the issue date. Once he gets a new account he submits a change of bank account to payroll.

Once its a UK employer and a UK Bank there are no tax implications.
If he has to have credit check or bank reference from his bank thats a different problem.

If you were to add your son to your bank account what ID would your bank need for that?

Original poster
dadadeedadada · 21/03/2022 16:50

Thanks @Babysharkdoodoodood I will do.

OP posts:
user1471447863 · 21/03/2022 16:54

I'm poor, no money to go in bank accounts for kids, all pocket money in cash
You only need £1 to open an account for a child (actually you dont need anything initially but it's good form to fund it at some point soon after opening) and usually just need your ID and their birth certificate, then that's them set for the future.
And cash pocket money can be saved up (or some of it) and taken to the bank to be paid in (good financial habits).
I've seen a few come unstuck starting their first job and not having a bank account to be paid into.
Opening a bank account was one of the things I did for my kids as soon as they had a birth certificate.

The not paying into another person's account will be the modern slavery stuff.
Students are not exempt from tax, they are just unlikely to exceed their personal allowance and be taxed.

Be aware he will need proper ID for the right to work verification checks his employer will (should) at some point do

Original poster
dadadeedadada · 21/03/2022 16:54

@SolasAnla that's what I thought he would be able to do, I'm sure he's got his wires crossed somewhere along the line.

OP posts:
Original poster
dadadeedadada · 21/03/2022 17:02

@user1471447863 I know you can open a bank account with a pound, and with hindsight I should of done. But I am where I am. I can't turn back time and not be a shit mum.
It's covid and the people at the DVLA. If they were at work properly then he would have had his driving license in January and then no problem.
As I said I'm poor, always have been, lowest rung of the ladder wage wise, but I can just about afford the 43£ for the driving license, I know there are people worse of than me, where do they go.
Lloyds say they are committed to helping people access banking without the ID requirements on the website, seems not.

OP posts:
VampireMoney · 21/03/2022 17:02

I had this with my oldest daughter who didn't open an account until she went to college at18 and needed somewhere for her bursary etc to be paid. Bloody murder trying to get her set up, with Barclays being the worst of the lot. Even with a referral from college, college card, birth certificate and a new letter from HMRC with their NI they wanted to do a credit check and she failed it because obviously she had nothing on credit and no bill paying history! Eventually NatWest let her open an account.

Forewarned, I got DS to open one when he turned 16 as they only need a birth certificate and child benefit letter for that!

Original poster
dadadeedadada · 21/03/2022 17:05

@VampireMoney oh lesson definitely learned here. As soon as I've sorted the big one out the youngest is getting one Smile

OP posts:
VampireMoney · 21/03/2022 17:07

@dadadeedadada I'll be doing the same when DD2 is old enough too, don't want to go through that rigmarole again 😂

tealandteal · 21/03/2022 17:11

If staff don’t supply their bank details, a cheque is issued at my work. Can he have this for the first month or 2?

berlinbabylon · 21/03/2022 17:15

@tealandteal

If staff don’t supply their bank details, a cheque is issued at my work. Can he have this for the first month or 2?
but how would he pay it into an account if he doesn't have one?

I do think the bank is being deliberately awkward though - lots of people don't have photo ID

have you tried other banks?

ididntevennotice · 21/03/2022 17:17

Sorry no advice on how to help now OP but a head up for anyone else not only can you open a current account for them when they are 11 but you can apply for the provisional at 15y 9m

berlinbabylon · 21/03/2022 17:20

They should accept his birth certificate and the NI number letter? And presumably he's also on the electoral roll so they can also check that?

Have a look at this: www.which.co.uk/news/2019/07/where-can-you-open-a-bank-account-the-quickest/ (towards the bottom they talk about which banks don't insist on photo ID)

berlinbabylon · 21/03/2022 17:22

Also see this: www.nationwide.co.uk/current-accounts/flexbasic/

FlowerArranger · 21/03/2022 17:25

Lloyds say they are committed to helping people access banking without the ID requirements on the website, seems not.

Maybe you just encountered a Jobsworth? I'd go in again, ask to speak to someone higher up, and point them to the relevant promise on their website.

If all else fails, he should ask his employer to give him cheques till its all sorted, and pay them in at that time. Or ask them to save his wages for him until his account is open.

berlinbabylon · 21/03/2022 17:25

Just to say we struggled a bit when our son was 16 and got a job as a lifeguard with having the proof of address for a DBS check. ID was fine, as he did have a passport, but address was harder. Fortunately he was able to get a print off from the bank with his address on - and they overlooked the fact that it wasn't on headed paper!

I don't know why people object to ID cards so much - it would be so much easier if all you had to show was an ID card.

FlowerArranger · 21/03/2022 17:46

I don't know why people object to ID cards so much - it would be so much easier if all you had to show was an ID card

I don't think people object to ID cards as such, but the need to carry them. Even if it is not a legislated requirement, businesses could soon start routinely asking for ID.

This already happens in many countries. For instance, at Target in the US, they'll copy down your driver's licence number when you buy alcohol...