30 yr old with savings book and no debit card?

[CJ0374]

I'm trying to work out whether this person is a scammer for various other reasons. They say they only have a 'savings book'. Can you get a bank account nowadays without a debit card?

Yes you can. Some building society accounts only have passbooks, I have one that went from passbook to cards then back to a passbook rather annoyingly. However they're not a standard current account, and I'd be surprised if someone didn't have a standard current account alongside what is essentially a savings account.

Anyone else know?

It's unusual to use only a passbook account - it would he very difficult to pay bills as those accounts don't have facilities such as Direct Debit payments. But it's possible, people with a very simple lifestyle who pay rent and bills with cash could manage.

Do not give this person money!

What is the context in which this has come up? I've truly never discussed my banking options with a friend or acquaintance. Probably only dh even knows where I bank and that's because we have a joint account at the same bank.

I don’t think this alone can tell you if someone is a ‘scammer’ op… more info needed! You can get accounts with no card.. but the fact you’re posting means you’re suspicious.. what else is ringing your alarm bells. Don’t give money to anyone you don’t know for any reason and you can always call your bank if unsure..

Sounds odd - surely wages or benefits get paid into ordinary current accounts, not savings accounts.
How does he pay bills etc.
he could be withdrawing cash every week but it's unusual for someone so young.
As someone else said, don't lend him money! It sounds very odd.

I know someone with epilepsy who chooses not to have a debit card. He did have one, but unbelievably someone stole his while he was having a seizure, and used it to tap in several stores. He got his card cancelled and not replaced.

What are they trying to do? Pay you somehow via this savings book? Or have you pay them?

Sounds dodgy to me either way.

There are 'basic' accounts for people who for some reason can't have a standard current account. Normally for those with very bad credit records. You can't get a cheque book or overdraft but do normally get a card.

Yeah, red flags here op. Barring ND difficulties I can't even begin to imagine how a fully functioning adult can possibly manage to exist without a bank account that uses a card. No savings accounts have direct debit/standing order facilities (that I'm aware of) and no current accounts don't have some sort of card.

How does he pay bills? Rent? Mortgage? Council tax? How does he get paid, and pay for day to day essentials? How would he book and pay for a night away? Drinks in a pub? A holiday? Online shopping?

If he works cash in hand I'd be walking away, likewise if he lives with parents and pays them cash for board.

Maybe he doesn't want any trail of where he's spending his money when out with you...

Unusual but not unheard of. Context is kind of important here, what do they want and what are they providing? I presume you're paying them for something?

Until recently I worked for a business that purchased items from the general public and could pay the money direct to their bank account - occasionally we would get adults who only had a basic account or post office style savings book, no debit card. The reasons we're rarely good. No credit rating or a bad one, previous bankruptcy, inability to provide sufficient ID, previous records of fraud, one because he'd been in prison since 18 and just had no history of anything by 32. I'd be very wary about parting with money, all I'm saying.

I was trying to keep the OP brief. This is not someone I am giving money to, but others are! Its a woman on nextdoor claiming to run an animal sanctuary from her bedsit with a tiny, courtyard, concrete 'garden'. (she posts pics weekly of the animals and many people have questioned that they are just her pets).

Every week she has a 'drama'. Cat food not delivered, can someone collect a bag of carrots from X shop, I hurt my foot and can't walk to the cash machine, etc. I suggested she do a bank transfer, to pay the person that recently bought her dog food, but she said she only had a savings book and had to get cash from the post office- hence my question.

Certainly in Scotland she needs a license to run a sanctuary. You could draw her posts to the local authorities attention.

If someone is in serious debt or has been under suspicion of money laundering banks often refuse a current account. The Post Office offers a simple account that salary or benefits can be paid in but no direct debits or standing orders. Bills must be paid in cash. It would be a red flag to me if someone has this.