Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Proof of ID for library.

52 replies

Isthiscorrect · 22/07/2023 13:54

Ds lives in Brum. He lives in a shared house. Has been in this house for almost 2 years and in a different house before this with the same landlord.

To open a bank account he took his passport and his rental contract, his salary slip and his work contract.

Today he has been to the main library in Brum with the aforementioned documents and has been refused to open a bank account. They say he needs a utility bill. He says I don't have any and they won't be swayed. Apparently a utility bill is a hill hey are prepared to die on.

AIBU to think this doesn't appear to be very inclusive?

OP posts:
Cheesusisgrate · 22/07/2023 13:55

Bank statement should be enough. The list is clearly on their website so he can refer them to ut

QuillBill · 22/07/2023 14:03

Today he has been to the main library in Brum with the aforementioned documents and has been refused to open a bank account.

Is it a library card he's been refused or a bank account?

Is he on the council tax? I don't have any utility bills in my name and I've had to use that before.

MereDintofPandiculation · 22/07/2023 14:06

He needs something with his name on posted to his current address, within the last three months. His passport and work contract won't have his address on, his salary slip may not (if he receives it on-line rather than through the post), and his rental contract will have the address of the place he's renting but not necessarily evidence that he's still living there.

It's not "ID for library" is it? It's ID for a bank account. Or did you have a typo?

Original poster
Isthiscorrect · 22/07/2023 14:07

It was a library card. I mentioned the documents he took for a bank account and they were accepted but not for a library card.

He doesn't pay council tax he lives in a HMO. However he is on the electoral roll and offered up that. But no.

I've sent him the list of documents as per the library website. Apparently they need hard copies. So bank statement on phone is not acceptable. Sigh.

OP posts:
Cheesusisgrate · 22/07/2023 14:08

Isthiscorrect · 22/07/2023 14:07

It was a library card. I mentioned the documents he took for a bank account and they were accepted but not for a library card.

He doesn't pay council tax he lives in a HMO. However he is on the electoral roll and offered up that. But no.

I've sent him the list of documents as per the library website. Apparently they need hard copies. So bank statement on phone is not acceptable. Sigh.

He can get bank statement printed on a way there. Banks do that and stamp it.

Whataretheodds · 22/07/2023 14:10

Does he not have a utility bill in his name?

Cheesusisgrate · 22/07/2023 14:11

Whataretheodds · 22/07/2023 14:10

Does he not have a utility bill in his name?

In bills inclusive sharedhouses, no.

YellowDots · 22/07/2023 14:12

Yes, one of my relatives had to get a statement printed out by her bank as she had no utilities in her name either.

RichardsGear · 22/07/2023 14:16

Blimey, our city's main library and network of branches do not ask for any ID whatsoever!

Cheesusisgrate · 22/07/2023 14:20

RichardsGear · 22/07/2023 14:16

Blimey, our city's main library and network of branches do not ask for any ID whatsoever!

Wowza. I signed up to ones in 3 cities over last decade and they all required something. I always asaumed it needs to be trackable because they have computers.
Plus what if someone borrows "poisonous plants", "how to dog a hole", "advanced chemistry - acids" combo😂

FarmGirl78 · 22/07/2023 14:26

Once he finally gets his card I suggest he take out a book called "How to live in the big wide world without Mummy dearest". Have you explained to him that the magic box in his hand that contains access to all the information in the world ever would contain info to help him?

queenMab99 · 22/07/2023 14:26

That is terrible, I retired from the local authority library service 12 years ago, and we we stopped insisting on multiple proofs of address about 2 years before that, to make library services inclusive even to homeless people. I don't know if they have rescinded that now, however beaurocracy does seem to be becoming tighter again, instead of making life easier for people.

JanglyBeads · 22/07/2023 14:27

(Libraries want evidence of ability to pay fines/ fees not a means of tracking potential murderers!)

queenMab99 · 22/07/2023 14:29

Also we didn't find that losses of stock increased when we stopped asking for proof of address.

gingerguineapig · 22/07/2023 14:30

RichardsGear · 22/07/2023 14:16

Blimey, our city's main library and network of branches do not ask for any ID whatsoever!

Hampshire libraries don't either, and I don't think Surrey do.

gingerguineapig · 22/07/2023 14:30

Cheesusisgrate · 22/07/2023 14:11

In bills inclusive sharedhouses, no.

Show quote history

And in any event most are online these days.

Cheesusisgrate · 22/07/2023 14:33

gingerguineapig · 22/07/2023 14:30

And in any event most are online these days.

Show quote history

You can usually opt for paper ones. I had all in paper form because Home office was never into saving paper an needed paper versions🙄

Blueskiesforecast · 22/07/2023 14:34

Tip: join an easy to join online bank such as Monzo or Chase that will post him a card.

Very strange though! I havent need to show ID in libraries for years and Ive joined a few! They are usually just happy to have people that still use libraries!

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 22/07/2023 14:38

“,how to dog a hole",

I’m agog……How do you dog a hole ? Does the dog have to stand in it for long? Does he get a break, and when he does, is it a non dog hole? Can you have a cat hole as an option?

Sorry, 🐶 being kept in because of the rain…..

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 22/07/2023 14:41

I had to show ID to open a bank account recently. I don't have a passport or driving licence but they accepted my bank card and bank statement, which was on my phone. She just had to see the address part.

Cheesusisgrate · 22/07/2023 14:45

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 22/07/2023 14:38

“,how to dog a hole",

I’m agog……How do you dog a hole ? Does the dog have to stand in it for long? Does he get a break, and when he does, is it a non dog hole? Can you have a cat hole as an option?

Sorry, 🐶 being kept in because of the rain…..

🐕 😂
Maybe you could train a dog to help out

MereDintofPandiculation · 22/07/2023 17:30

It was a library card. I mentioned the documents he took for a bank account and they were accepted but not for a library card. A. I was misled by your statement Today he has been to the main library in Brum with the aforementioned documents and has been refused to open a bank account. I assumed the Birmingham Library building had a bank occupying one of its areas.

PuckleP · 22/07/2023 17:40

I worked for a different library service and we would accept a rental agreement.

MMorales · 22/07/2023 17:44

At our library they dont ask for any ID at all.

And there isnt any barriers that go off if you havent officially borrowed a book.

Swipe left for the next trending thread