Bank Accounts Problem

[olud]

I wonder if anyone here can advice....i just got a contract (long term) and need to open a new personal account and business account. i cant find a bank to open the personal account because i do not have a passport or driving licence, let alone open a biz account. I have other forms of id like my present employer photo id(local authority), ni card , bills etc

someone please help!

[Harrysp]

Cross posting tut tut tut.

Dont think many contractors here actually works for banks in openning accounts, however I could be mistaken.

Banks tend to be very inflexible when it comes to openning accounts dud to AML regs, I am pretty sure that a valid passport or a driving licence is a must at all banks.

[Lucifer Box]

Get a passport.

[WageSlave]

Get a passport.

Even a passport isn't always enough. I had great difficulty trying to add my wife on to my current account, despite the fact that she had two passports (plus a pile of other documentation) and I had used the account for about 8 years.
The problem is that staff tend to be very robotic. There is no common sense or judgement. They check a list and unless it's a 100% match, in the words of Lucas and Williams, "computer says no".

Apply for a passport. £30 and two signed photographs.

[The Late, Great JC]

"Computer says no!"

[Lucifer Box]

I had great difficulty trying to add my wife on to my current account

That's not something I would ever try hard to do (with hindsight).