bloddy bankers - bloody government

I would like to open
an account - please
My daughter's boyfriend wants a bank account - as his new job insists that he is paid by cheque. He's been working there for about three months and has not had his wages paid because he has not got a bank account. These requirements are because the government is tightening up rules on casual employment.

So he's getting up at 4:30 so that he can start work at six - and frankly - he's knackered - which is why he was a bit slow in organising a bank account. But what he is looking for is solely a bank where he can pay his wages in and take his money - no credit needed - no cheque book - no overdraft.

For the past 8 years he used to work for an organisation that paid him in cash - legally - so that he paid tax and all. But he made the move to try and get a better job with some prospects and things like - holiday pay - pension - etc etc.

He has another problem in that the name on his passport is different to the name he went to school with - because - his mother remarried. This is also an area that is - not surprisingly - sensitive to him.

He is also living with my daughter and recently they moved to my house. Therefore most of his identity is linked to another name at another address.

I have been in this house for 14 years - worked as a lecturer - never had any trouble with the police - I am on the electoral role and pay my council taxes.

Now here is the rub -

to get a bank account you have to have two separate IDs - the first to prove who you are - and - the second to prove where you live.

So as boyfriend has moved around and is now living with me - and I am happy to vouch for him - it seemed it would be fairly easy to get an account.

But no.

Woolwich - who have my mortgage and main account will not accept a personal recommendation. Something to do with government regulations.

Lloyds who I have had an account with for over twenty years will accept a personal recommendation - but - not from me - as the account has a low turnover - due to the fact Lloyds do not offer the same type of mortgage that I want. Something to do with government regulations.

Building Society Saving Account - No - Something to do with government regulations.

Another branch of the Woolwich - helpful staff - but - No - Something to do with government regulations.

Registering with our doctor should be proof enough - except - the registering has now been privatised and he has to be seen by a nurse - and pee in a container - probably not in front of the nurse - and get his blood pressure tested - and this now takes weeks - Something to do with government regulations.

So it looks like we have to contact Gas, Electricity to get him as an addressee on one of their Bills - to prove that he lives at our address - and you know what they're like - incompetent - slow and likely to spell his name wrong.

He has also applied for a driving licence - even though he does not want to drive - using a cheque wrote out by us - but this will also take at least 3 weeks. Something to do with government inefficiency.

So the money waits in the employer's bank account while this jumping though hoops wastes his - my daughters - and my time and effort.

And yet on the government - Department of Works and Pensions - they tell us that there are 'Basic' bank accounts - with no credit facilities - which can be easily opened by people like him.

Ironically if he had not been honest and fiddled social security he would have been OK.

So his back wages are not available for at least another 2 to 3 weeks - which is - Something to do with government regulations.


Thank You