Identity crisis

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated:

 

I AM an Australian in the UK on a sponsored work visa. I am having trouble opening a joint bank account with my fiancee.

I live with my fiancee's family, so have no utility bills in my name. I don't have a UK drivers licence or a Visa card. Barclays, Natwest and the Woolwich have all turned me down. Can you help me?

PS. I am definitely not a terrorist as I work at the House of Commons and have been security cleared. RS, East London.

Brian Capon at the British Bankers Association says: All financial institutions in the UK are obliged by law to obtain proof of identity (including separate proof of address) for all their customers.

When the account is in joint names this proof will be required for all parties.

The preferred documents are usually a passport, full UK driving licence or similar document, preferably with a photograph, and a utility bill, bank statement or similar document as separate proof of address.

If you don't have these, speak to a senior member of staff at the bank about whether the documents that you have available are acceptable.

Alternative documents might include, for instance, a letter from your employer or a letter from a government department such as the Inland Revenue.

The decision on the suitability of any document rests with the individual financial institution, which must be able to prove to the regulatory authorities that it has obtained suitable verification of the customer's identity.

For more information on proving your identity click here.

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