How on earth do I get a bank account here??

We applied for a joint Barclays Cash Card Account (because I don't have a job they told me I couldn't apply for a regular current account).  The application was sent back and they need a few more things from me.  They need my proof of ID re-certified because the bank person didn't do that right.  But they also need a proof of address.  The water bill I enclosed wasn't good enough because it didn't have a paid stamp on it (we pay everything direct debit through his current account).

Why is opening a bank account so hard?  Or am I doing it wrong and it's actually really easy?

There is lots of info in the Money section of the board.

Thanks.  That's the section that I was looking for but couldn't find it (and still can't). 

Oh good god I'm dense.  Oh well, if a mod happens across this post, please move it for me.  Thanks!

Please see: http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=22395.0 for specifics for Barclays

Thanks for moving this!  I already checked that thread and according to it (and the form I filled out) my water bill should have been fine.

Don't feel bad, I have lived here 5 years now, and am still having trouble getting a current account. 

I have an account at HSBC, it was really easy to get.  Just had to show them my passport and a letter from my employer.  I don't know if this helps anyone.

My husband and I just got a bank account opened two weeks ago with RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland.) I had to provide my passport, visa, and a bill in my name. (I don't work, so the bill was the only way I could prove my address.) He had to provide his passport, visa, an employment contract (stating salary and other terms of employment) and a sponsorship letter from his company. (I don't know about other banks, but at RBS, they only accept the letter from the employer if the employer actually banks with them. Luckily, his employer does.) I think that these rules are hard and fast, as it is a matter of British law that they have all of this documentation on file  (or, at least this is what was explained to me.)

We were here 18 months before we were able to get it done, so trust me, I understand your frustration. It feels like a constant merry-go-round of, "Well, now we need this" or, "We can't do it because you don't have that." 

We found that you just have to talk to the right person. I finally got in touch with the right people at RBS, and, so far, they have been great.

I feel your pain! Good luck! 

Edited to mention the fact that I was also told that if you have been here less than a year, its near impossible to open an account, due to British law. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but I just wanted to warn you. 

My Hubby got his bank account before we even moved here. He just had to provide proof of his identity, (using his passport) and proof of our address in the States, (using a bank statement).

It helped, I think, to have actually had an appointment with the bank manager himself to do this and also that the manager had experience of opening a bank account in a country of which you are not resident.

It was a surprisingly simple and straightforward process.

I got mine at Lloyd's. DH has banked with them forever, but it was still a bit odd how we had to do it. They wouldn't let me on to his account, but they let us open a joint and my own. So now we have 3 accounts with Lloyd's. I had to take my passport w/my visa, a bill with my name on, our marriage certificate (I kept my maiden name so we thought we had best take that) and my work ID (showing that I still work for a US company in the US). We made an appointment, met with the manager and walked out about 30 minutes later. I got a debit card and credit card then as well. I think go in person helps.

Edited to mention the fact that I was also told that if you have been here less than a year, its near impossible to open an account, due to British law. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but I just wanted to warn you. 

Definitely not true!  It's not near impossible, you just have to have the documentation they require.  The tough part is getting all of it and in the format they want.

Definitely not true!  It's not near impossible, you just have to have the documentation they require.  The tough part is getting all of it and in the format they want.

I don't know. That's just what I was told by our banker at RBS. He said that "there isn't much that they can do" for you if you've been here less than a year. Maybe that's just RBS policy, though the way it was explained it sounded as though it was some sort of legal thing.

I don't know. That's just what I was told by our banker at RBS. He said that "there isn't much that they can do" for you if you've been here less than a year. Maybe that's just RBS policy?

Hmmm...I have an account at RBS, set up shortly after arriving in Scotland.  They just wanted proof of identity (my passport), and proof of address.  For the proof of address, I'd changed the address for my bank account in the US to my address in Scotland, and used the bank statements.  This was only last autumn, so not very long ago...

Hmmm...I have an account at RBS, set up shortly after arriving in Scotland.  They just wanted proof of identity (my passport), and proof of address.  For the proof of address, I'd changed the address for my bank account in the US to my address in Scotland, and used the bank statements.  This was only last autumn, so not very long ago...

 

I actually think this proves a very good-if frustrating-point. It depends upon who you talk to. I've been told so many things by so many different bank officials at this point. . . .

You would think that they would just have one policy with which everyone was familiar (pariticularly in a place like Aberdeen, with lots of expats)  but instead it sounds like some people just make it up as they go along.