Can't get an account because I'm not a 'permanent resident'...now what?

So after nearly a month's hassle of trying to be added to my husband's bank account at Norwich and Peterborough, I get a call today that says "I'm sorry we can't add you to his account because you're not a permanent resident."

I thought being put on my husband's account would be my easiest option, but I guess not Now I'm stuck with where to go and how to open an account! I'm currently looking for work, and not having a bank account to put the money in isn't going to do me any good! I tried to apply online with Barclays, but I can't because you need to have employment to continue the application I don't know where to go from here, unless my husband can get an account there and have me as the joint bank holder, but I don't know how much hassle that would be Any suggestions?

Your best bet is to go in person to a branch - try more than one bank as well. My Hubs got an account with Lloyds TSB before we'd even moved here, (we sorted this out while over on a house-hunting trip).

Good luck.

I'm a bit surprised, but yes, if you didn't go in before, go in person to his bank branch.  Lloyds was really lovely about adding me to my dh's. 

huh? what bank is that? I would get your husband  to speak to the manager, people on FLRs and work visas get bank accounts here all the time! I know things have probably changed a bit but I was able to add my husband to my current account as soon as he moved here in 2003, he was on a fiance visa at the time. There was a bit of hassle over what identity documents he had to provide but his visa wasn't a problem.

I have been into the branch personally multiple times. They have been contacting their head office back and forth, and asked me today if I was a "permanent resident"...I told them that I have a 2 year spousal visa, after which I need to apply for my ILR...I guess they took it as not being permanent since it does expire, and said there was nothing they could do

Try a different bank.  I think many of us on here have accounts at many different banks!  Some people even have individual and not just joint accounts.  This is really odd to happen on a spousal visa. 

Go into HSBC.  It was really easy peasy to get a bank account there for me.  They will probably start you off with a Solo card with no overdraft and then after you've been with them a while they will upgrade you to Maestro. I wasn't even married when I got mine.  I dont know why these banks are giving you such a hard time!

Am I going to need proof of employment to open up my own (single) account at HSBC or Lloyds? Or were you able to open them without having a job yet?

I was about to recommend HSBC.  DH opened an account with them without having a job and without all the necessary documentation they listed - he has FLR.  He was given a Maestro straight away and offered an overdraft.  He had tried to open one at Lloyds TSB (in branch) before that and nearly 9 months later we're still waiting to hear from them!

My husband wasn't allowed to be added to my bank account, he had to open his own which I was then added to.  Seems utterly stupid but whatever.

He couldn't even open one for about a year, until that point his wages were paid into my account.  When we went to open the joint account we were told this wasn't allowed.  So if they wont let people open an account, and paying wages into another persons account isn't allowed, what are people to do?   

This was all with RBS. 

I wasn't employed when I opened up my HSBC (single) bank account.  When they asked salary I told them I was looking for employment and gave them an estimate of what I was expecting to make (estimating on the low side).  I think i just needed a piece of post (council tax bill) and my passport.

I wasn't employed when I opened my first bank account. It was at Halifax and they started me out with a VERY basic account - no overdraft and I may not have even had a cheque book. Then once I had a regular income they upgraded it. But my visa status was never an issue. In fact at the time I was on a student visa which you could argue is even less stable than FLR.... And it definitely wasn't a student account - it was a normal cash account.

I'd do some shopping around!

yep, try a different bank.  I got mine with natwest, no problems about my visa status at all.

I have a meeting with a recruiter at the employment agency today, and there is a Lloyds TSB right next door...I am going to pop in there before/after to see if they can help me out at all, and if not, I guess it's off to town centre to try NatWest and HSBC. What a pain this is turning out to be 

Hubs had nothing to show future employment in the UK when he got his account.