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

SUCCESS! LloydsTSB was *more* than happy to help me out. The lady I saw filled out my application for me while I sat there and was able to get me a classic current account which gives me a debit/cash card, online banking, and everything my "normal" bank in the US would allow. No fannying about with passport accounts or restricted cash accounts. I was approved at the end and have my sort code/account number in hand and will have my card within a week! 

Thanks guys

Huzzah!  Go you! 

Yeah good job!  I really don't know what the fuss is with banks.

Excellent news! And you'll probably get your card sooner than you were told too - they had a brand new card out to me after two days!

Awesome, Mandy!  Glad it worked out

SUCCESS! LloydsTSB was *more* than happy to help me out. The lady I saw filled out my application for me while I sat there and was able to get me a classic current account which gives me a debit/cash card, online banking, and everything my "normal" bank in the US would allow. No fannying about with passport accounts or restricted cash accounts. I was approved at the end and have my sort code/account number in hand and will have my card within a week! 

Thanks guys

That's great! They offered me my first account too after I'd been jerked around by HSBC. I had a paycheck in cash and was in tears the day before Christmas. I was flying out in 2 days so needed to get this sorted asap.

I've had enough loyalty with them after 2 years and will be switching accounts this year. This has been on my mind for awhile but after my international transfer request didn't get processed for over 2 weeks it prompted my action. It majorly sucked because I was patiently waiting in the US for it. The woman said "I don't know what happened. There is nothing I can say."  A little empathy would have been nice but to repeat those lines FOUR TIMES!!!???!!!

You will be more than satisfied with your account. It is easy to use and I found them  generally to be quite efficient.

i see the OP was trying to join her partner's Norwich & Peterborough account.

i've been in the UK for over 4 years- i wanted to be added to my partner's Norwich & Peterborough account.  becuase it's a building society, and because i'm not on the electral roll- they couldn't add me.  nothing they could do about it.

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

My bank account is with NatWest I was on a spousal visa when I got my account. 

Glad to hear it worked out.  Were you going to a small regional bank or a national bank?  Unfortunately banks do have the right to refuse accounts to people if they see you as a risk...   

If anyone's interrested for future reference when opening a bank account here's some useful info:

Here're the most current guidlelines from the BBA (British Bankers Association) for people new or returning to the UK when opening a bank account.

For ID you'll need your passport.
For proof of address you'll need one or two of the following:
*Tenancy agreement
*A letter from your employer confirming your UK address (I believe this is mainly for people that have been transferred over on a work permit...)
*Council Tax or Utility Bills

Unfortunately banks do have the right to refuse accounts to people if they see you as a risk...   

Although if you are applying for just a basic bank account (one without any provision of credit - which usually means no overdraft and no cheque-writing privileges), you could challenge the bank if they are refusing you an account.  Ask the person you are dealing with what is the reason that they are refusing you the account (again - specifying the basic bank account product that they offer).  Make a note & then ask to speak to a bank manager.

Banks on page 4 of this brochure...  (link may take awhile to load!)

http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

..have publicised to the FSA (Financial Services Authority) the reasons for which they would refuse you to open their basic bank account product.  If the reason that they have given you for refusing you an account is not among those listed there, you can (essentially but in a polite way of course!) ask them who they are lying to?    Are they lying to you about not being able to open an account for you?  Or are they lying to the FSA?

i see the OP was trying to join her partner's Norwich & Peterborough account.

i've been in the UK for over 4 years- i wanted to be added to my partner's Norwich & Peterborough account.  becuase it's a building society, and because i'm not on the electral roll- they couldn't add me.  nothing they could do about it.

Huh....I have an account with Britannia Building Society and I'm not a permanent resident. I was employed there at the time, but that didn't make a difference. As long as I had a UK address, that's all that mattered. In fact, that UK citizen thing didn't matter as we had a UK citizen try to be added to his mother's account, but because he didn't have a permanent address in the UK (he was living in continental Europe) he couldn't be added to it. As you can imagine, he wasn't too happy about this!