The problems of getting a bank account nowadays

In can be really hard for anyone to get a bank account in the UK nowadays. With the bank sometimes wanting two forms of ID, and a utility bill, and maybe even a reference, it can make things tough for some people to open up an account.

I moved to England, from Belfast, last year with a friend to start new jobs here. We both first of all needed to open bank accounts to deposit our wages into. For my friend it was really hard - because we rented our accommodation and the rent included bills, we didn’t have any utility bills in our name. There were other problems, but this was a main one - a stupid rule that discriminates against renters.

I say that it was really hard for my friend, but it was even more difficult for me. Because I have dual nationality and chose to travel on an Irish passport the banks would not take this as verification of my ID. So, even though I am a British citizen, unless I show a British passport the banks will not try to confirm my identification and turned me down straight for a bank account.

Although I was having more problems, my friend wasn’t able to open a bank account either. So here we were - two successful men in two good jobs, who just weren’t allowed to open a bank account in England because of a lot of red tape.

My friend got lucky - after a long time of stress and unhappy phone calls he went online and got a Barclays current account (http://www.personal.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?site=pfs&task=channelFWgroup&value=6320&target=_self ) online.

Me however, I gave up. I have to use my Ulster Bank account for my wages to be paid to me. Although I can use my bank card here to withdraw money here I am very limited to the services I can use from over here.

So, I ask what, kind of shambles is the British banking system that two British citizens can have such problems in simply opening an account?

Current account
Barclays current account