mrken30

The UK is about to implement a rule where illegal immigrants are not able to access funds. Does anyone know how they will determine the list? If I am not on the electoral register and have an account will I be affected accidently?

https://www.lexology.com/library/det...d-633ddfa0afca

Pulaski

If you read the link you posted, the scrub by banks will be for people the Home Office identified as possibly in the UK illegally, NOT a scrub of citizenship data for all customers.

In other words, the Home Office provides the list of potential problems, and the banks look for those people in their customer list. The banks are NOT required to create their own list of potential problem cases based on suspicious or missing data.

mrken30

So how is the home office producing the list? Can they be relied on to get it right?

BritInParis

Given that you're a British citizen and not in the UK I can't see how it's going to affect you.

mrken30

I have had problems keeping my UK account open as a non UK resident due to CRS. UK banks are getting more difficult to deal with, especially as a US tax payer. Which again reminds me that I need to somehow put my wife on my UK accounts, which is virtually impossible.

scot47

Just another example of how authoritarian and totalitarian methods are increasingly accepted as "normal"

mrken30

I guess they do make mistakes. You also have to assume that the systems the banks use work properly to identify people. Banks may be over cautious and use credit reporting agency information alongside the home office list. I already fail the experian identity check in the UK.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...-bank-accounts

Pulaski

As a British citizen and former long-term resident, with a long history of working and paying taxes in the UK, and with an NI number, I am not in the least bit worried.

As your life, based on your BE postings, seems to lurch from one perceived crisis to another, you are free to "guess" and "assume" whatever your apparent paranoia dictates.

feelbritish

Got a standard letter from Barclays to say that from 1st January foreigners have to prove they have the right to live in UK. Clamping down I guess. I know a non resident cannot open a bank account in Canada and in South Africa so I guess banks here are starting to conform with the norm.

Perth

My husband (the non-EU citizen) got weekly letters from HSBC asking for various bits of information, most of which they have already asked for numerous times. Me being British and not wanting to make a fuss just went along with it. But finally I got pissed off enough to pull the "we are Premier account holders and could we please see someone who deals with those accounts" card. So far so good. Although...it's only been a week

michali

Interesting! We have not had letters from HSBC or NatWest as yet. Our NatWest accounts were opened in 1992 and 1993 when we were non-residents so it shows how things have changed! Life was so easy in those days!

michali

As an esteemed member of the paranoia club, I have empathy with the OP's concern. Our accounts are in joint names. If a mistake were to be made, then what about my share as a UKC? Also, should we be unfortunate enough to have to leave the UK (ie failed ILR application) what happens to our accounts as non-residents? I hope we would have to opportunity to move out all our funds before the accounts are frozen. These are not issues I dwell upon but they do exist!

Pulaski

As non-residents the matter simply wouldn't apply to you because it relates to people in the UK illegally.

Perth

Surprised you haven't heard from HSBC. They don't seem at all concerned with the wastage of paper and postage. Every time we go into our local branch to try to rectify the matter, they always say: "Can't think why you are getting these letters. Everything is in order."

I think not - at least on your end, mate

mrken30

But as we all know only UK residents are allowed UK bank accounts, or I am sure that is what the thought is. Are bank account owners we know that not to be true.

So I am assuming to prove you have right to abode in the UK you have to provide a copy of a current UK driving license or current UK passport. I have neither.