Hangzhouguy

Can anyone offer any help on how my Chinese wife can get something with her name and address on it? We are living with my parents so obviously all bills, mortgage agreements are in their name. However, she can't get added onto my bank account or have her DBS check without something with her name & address on it at our current address.

Thanks!

BristolUK

Join a library.
Register at a doctor?

dreamcast69

If she needs a bank account try Lloyds-tsb I moved back here in june from Canada and had no proof of address.
All Lloyds-Tsb wanted was my passport.

not2old

cell/mobile phone account

Dentist

Join a fitness club

first step drivers licence

holly_1948

Letter from HMRC. You don't have to be "settled" or anything special to pay taxes!

Hangzhouguy

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Unfortunately the bank are very picky and can only accept:
council tax bill
utility bill
telephone bill (not mobile)
sky bill
credit card bill
bank statement
mortgage statement
tenancy agreement
or HMRC tax notification.

So as you can see for a couple who are living with my parents this rules out most of them and we're trying to get a bank account now so that rules out the rest! I've applied with Lloyds TSB so will update on whether that's successful.

Hangzhouguy

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Unfortunately the bank are very picky and can only accept:
council tax bill
utility bill
telephone bill (not mobile)
sky bill
credit card bill
bank statement
mortgage statement
tenancy agreement
or HMRC tax notification.

So as you can see for a couple who are living with my parents this rules out most of them and we're trying to get a bank account now so that rules out the rest! I've applied with Lloyds TSB so will update on whether that's successful.

curleytops

Same here. I was added to my husband's account the morning after I arrived. Lloyds were happy for him to vouch for me and the change was made immediately. If your wife is not a British citizen, it probably wouldn't hurt to take along your marriage certificate.

dunroving

There is a type of bank account called a "basic" account or something like that, that does not require proof of address. It is a bit restrictive but might be a place to start if you are mainly looking for a bank account to hold your money and be able to withdraw money from.

BristolUK

So how would anyone living with their parents ever get a bank account/credit card.
Answer - they couldn't.

But they do, so obviously a bank must accept something else.

not2old

what about a drivers licence, even if it was provisional licence?

pennylessinindia

Some banks are picky, one ridiculous one told us we would have to wait 3 years to have spouse added to my account!!
Our Council Tax office was great just added his name to the bill and that was great for the other bank!! There would be nothing wrong with adding her to the council tax bill very straightforward and quick, can be done while you wait.

nationwide in fact happy to open a bank account with nothing but the passport marriage cert and my proof of address, found out later!!

Hangzhouguy

I spoke to the local council and they very helpfully informed me that she didn't need to be added to the bill as it was my parents place. Even after we had explained why we needed it.

Will try the banks. Thanks again peeps :-)

Hangzhouguy

Not on the list. Think hsbc are unnecessarily strict. So much for the worlds local bank.

Simon Legree

Maybe that's because they have been rumbled and have the dubious record of being the world's largest money laundering bank !