I've come to the conclusion that everyone I know and everyone I meet is completely incompetent and incapable. Frankly, I'm disappointed. Actually, I'm frustrated. "We all need somebody to lean on..." but if I (on the odd occasion) lean on anyone they fall over! Newly resurrected resolution: rely on nobody but myself - even if it means developing stomach ulcers and alcoholism :(

Are strong, independent types really all that rare, or do I just need to get out more?

It would appear so. The people around the uni are okay, but people outside have definitely been afflicted by the incompetence disease. My useless estate angel, my clueless solicitor, my under-equipped electrician, the parcel delivery company that doesn't turn up, the call centre who refuse to deal with me unless I can recite my account number. I could go on but I'd be accused of becoming a grumpy old man!

You've got it!! Same experiences as I'm encountering. Maybe it's a disease? Could any of you clever virus-expert-type people out there devise a test to see whose been infected? Or better still, who has NOT been infected!! Then we can make a safe bubble and hide in it...quarantine...our own colony...

I've been paying my TV license by direct debit for at least 10 years, but every single month I get letters threatening arrest for non-payment. I've given up writing to them telling them to check my details; just let them send the police round and I'll show them my bank statement. Haven't they got anything better to do?

I lost my account number for one of my savings accounts so went into the branch to find it out so I could pay some money in. Conversation went a bit like this:-
me: Here is my photo ID, could you tell me my account number please?
Cashier: What is your account number?
me: I don't have it, could you tell me?
Cahier: Where is your cashcard/book?
me: the account doesn't have one, hence why I don't know the account number.
Cashier: If you tell me the number I can get you a bank book
me: I don't have the number!
And so it goes on...
AAAGGGGHHHH!

Brilliant! Keep 'em coming... PLEASE.

seems to be the general problem ... i tried to open a bank acount:
can i see your passport
here you are
this is an ID card
yes
we cannot take ID cards
but i came into the UK with this, i don't have anything else
you need a passprt to open an account
but i don't have one
then you can bring me an old passport and your ID and a bank statement
but i don't have a bank account
then you cannot open a bank account
but then i cannot be paid
we cannot accept ID cards
but it is an official document
yes
so
just bring me an old one..... (this went on for about 30min)

so i cannot get an account
well, if you come back in september you can
??????????????
during the freshers weeks we accept ID cards as so many people only have ID *smile*

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGG
and where do i get a bank account from now??? anybody???

Hi oz, can you tell us which bank this was?

DanB has just given me this link:

http://www.bba.org.uk/pdf/40746.pdf

hope that helps!

Just found something else that says Natwest will definately NOT accept your national ID but HSBC will.

true, hsbc will accept my id but they won't give me an account because i don't have a credit history in the uk...

the one who does not accept my id was natwest but after a really joyful afternoon i now know that lyods does not accept id cards, moer or less all the others do but you need to have a either a an english driving liscence or counsil tax bill - which of course i don't have; i will be stuck with my building society account forever (no card only money over the counter)- does anyone know why the account from the building society isn't considered as a proper account as my university won't pay the grant in there, i don't build up a credit record, i don't get a card....