Long story short - Went to newbank with 3 oldbank statements, mobile phone bill (proof of address) and UK driving licence (proof of ID). Was told that I should probalby get a manx driving licence, that the mobile phone bill wouldn’t be valid as proof of address (but my old bank statements would), that I need two proofs of address (and that my work permit would count) OK fine. No problem. I went there to establish what I would need. Actually having the correct documentation would have been a bonus. I’ll get the right stuff and come back some other time.
3 days later (working nights) - On my 19th hour of wakefulness, I arrive at newbank with oldbank statements, my work permit, my new manx driving licence (which took about 10 minutes to convert from my UK one - well done IOM for efficiency!). This time I am told (by a different person) that Neither the old statements, nor the work permit will count as proof of address! I am shown a sheet proving this. Am told that a tax-code sheet will do (I remember getting one but haven’t a clue what I’ve done with it), and a utility bill with my name on it. Well, I do not own the house I live in, therefore I do not have any utility bills with my name on them.
So. I am stuck with poo-arse crappy incompetent low-interest pestering festering smelly oldbank.
My retirement project is writing up the long, sad, and decidingly un-funny saga of my best friend and co-worker when he moved to NY to work with me again.
He’s American and Canadian, but never lived or worked in the US. The whole problem started out with our clueless HR person (who shall remain nameless, and should be jobless) told him before he moved to NY (from Japan, where we also worked together) that ‘he didn’t need a social security number’.
Well…
Suffice it to say that it took him six months to get his life organized and become an actual living, breathing citizen. You wouldn’t believe the hoops we had to jump through. Payroll - they couldn’t issue him a check without a social security number, so he misses two paychecks (I bankroll him in the meantime). Chase tells him he can’t open a regular bank account without a social security number and a permanent address due to security reasons (he’s staying in temp housing while he looks for a place to live). She then tells him ‘but just use your work address’. So much for those security issues.
No mobile phone without a ss number and permanent address. I buy another mobile phone account for him. He finds out that he needs an original birth certificate from California, where he was born - takes six weeks. Driver’s license? They need the actual SS CARD here in NY to convert over out-of-state licenses. Credit card? Nope, because even when he finally gets the SS number (but not the card) his credit history hasn’t been created at the credit reporting agencies.
Two weeks later, his history is available, at which point he is turned down because he doesn’t have sufficient credit history. Christ, I have zero debt, positive net worth of well over six figures, and I’M turned down because ‘you have a eight year blank in your credit history’.
Fuck it, I don’t need a credit card.
So I thought. Ever try to rent a car without a credit card? Don’t bother, it ain’t gonna happen.
Fucking bureaucratic jerk-off ‘by-the-manual’ drones. Suffice to say that the one place that opened a credit card account for me has gotten ALL my not-so-insignificant business.
[QUOTE=Da’ Dude]
You think that’s fun?
<snip>
So I thought. Ever try to rent a car without a credit card? Don’t bother, it ain’t gonna happen.
/QUOTE]
What? I know Enterprise in NY has a **BIG ** sign at the front desk, saying something to the effect of “We will NOT deny anyone rental cars because of lack of a credit card.”
Is it only in NY?
Lobsang I think that’s disgusting. When I opened my account at KeyBank (in the States) years ago, all I needed was my body, my signature, my license, and at least $200.
I too needed my “official” birth certificate from California, in order to receive a passport. I had a copy, but the passport office said it needed the state seal on it. It took at least 6 weeks, if not longer. It took so long that I was worried about getting a passport in time for my trip.
When it arrived it was nothing more than a photocopy of the one I already had on a sheet of California letterhead.
What kinda crap is that? And who is churning out these oh-so-difficult-and-complex pieces of paper? I could have flown there and copied it myself in less time.
I went to a bank, bringing all the information I would need. I got there and it turns out they are very busy today. I can only open an account if I have an appointment.
Okay, I say. I will come back tomorrow. Will I need to book an appointment?
“No, no” says the women. Just turn up.
The next day I return.
“Do you have an appointment?”
Which of course I do not, as I was told I wouldn’t need one. So this time I book an appointment for the following day.
The next day I return. And I get to open my new account. Hurrah!