What do you use for ID when....

[presta]

....you don't have a passport or driving licence?

Mindful of the unhelpful advice I had when tried to address this in 2022 (from banks, FCA etc), what I'm looking for is a system that will give me access to what I need when I need it, without having to carry a filing cabinet full of utility bills everywhere, and without having to wait until it's too late.

Someone (I forget who) told me that you could get ID cards from Government Gateway, but when I registered an account it wouldn't let me log in, so I gave up. Now, three years later I don't have a licence, and as I was refused access to my own money by the jobsworths at the bank yesterday, I no longer have the option of just giving up.

So far as I can tell, Government Gateway is now defunct and replaced by Gov.Uk One Login, but I have no real idea whether that'll get me an ID card, and even if it does, it isn't on Lloyds' list of acceptable ID anyway.

 

[sungod]

can you get a provisional licence? afaik they are equivalent for id purposes

 

[Beebo]

I think the government do some sort of ID for voters. As you can’t vote now without ID and this was an issue.

 

[markemark]

Documents scanned and saved to Dropbox/google drive etc.

It’s it’s that much of an issue why do t you just get a passport as it’ll solve the problem for 10 years?

 

[simongt]

get a passport as it’ll solve the problem for 10 years?

My GLW a Dundonian who doesn't drive has to have a passport if she wishes to fly to her own home city - !
Nuts - !

 

[numbnuts]

Police state or not, I think we should all have digital ID now with everything on it including your meds records to show that you have paid into the NHS ect, the list could be endless, no ID basic treatment only or benefits.

 

[Drago]

Police state or not, I think we should all have digital ID now with everything on it including your meds records to show that you have paid into the NHS ect, the list could be endless, no ID basic treatment only or benefits.

Barcode tattoos are a bit extreme.

@presta what documents will they accept?

 

[presta]

can you get a provisional licence? afaik they are equivalent for id purposes

I'm already a full licence holder, but if they won't renew it on medical grounds I can't get a another one for the same reason.

I think the government do some sort of ID for voters. As you can’t vote now without ID and this was an issue.

Polling stations accept bus passes, but the bank won't (necessarily), so I doubt that will cut the mustard.

Documents scanned and saved to Dropbox/google drive etc.

It’s it’s that much of an issue why do t you just get a passport as it’ll solve the problem for 10 years?

If they don't accept photocopies I don't see why they would accept a scan on a screen. If I'm applying for a passport I've got the problem of finding someone who's known me for two years to sign the photo.

I think we should all have digital ID

In this instance digital ID was the problem, but yes, it's time HMG stopped pandering to people who don't want ID cards.

what documents will they accept

A tax notification and a utility bill will do, but I don't want to have to carry them (or a passport) around everywhere just on the off chance that I need them once a tall time. It's about access to services at the point of need, not after it's too late. On this occasion I could make do with the £50 they would give me instead of the £100 the cheque was for, but that won't necessarily be the case.

 

[sungod]

presumably there's a reason you cash cheques rather than using an atm, but cheques are an easy target for fraudsters, which is why banks want id

you mention 'medical grounds', is there no doctor who can verify id for a passport? nurse? social worker? optician? pharmacist? etc., even your bank can do it

there's a long list of accepted signatories https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Have you considered this? 👉: https://www.citizencard.com/

£18 for an ID card accepted by government, police, domestic airlines etc.

 

[Gunk]

Documents scanned and saved to Dropbox/google drive etc.

It’s it’s that much of an issue why do t you just get a passport as it’ll solve the problem for 10 years?

That’s what I do, I use one drive and save everything as a PDF

 

[MontyVeda]

I never carry any ID and would not want to live in a country where i was expected to. The only time I've ever needed some ID in this country is when I've lost my bank card and need to withdraw cash from the bank, and that's when i put my passport in my pocket... but other than that... I neither carry nor ever need any ID.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

If they don't accept photocopies I don't see why they would accept a scan on a screen. If I'm applying for a passport I've got the problem of finding someone who's known me for two years to sign the photo.

I was going to say Doctor or solicitor, but @sungod beat me to it.
They charge a fee, mind.

On this occasion I could make do with the £50 they would give me instead of the £100 the cheque was for, but that won't necessarily be the case.

Why did you not pay the cheque (what's that lol) in your account, then withdraw with your card at an ITM.
Or next time ask for a bank transfer instead.

but other than that... I neither carry nor ever need any ID.

Afaik the UK are the only country in Europe that don't require their citizens to carry ID at all times.
A funny story: my friend wanted free online access to audiobooks, so I took her to the library to make a membership.
They wanted an ID! They accepted her OAP bus pass, all good, because her passport was at home, of course.

 

[MontyVeda]

... If I'm applying for a passport I've got the problem of finding someone who's known me for two years to sign the photo.
...

If you're renewing a passport i don't think the new photo needs to be signed by a third party. I don't recall having to do that on my last passport renewal.

 

[Pblakeney]

I never carry any ID and would not want to live in a country where i was expected to. The only time I've ever needed some ID in this country is when I've lost my bank card and need to withdraw cash from the bank, and that's when i put my passport in my pocket... but other than that... I neither carry nor ever need any ID.

I hope you don't cycle solo. Or get hit crossing the road.