Proof of Address (my Polish gf moving to the UK)

Hello,

My Polish girlfriend might be moving to the UK shortly however I am struggling to work out the best way to get her a job. I have spoken with a few companies I work with who might offer a job, however they tell me they cannot make an offer without proof of address. My next thought was to get a bank account to proove address, however they wont let you open one without a NI number and again proof of address. My final call was with the JobCenter people who issue the NI numbers, but even they wanted proof of address before they would issue a NI number.

Had anyone experianced these problems and any ideas on how to get around them? I had the idea of maybe changing something in my house into her name or joint names just to try to get a bill with her name on as a start, but I not sure if this will help or not.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

Charles

I can tell you how it was with me: my landlord wrote a letter stating that I lived at that address, with a signature and contact number (and obviously you would act as her 'landlord'). And getting bill would be a good idea, but then again service provider(s) would probably... guess what... need a proof of address...

Let her call the bank and inquire about the bank's services. Ask them to mail some propaganda material. Try the same with other organizations, including government ones. You'll need to come up with the idea what material you would like them to send you. For instance an application for some social services etc. You're not after the material they might be sending her, but after the envelopes containing those materials. The envelope will have her name and all the official postage stuff. If she receives such envelopes that proves her address (but not necessarily her place of residence).

Put her on your tenancy agreement, or if you own your house, sign a rental agreement with her.

If you live alone by doing the above may alter your status regarding the legalised robbery that is the council tax ( the 25% discount ) might be worth checking first.

Hello,

Thanks for all your help there, some great ideas. I think the idea of drawing up a tenacy agreement and signing it works really well, I think with that and her passport she could get a very basic bank account, once that is done should be plain sailing!

Many thanks again,

Charles

As someone that has worked for a bank in the past, I can tell you that what you suggest will not help her get a bank account.

Being sent marketing information proves nothing.

She needs a rental agreement or something similar.

Some banks have special arrangements for people from other EU countries (especially Poland) who need to open an account but don't have an address. I think Barclays and the Co-op both do it.

She can also go on the Electoral Roll without proof of address (maybe at yours?) and they will send acknowledgement.

Also anyone can apply for an NI number without proof of address, and again, the letter and card would be sent to whatever address she applies from.

When my g/f moved here from Poland we were living with my parents and all that was needed for her NI number was her passport or ID card and a letter from my father confirming she lived at the address and, if I remember rightly, some proof that the address was my father's e.g utility bills, bank statements etc.

As far as the bank goes, she went to HSBC and opened a 'passport account' (an account with a card for withdrawing cash from HSBC atm's only with no overdraft facility; also I think there is a monthly charge on it of about £6; after 12 months you can then apply for a normal current account) which required the same evidence of identity and address. Also, she was able to get work immediately with an employment agency even before she'd got her NI number through. She had to go for an interview with the NI office and I think the first thing you should do is phone them and get the correct information.

any kind of a bill would be good - council tax the best
if not - gas.electric/phone

all these you can change over the phone - and then change it back to yourself

as long as she says 'im living here now and im paying the bills'
no further explanation needed
once she gets a bill that qualifies as a proof of address (sometimes they want last 3 bills) - you change it back to whatever name

Lloyds are also quite friendly towards foreigners.

NatWest/RBS are probably the worst, mind you.

The employer just makes the payments to the emergency NI number and then corrects it later. Same here in Poland with ZUS.

Mind you, some employers in PL are too lazy to do that (or have other motives, but that's a different story).

The amount of horror stories involved with tax not being paid (despite employers supplying seemingly-genuine documents) is a damn good reason why every person should double check *everything* tax/ZUS related.

Danm, I've just been rumbled. :-)