Help! Can't get out of homelessness due to lack of address

uptothetop · 12-12-2018 2:14pm #1

Hello,
It's not I want to bother you with my problem. It is just that I found myself in cul-the-sac and need some directions. Let me explain. Let's say that I'm technically homeless. I'm not a junk / heroin addict / gambler / alcoholic / some wacko-weirdo / etc. I think I look good and clean, don't even smoke cigarettes, have no addictions. I just have no place to live. That what makes me homeless. I sleep in the hostels, I do ordinary staff like other people but I don't have enough money to rent my own flat, I'm on jobseekers allowance and I'm sick of having just a little bit. I can find a job, I do. I nearly had one recently but there was one major obstacle. I don't have bank account, so I couldn't get payed. Really. I was offered to be payed with check instead. But I can wipe my ass with it cause as I don't have bank account, and cannot open one without proof of address as I'm homeless. I can't also deposit check on the non existing account. I found "solution" which is prepaid mastercard. It comes with iban number that can serve as a "bank account" where my salary can be transferred to. But there is another issue, address. Fckn address. They don't require proof of address, just any residential address where they send activation letter with the code, so after verifying, card becoming fully functional and can serve as sort of bank account. The problem is that they don't accept any homeless institution / charity addresses / hostels addresses. They say it needs to be residential address but at least they, fortunately, don't require proof of address of any kind. I've tried parcel motel / anpost service but it doesn't work.
So that is the situation I'm in. My issue is that when I will have that ****in address to have that stupid activation letter sent to, I will be able to be payed for the job and then I will afford to rent something by myself and finally be out of the street and this whole nonsense.
So here is the question: Has anyone have any address / solution / way out to this please? Any ideas? It is a little bit ****ing frustrating that such a "small" stupid issue is a general obstacle in living as normal person.
Sorry for my english, I'm not native, I don't know nobody here and don't know where to ask for help. Do you have any idea where I can have that stupid piece of paper sent to? Thanks very much in advance.

Moonjet · 12-12-2018 2:22pm

Seems legit.

uptothetop · 12-12-2018 5:26pm

Moonjet wrote: »

Seems legit.

?

daheff · 12-12-2018 5:31pm

have you tried to talk with any of the bank advisors? I'm sure they can help in some way or have some alternative. They have specialists to help out in these situations (or should have).

Have you got a pps number from revenue?

If you are European, could a friend back home help out set up a bank account by letting you use their address?

Dial Hard · 12-12-2018 5:34pm

Moonjet wrote: »

Seems legit.

uptothetop wrote: »

?

I'm guessing they're finding it a bit questionable that you didn't have a bank account before you became homeless. I've had one since I was 5.

ednwireland · 12-12-2018 6:43pm

i thought i remember hearining the fr mcverry trust helping people with this as it is a catch 22

if your in dublin try these guys ?
https://www.pmvtrust.ie/our-services/homeless-services/

or any of the other homeless services , cant imagine they arent going to help someone who comes in and says i cant get a job without a bank account

Bill nye · 12-12-2018 6:49pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

I'm guessing they're finding it a bit questionable that you didn't have a bank account before you became homeless. I've had one since I was 5.

Meh I don't have a bank account and I'm 31.

I used to work cash in hand during school / college. Then when I needed a bank account, I was with a partner for a few years at that stage so used hers as bank fees were stupid, my wages going in allowed for fee free banking and just haven't been arsed to change or create my own account since.

Supercell · 12-12-2018 7:09pm

If you are European perhaps you have an account at home with an IBAN which you can use for regular SEPA payments to get you started? I doubt any employer will care as it wont cost them any more to pay a Spanish or whatever account in the EU using your IBAN?

waffleman · 12-12-2018 7:17pm

Bill nye wrote: »

Meh I don't have a bank account and I'm 31.

I used to work cash in hand during school / college. Then when I needed a bank account, I was with a partner for a few years at that stage so used hers as bank fees were stupid, my wages going in allowed for fee free banking and just haven't been arsed to change or create my own account since.

So you have a bank account then

Bill nye · 12-12-2018 7:31pm

waffleman wrote: »

So you have a bank account then

Not in my name.

I have access to A bank account. Until I needed it, circa 27 - 28 I had no bank account access at all.

Mrs OBumble · 12-12-2018 7:40pm

Use your JSA to get a room in a house-share. Then you will have an address.

mikemac2 · 12-12-2018 7:46pm

uptothetop wrote: »

I just have no place to live. That what makes me homeless. I sleep in the hostels, I do ordinary staff like other people but I don't have enough money to rent my own flat, I'm on jobseekers allowance and I'm sick of having just a little bit.

Best of luck OP. A lot of people who take home far more than job seekers each week can’t rent their own flat either. Or they can but it would take up far too much of their income

A room in a shared house is the way to go and you sound like a fine housemate. If you need help getting your months deposit together there should be help available for this

RossieMan · 12-12-2018 7:46pm

Plenty of people rent on JSA. Get out of Dublin if you've no job, no point being up there if you know no one either. Start down the country. Or go home.

Dial Hard · 12-12-2018 7:55pm

Bill nye wrote:

I have access to A bank account. Until I needed it, circa 27 - 28 I had no bank account access at all.

I literally cannot fathom how an adult functions without a bank account. How do you access your cash? Buy online? Pay anything by standing order or direct debit???

CollyFlower · 12-12-2018 8:03pm

Don't think Bertie ever had a bank account.

Mrs OBumble · 12-12-2018 8:04pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

I literally cannot fathom how an adult functions without a bank account. How do you access your cash? Buy online? Pay anything by standing order or direct debit???

You would be surprised exactly how many adults don't have one.

Some access their cash by collecting the JSA at the post office each week. Others are self employed in cash-in-hand industries, eg gigging musicians, handyman, market trader.

They don't buy stuff on line, or if they do use pre-pay MasterCard. If they need flights etc l, they get a friend to buy them.

Some cannot read. (Remember - one six in Ireland.) But some can and simply hate banks.

ShaneC93 · 12-12-2018 8:24pm

OP just open an account with N26, all you need for that is photo ID. Then all statements etc. are all online, you only need an address to get a debit card but you can just set it to parcel motel or something. They only require an address for sending out your card - you do not need to verify your address / submit statements showing an address to just setup an account like with most banks.

mikemac2 · 12-12-2018 8:25pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

I literally cannot fathom how an adult functions without a bank

We had a minister for finance who managed it

[Deleted User] · 12-12-2018 11:11pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

I literally cannot fathom how an adult functions without a bank account. How do you access your cash? Buy online? Pay anything by standing order or direct debit???

It’s bizarre and exceptionally unusual. I’ve had a bank account of some form since I was a toddler and currently have about 7 or 8 accounts (not all current accounts obviously).

Graces7 · 13-12-2018 7:29am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You would be surprised exactly how many adults don't have one.

Some access their cash by collecting the JSA at the post office each week. Others are self employed in cash-in-hand industries, eg gigging musicians, handyman, market trader.

They don't buy stuff on line, or if they do use pre-pay MasterCard. If they need flights etc l, they get a friend to buy them.

Some cannot read. (Remember - one six in Ireland.) But some can and simply hate banks.

It is fine not to have a bank account. I do as I am all but housebound but else would not bother. My pension etc goes in direct ..I very rarely buy online. Pay cash by preference. A modern fallacy that you " have" to have a bank account.

Ray Palmer · 13-12-2018 11:05am

Dial Hard wrote: »

I'm guessing they're finding it a bit questionable that you didn't have a bank account before you became homeless. I've had one since I was 5.

There are number of things beyond the bank account. He was had a job offer but couldn't take it as they only paid the bank and he couldn't cash a cheque. If you go to the bank of an issuing cheque they will cash it without a bank account. Welfare officers can also help cashing cheques.

volchitsa · 13-12-2018 11:23am

I think people who are querying the OP because they've had a bank account since they were babies are forgetting that this is not someone who grew up here.

I've lived abroad and I remember a bank refusingpoint blank to open an account for me until I had documents that I couldn't possibly provide, including a permanent address which at that time I didn't have (was being accommodated by friends). I got it sorted but it really is complicated and frightening when you're trying to negotiate a foreign system that you don't fully understand.

To the OP, I think you've had a couple of suggestions that may help until you find your feet : banks will pay cash in some cases (make sure the company accountant writes the first cheque without crossing it, IIRC) and you may even find they would make an exception for a first payment to be made in cash until you get things sorted.

Also maybe shared accommodation at least for the time it takes to open an account, so you can give that information when it's asked for.

Otherwise, have you tried getting a friend to write a letter testifying that you are lodging with them for free, and they would supply their own proofs of residence? Another idea, but just throwing it out there no idea what it's worth, is what about a Post Restante address just for mail to be sent to you?

Hope you get something sorted. It's a horrible situation to be in, that feeling of being on the edges of society and that you could fall through the cracks without anyone noticing. I've been there, as I say when I first moved abroad.

Dial Hard · 13-12-2018 1:28pm

volchitsa wrote: »

I think people who are querying the OP because they've had a bank account since they were babies are forgetting that this is not someone who grew up here.

You're right, I missed that part of his post.

Foweva Awone · 13-12-2018 1:32pm

Bill nye wrote: »

Meh I don't have a bank account and I'm 31.

I used to work cash in hand during school / college. Then when I needed a bank account, I was with a partner for a few years at that stage so used hers as bank fees were stupid, my wages going in allowed for fee free banking and just haven't been arsed to change or create my own account since.

If I was in a relationship with a man-child who'd ask to use my bank account like that rather than setting up his own, I'd dump him on the spot. She must have felt like your mammy handing you out your wages every week!

volchitsa · 13-12-2018 2:37pm

Ray Palmer wrote: »

There are number of things beyond the bank account. He was had a job offer but couldn't take it as they only paid the bank and he couldn't cash a cheque. If you go to the bank of an issuing cheque they will cash it without a bank account. Welfare officers can also help cashing cheques.

Does everyone know this? I'm not sure they do. As for Welfare Officers, I have no idea what those are nor where I would get in contact with one.

Personally, being from NI, I'd probably start by looking for some equivalent of the CAB, and go from there, but if I were from a country that didn't have much in the way of social services, it might not occur to me. Or I wouldn't know what name to call the office/person I was trying to ask about.

I might even post on a website and hope to get ideas from that.

Stupid, I know. :rolleyes:

Mike3549 · 13-12-2018 5:49pm

volchitsa wrote: »

Does everyone know this? I'm not sure they do.

Yeah i used to do it back in 2006-2007.
Didnt have a bank acc, house share, no bills in my name etc. Back then i had to go to the exact branch the cheque was issued with my passport, or other ID, didnt have any problems, other branched couldnt help me.

Bill nye · 13-12-2018 6:34pm

Foweva Awone wrote: »

If I was in a relationship with a man-child who'd ask to use my bank account like that rather than setting up his own, I'd dump him on the spot. She must have felt like your mammy handing you out your wages every week!

At that stage, we were living together so my wages covered all the bills etc so wasn't a bad situation. The other option was to open a second account and pay fees for two bank accounts. Seemed pointless. My wages still go into her account so she's ok with it anyway. I still do not have a current account in my name. We do have a shared savings account that is in both our names.

waffleman · 14-12-2018 2:25am

Bill nye wrote: »

At that stage, we were living together so my wages covered all the bills etc so wasn't a bad situation. The other option was to open a second account and pay fees for two bank accounts. Seemed pointless. My wages still go into her account so she's ok with it anyway. I still do not have a current account in my name. We do have a shared savings account that is in both our names.

So you say you have no bank account but you use 2 bank accounts.

pinkypinky · 14-12-2018 1:52pm

Mike3549 wrote: »

Yeah i used to do it back in 2006-2007.
Didnt have a bank acc, house share, no bills in my name etc. Back then i had to go to the exact branch the cheque was issued with my passport, or other ID, didnt have any problems, other branched couldnt help me.

This info might be out of date.
I tried to cash a cheque made out to cash last December and the AIB person just said "oh no". It was a BOI cheque and I went to BOI and they'd only cash it if I had a bank account with them, which I did not.

Mike3549 · 14-12-2018 5:18pm

pinkypinky wrote: »

This info might be out of date.
I tried to cash a cheque made out to cash last December and the AIB person just said "oh no". It was a BOI cheque and I went to BOI and they'd only cash it if I had a bank account with them, which I did not.

Was it in the same branch?
Yeah theres a chance things changed in the last 10 years, but still you had to go to THAT PARTICULAR BRANCH to get the money. If the cheque is issued in AIB crumlin, you have to go to that branch, you wont be lucky in other AIB branches.

Help! Can't get out of homelessness due to lack of address

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