Guests claiming benefits

[Miha11]

Hi everyone.
The guests I currently have came to London from abroad looking for work here. They opened bank accounts with my address (without asking for my permission or informing me) and are now claiming unemployment benefits etc (from my address) They’re due to check out in 2 days and I wouldn’t agree to them extending their stay (they’re lacking basic manners and they’re inconsiderate) 

They said they’ll probably go to live in a hostel. Does that mean my address will continue being their registered address?! 

[Jerry250]

@Miha11 I wouldn't worry too much about this for now, I expect it will resolve itself. You don't say how you know the guests opened bank accounts using your address, but UK banks are required to carry out verification and ID checks and usually that means new customers showing utility bills, council tax or other recognised ID to the bank. They won't be able to do this for your address. As for the benefits claim there are significant hurdles to clear and again your address is unlikley to be key to their success. If you receive letters from bank / benefits when they've checked out mark them 'not known at this address / return to sender' and put them back in the post box. Fraudsters (not that these guests are) could select anyone's address and open accounts, that's why checks and verification takes place.

[Miha11]

They both had Revolut cards delivered here. I called in a meeting tonight and as far as that goes they said they contacted the bank to say they’re in Airbnb.. and the bank was ok with that. 

[Jerry250]

@Miha11 Revolut does not have a UK banking licence (it is not a bank) it is an e finance company. So the guests don't have 'bank accounts' at your address. Google Revolut and you can see what this means.

You can also google how to get a National Insurance number and you'll see what this entails and whether it is necesary to claim benefits (in short 'no'). Nor does it seem EU passport holders require an NI number to work.

I can see that this is really worrying you. You've done the right thing declining to extend their stay with you. If the guests are leaving in a couple of days tell them that is the end of your agreement with them and they must make arrangements to have documents and mail sent to their new address, you cannot store it or forward to them. 

[Gordon0]

I'd be a little more concerned than @Jerry250 here, @Miha11.

I had a guest who opened a bank account (during their seven day stay with me) a few years ago, and I'm still getting statements, despite returning loads back to Lloyds.

Claiming benefits is a next-level proper cheek.

[Miha11]

That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid. I’m getting uncomfortable even talking about it.. they seem like butter wouldn’t melt and yet they seem to know everything there is to know about the system (they are from Argentina but got Italian passports this Summer, they can’t find work and are applying for NINO and universal credit from my address) 

[Jerry250]

@Gordon0 @Miha11 That's interesting.

Google 'what ID do I need to open a bank account' (it auto completes). For the sample banks I looked at (Barclays, Nat West) proof of address (utility bill, council tax etc) was a requirement (if not during online application, certainly before acceptance). UK Money laundering Regulations (2017) require banks (and many firms) to do new customer diligence, the penalties if they don't are significant. 

[Sarah977]

I would contact the entities that they have opened accounts at using your address, as well as immigration, and let them know that these people used your address without permission, that they were just short-term guests, whose booking has come to an end, that your address is not their residence.

@Miha11

[Miha11]

Wish I had so much free time.. 

[Jerry250]

@Miha11 Revolut doesn't even run a phone service! You can contact them via twitter, the app (which you don't have) or facebook https://facebook.com/Revolutapp. Yes that's how much of a 'bank' they are. The immigration service has no idea how many people are in the UK who shouldn't be. Honestly I think this situatuon will pass. You haven't done anything wrong. Try and relax until they're gone. I know this is stressful.

[Sarah977]

A couple of phone calls, to the bank and immigration doesn't take a whole lot of time. @Miha11

[Juley0]

Can you report them anonymously? I don't see how they have any right to benefits...

[Gordon0]

This isn't about their rights, @Juley0, it's about claiming from an address you don't live at. And while a lot of things can be said about our government, there is a social security system in place to protect people exactly like these individuals so they don't starve.