[Nicola_Red]

A provisional licence is £50 and a first passport I think is £80 or £90, which is in no way negligible when you earn crap money. A passport would cost half of what I have to spend on myself in an average month. I'd rather continue fighting the battle for those people who seem to be regarded as strange cos they don't wish to travel abroad or drive, even when it is a hassle and I get accused of being some sort of library interloper.

[MK Chris]

I'd prefer to have to use a driving license or passport than a compulsory ID card scheme with all our details on.

[Yudster]

But if you HAVE to use a driving licence or a passport, that IS a compulsory ID card in effect. And they aren't compulsory - so treating them as though they are is discriminatory.

[Lactating Man Nips]

But they are only deemed compulsory by certain service providers operating certain levels of due diligence - at their discretion.I don't see the problem - other than it's unfornately the unavoidable price we pay for easily fraudable ID. Let's not be naive to assume that a piece of noteheaded paper with our name/address/DOB/birthplace is a secure enough form of identification nowadays.

[Johnny 1989]

I got my contract from o2 Online. Got a good tariff and was all done instantly with no need for bank statements or anything as far as I can remember.

Vodafone are offering a good deal at the moment (unlimited Text, Email & Internet with 300 minutes with the new Blackberry 8520) on a 24 month contract. I can sign up online & it says subject to "credit check" so I should be fine with that.

Interesting to see how this thread has panned out though

[Johnny 1989]

I got my contract from o2 Online. Got a good tariff and was all done instantly with no need for bank statements or anything as far as I can remember.

Vodafone are offering a good deal at the moment (unlimited Text, Email & Internet with 300 minutes with the new Blackberry 8520) on a 24 month contract. I can sign up online & it says subject to "credit check" so I should be fine with that.

Interesting to see how this thread has panned out though

EDIT: Actually scrap that, I went to order it and they still want proof of identity including proof of being at the same address for 3 years (I've lived here for 26 years), bank details & a credit check) How do I prove I've lived somewhere for over 3 years via the internet?

Perhaps I'm being thick & perhaps all they need to do is contact someone who lives at the same premises, I don't know, but it seems like such agro. Personally I'd rather not see someone in a shop if they pull the trick Dannyboy mentioned above. Grr this seems rather awkward unless I'm just not getting it.

[MK Chris]

If they are asking for the information, they should at least be providing examples of how you can may provide it. Do they want scans of documents?

[Johnny 1989]

If they are asking for the information, they should at least be providing examples of how you can may provide it. Do they want scans of documents?

That's what I wondered but talking to someone else they may just ask for my address & check on the electorial register. I'll order it at lunchtime & see what they say.

[DannyBoy]

Footsy, you've never looked better.

As for the ID - I assume the issue is that a driver's licenCe is an official government document with a picture as a form of identification, same as a passport. If you have neither, how does the government know you are who you claim to be? How do they keep track of who's who? How do people you're applying for credit to, etc know that you didn't just steal someone's identity, or are falsely using someone's credit card? Here in the States there are birth certificates and Social Security Cards - neither (obviously) have your picture on them so they don't count as VALID PICTURE IDs - but (recently) those that don't have a DL or a passport can apply for a "Passport Card", which allows you to go to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, and is a valid picture ID. Nicola, you should look into getting any government issued picture ID, if they have them there. Or go get the provisional licenCe. In the long run it'll be a convenience for you. It's the way the world is now - especially post 9/11.

VERY GOOD ADVICE! Its also handy if you get ID'd on a door of a pub or club having an OFFICIAL government ID.

[Johnny 1989]

I checked at lunchtime, thought about it, and have decided this evening not to sign up to the contract for several reasons, mainly the length of the deal (24 months). I'm sure most have you have skipped past my "annoying you today" posts but as you know work is very unsteady at the moment, the risk of redundancy won't bugger off & to be honest, I'd rather not commit at this time.

Instead I've decided to sign up to one of those 30 day sim only contracts, of which I can get 600 minutes & 600 texts with one choice of O2 bolt on (unlimited internet please ) for £20 a month. I do have an unfortunate habit of going off of phones after 6-8 months so God knows how I would get on with a phone for 2 years.

So this thread would have been kind of pointless after all that, however we seem to have a far more interesting discussion going on regarding proof of ID, I'll change the thread title I think (if I can) seeing as that's what this thread has mainly morphed into.

[jocky85]

Instead I've decided to sign up to one of those 30 day sim only contracts, of which I can get 600 minutes & 600 texts with one choice of O2 bolt on (unlimited internet please ) for £20 a month. I do have an unfortunate habit of going off of phones after 6-8 months so God knows how I would get on with a phone for 2 years.

Thats exactly what I have. Its is a little annoying that you have to pay out for a phone rather than free upgrades but considering I'm on my 3rd phone in 10 years its not the most important thing to me.

[Nicola_Red]

VERY GOOD ADVICE! Its also handy if you get ID'd on a door of a pub or club having an OFFICIAL government ID.

if only. I'm approaching 35 now and I can't remember the last time I got asked for ID in a pub or club!

[Johnny 1989]

Instead I've decided to sign up to one of those 30 day sim only contracts, of which I can get 600 minutes & 600 texts with one choice of O2 bolt on (unlimited internet please ) for £20 a month. I do have an unfortunate habit of going off of phones after 6-8 months so God knows how I would get on with a phone for 2 years.

Thats exactly what I have. Its is a little annoying that you have to pay out for a phone rather than free upgrades but considering I'm on my 3rd phone in 10 years its not the most important thing to me.

Since getting a mobile in 1999 I've had roughly 15-20 mobiles, so perhaps a 24 month deal wouldn't be best for me

VERY GOOD ADVICE! Its also handy if you get ID'd on a door of a pub or club having an OFFICIAL government ID.

if only. I'm approaching 35 now and I can't remember the last time I got asked for ID in a pub or club!

That's because you've always got your breasties out

I've seen plenty of bouncers let ladies in, who look a bit too young to come into a pub or club to me, because they have their breasts pushed up under their chins

[Nicola_Red]

VERY GOOD ADVICE! Its also handy if you get ID'd on a door of a pub or club having an OFFICIAL government ID.

if only. I'm approaching 35 now and I can't remember the last time I got asked for ID in a pub or club!

That's because you've always got your breasties out

I've seen plenty of bouncers let ladies in, who look a bit too young to come into a pub or club to me, because they have their breasts pushed up under their chins

I have not! I actually hardly ever wear anything showing cleavage. Legs, maybe

[DannyBoy]

VERY GOOD ADVICE! Its also handy if you get ID'd on a door of a pub or club having an OFFICIAL government ID.

if only. I'm approaching 35 now and I can't remember the last time I got asked for ID in a pub or club!

Oppps! Sorry about that I thought you were younger!