My employer will fire me if I don't change bank

[David1991]

Hi Guys,

I bank with Monzo and I have had no problems whatsoever with any of my previous employers nor my universal credit payments.

I have started a new job and I am about 2 weeks in and have already received my first pay check just fine last week. However, out of the blue this morning HR tells me that they dont really like my bank because they don;t have any high street branches and that i have to change which account i get my money paid into. They have said that if I do not do that then they cannot let me work for them anymore.

Is this legal?!

[ULA]

Has your employer given as reason as to why a purely online bank account is an issue for them? If you have provided bona fide bank account details into which you would like your salary paid then I cannot see the problem.

[David1991]

Has your employer given as reason as to why a purely online bank account is an issue for them? If you have provided bona fide bank account details into which you would like your salary paid then I cannot see the problem.

They said that, and I quote, "Because it is online only, they are concerned about the capacity for it to be abused and for people who have no right to work in the UK to use it for identity fraud"...

I would also like to point out however that not only can you apply to any high street bank online, but i have also provided my national insurance documents, my British passport and have actually met my HR rep in person in the office.

[David1991]

I emailed Citizens advice bureau pretty much immediately after i spoke with her on the phone and I have also notified Monzo that my employer have done this

[ULA]

Not sure why they are concerend about identity fraud or the right to work in the UK on your behalf? I presume that this latter point is not in question in regard to your employment status to work in the UK.

My main concern for you is, that since you have been employed for less than two years you would not able to bring an claim for unfair dismissal if your employment was terminated over this issue. The exceptions to this 2 year (103 week in fact) service requirement are dismissals which take place for a discriminatory reason which will be actionable irrespective of length of service, plus a few other circumstances but this situation would not qualify from what I can tell.

[David1991]

This is also my concern. and its honestly sent my anxiety through the roof today dealing with it all. and no my eligibility to work in the UK is under no doubt, born and raised here in Devon my whole life, UK passport, UK driving license, National insurance

[ULA]

Just really thinking "outside the box for you".

I presume when you provided the information for your bank account there was nothing saying that as a company they do not accept salary payments into a purely online bank?

Would you consider opening a bank account with a high street presence bank even if you then transfer on your salary into your Monzo account? I appreciate it is a hassle for you to get this set up but its a way around the situation.

[David1991]

This is also my concern. and its honestly sent my anxiety through the roof today dealing with it all. and no my eligibility to work in the UK is under no doubt, born and raised here in Devon my whole life, UK passport, UK driving license, National insurance

I am going to be opening a high street bank short term as i REALLY need this job, nothing in any paperwork or handbook excludes certain banks and when i asked for this policy in writing I was told i would have to wait for her manager to come and discuss it with me.

I can theoretically get the money into another account and transfer it to monzo however Monzo recently introduced fees for people who use the account as a spending account. Transferring like this make it a spending account and you need to have your salary paid by BACS into the monzo for the fees to not be applied.

[ULA]

It sounds like you have thought through some possible options to get around this issue which I feel may be the best thing for you to do at the moment.

If I can think of anything else I will come back and post on this thread.

Hopefully if you give then a high street bank account this issue will be resolved.