Not just people with anxiety. I found it a bit of an overreach initially, and deeply disliked the approach.
Indeed, I started the sign up process on launch day then left it because I didn’t like the identity check.
I got over myself months later and found that they’d gone ahead and opened the account anyway - before doing KYC - they just hadn’t given me access. Completed identity checks and I was in. I can’t say that was deeply reassuring.
It’s not just sign up. You have to record a flan video every time you sign in to a new device.
I’m all for strong passwords but it really does feel like an actual case of “security theatre”.
Surely there’s a middle ground between Monzo’s emails and Starling’s overkill?
I didn’t. When I got a new phone I just logged in. No new video was required.
You also have to record a video if you forget your password and need to reset it, but that at least makes some sense…I think…
Strange. Was setting up the Mrs’ phone yesterday and had to get her to do it instead of just using her password myself.
I’d definitely pay the £2 for the separate account for bills or whatever. But I find it interesting they’re charging for it considering what else they give away. And for such a low amount, is it worth it?
I think it is a very smart move - although you’re right £2/month from even a high percentage of customers isn’t a huge income stream for Starling. However…
They’ve become profitable off the back of giving all that away for free. Now they are putting a value on a current account of £2/month.
That’s low enough some people will abandon a bills/secondary account at a competitor because £2/month seems reasonable for the convenience of getting it all in one app. Similarly, other offerings from their competitors will now be weighed against a bar of ‘Starling only charge £2 for this’.
I’m wondering if the lack of a dedicated card for the account will make them unsuitable donor accounts for CASS incentives from other banks. This often (always?) this requires an account with a debit card…
I’m firmly in the no camp at the moment, I’ve got my bills pot in Monzo for free.
Similarly, some people will stick to a legacy bank where they can have two accounts in one app for free.
Also been reading up on this more too and if you ever close your additional account and re-open it again at a later date, you get the exact same account number and sort code too.
Good point
Well yeah. If you’re using Monzo and getting it for free then you’re unlikely to swap. But if Monzo didnt have it or I was a Starling customer, I’d pay the £2 a month for having it all together.
I’m a tight Yorkshire man I’d just open up an account elsewhere to fill that need 
That’s a very over-generalised statement. You could just as well say “people with anxiety don’t like going into a branch with ID”.
If one were to be picky, one might suggest you don’t need “very” or “over” to retain the meaning.
(But I’m not picky 
)
Are you able to sign up for Monzo without the video? Will they let you do something else?
No, has to be the video
But I think they’ll let you hold up the text instead of saying it?
Helpful if you have anxiety about your voice, a stutter or similar.
But I think it’s right not to dismiss it. There are people with different sorts of anxieties - if some folk don’t like in person interaction, the Monzling approach could be just what they need.
Likewise, for some people the video will fill them with so much horror they just won’t do it. So if accommodation can be made then it’s good business sense as well as being helpful to the customer / respectful of their needs.
You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities
(gov website)
Then you get legal protection
Traders and service providers must remove the barriers you face because of your disability so you can access and use their goods and services in the same way, as far as this possible, as someone who’s not disabled. The Equality Act 2010 calls this the duty to make reasonable adjustments.
(citizens advice)
If you don’t qualify as disabled, you get nothing like the same protections, unfortunately