stupid banks

I have had an account with a certain bank for the past 24 years, and I also have a mortgage with them. Last week, I went into the bank to open a second account with them, and the lady was very helpful.

However, she's just rung me to say that they need further information from me, my most recent P60 (no problem), birth certificate (no problem), 3 months wage slips (no problem). However, they also want to see my home phone bill. I said that the phone bill isn't in my name, it's in my estranged husband's name, and she told me that if that was the case, I couldn't open the account until the bill was put in my name. I told her that the gas and electricity bills were in my name but she said that it had to be the phone bill. What would have happened, then, if I didn't have a home telephone? I didn't have a home phone for about four years, so I would have been knackered then.

I think that this is really stupid. Having banked with them for 24 years, you'd think they knew who the hell I was, wouldn't you? It's not the lady's fault, she did say she'd get back onto the powers that be, to see if they'd accept my utility bills and driving licence instead.

Isn't bureacracy wonderful?