An identity crisis for the rate-surfer

Portsmouth resident Liz Valette, 59, is a self-confessed "rate tart". She surfs the net for interest rate deals to make the most of her savings. "I have to keep opening new accounts to keep up - banks with the best deals soon slip down the table.

"But the constant identity checks are a complete pain. I even had to revert to Elizabeth on official paperwork to keep the banks happy. I prefer Liz, it's my identity and having that is important when your marriage breaks down as mine did," she says.

"The system works against women like me whose marriage ends. You want to set up again on your own but banks make that difficult if you previously relied on your husband financially or even if all the bills were in his name. Many women my age don't have the documents banks demand. I don't entirely buy the money laundering story," she says.

Liz, a retail supervisor at Port Solent marina, recently tried to open an account with ING Direct. Because she has only lived two years at her present address - she moved in after separating from her husband - ING asked her to send in a utility bill and an Inland Revenue tax notification.

"As I try to do everything online it's causing me problems because in general I don't receive paper bills. I get my gas and electricity from Amerada. Their bill is electronic and it won't be much use to a bank as it shows my log-in before my address and not my real name. My phone bill still shows me as Liz so that's a waste of time while as I have PAYE income tax and don't self assess I haven't been sent a notification for years," she says.

"I now have to send a certified copy of a passport or driving licence. But opening an account is like wearing lead boots. I'm not a criminal but moving my own money around to the best advantage is tricky," she says.