caroline_edinburgh

cmt: LOL !

I agree with almost everything walkingaround says except that the national insurance number is also used for tax payment. We also have a separate NHS number which is only used on our medical records.

The only time I've ever needed ID is if I'm going into my bank to arrange something out of the ordinary, e.g. to get a banker's draft. I don't even have a driving license.

Art_Vandelay

Just to clarify a few points:
- massagediva, there are 25 EU countries, but only 13 of them are part of the Schengen agreement that creates a single "customs free" state. The non participating countries are the 10 that joined in May 2004, plus the UK and Ireland.For those 12 countries, you have to go through the usual pre-Schengen customs clearance and passport stamping. For instance, if you are in Paris's Gare du Nord, you board the Thalys train to Brussels or Amsterdam as if you were taking the train to Lille; but if you want to take the Eurostar to London, it's almost as heavy as arriving in JFK! (well, slightly less rude, maybe... )
- As for driver's license, in France it's considered a valid official ID. It is illegal not to be able to show it to the police if stopped by them. I know, it happened to me, even though I was driving a motorbike with a British license plate. I had to go within one week to the police station to produce it, and, in spite of that, it cost me 11 euros!

billy_boy

Allright, I get the picture now. As confusing as it might be, it does look like the I should carry my DL whenever in France as I can get fined Euro 11 if I get caught while driving without it; anybody can can drive in the UK since one doesn't need a DL to do that (too many inter-connected pieces of documents have to be carried as one may be useless without the others), but you will need a bank guarantee card and an NHS card to do other things and so that you don't get tracked by the authorities; my 14 year-old niece's Bank Of America Photo Visa card will get her all liquored up when in Norway; Germany has a national ID card that is required.

I think I'll just keep my DL in my wallet as I usually do wherever I go.

walkinaround

to keep this useless thread going...

this may be a regional thing but i don't have an NHS card, nor have i ever needed to present anything to get treatment (even at random hospitals/walk in centres). i do have a card that proves that i qualify for totally free medication (free of the small "co-pay" that most people need to pay). However, i do not carry this either as i have never needed it to get my medication without any charge (trustworthy looking i suppose).

I do have a licence for the television but i do not carry that either. that is in a frame over the TV.

I'm not so sure about the social security number in relation to taxation. it is used to track your social security "tax" payments, however, for income taxes, it is not required and i don't even remember putting it on my tax form but i might be wrong. In the US you need a SS number or taxpayer ID if you earn anything at all. In UK you can open an interest earning bank account, get a job, etc without a SS or any other tracking number.

elaine

Wasn't Napoleon the <little general>?

Tries2PakLite

cmt -- you beat me to it!

caroline_edinburgh

walkinaround: I've received a new NHS card (from the local health authority) whenever I've registered with a new GP, but I've never been required to show it for anything. I happen to know my NHS number but I'd guess a lot of people don't. You do need to put your NI number on a tax return & it's formed part of the reference number whenever the IR have corresponded with me. For any type of legal job you need to provide it.