Proof of identity

[John Rowland]

I went through the rigmarole of opening an internet account with Birmingham
Midshires, and a few days later they are making demands for multiple proofs
of identity which are not that easy for me to meet. Since the account will
be purely linked to my current account at Barclays, i,e, the account will be
capable only of transferring money to and from that current account, and
there is no earthly reason why anyone but me would wish to set up such an
account, I don't see why any proof of identity should be required at all. BM
say that it's the law, but I opened a smilar account with ING about 2 years
ago and didn't have to go through any of this rubbish. Has the law changed
in the last 2-3 years?

I am annoyed at BM because I wasn't told any of this when I went through the
process of setting up the account online, and I feel like telling BM where
they can stick their account, but will I have the same hassle now with
everyone else?

 

[Jim Alexander]

I went through the rigmarole of opening an internet account with
Birmingham Midshires, and a few days later they are making demands for
multiple proofs of identity which are not that easy for me to meet. Since
the account will be purely linked to my current account at Barclays, i,e,
the account will be capable only of transferring money to and from that
current account, and there is no earthly reason why anyone but me would
wish to set up such an account, I don't see why any proof of identity
should be required at all. BM say that it's the law, but I opened a smilar
account with ING about 2 years ago and didn't have to go through any of
this rubbish. Has the law changed in the last 2-3 years?

I am annoyed at BM because I wasn't told any of this when I went through
the process of setting up the account online, and I feel like telling BM
where they can stick their account, but will I have the same hassle now
with everyone else?

Very pedantic organisation. I see from their application screen if you have
a current account but no cheque book, eg basic or non-basic "green" they are
not interested. Most organisations will have a leaflet outlining identity
requirements. Ask for it, if they don't have one stuff them, if they do try
to comply. If you can't comply they don't want you. Tough. Try not to
feel offended.

Have you tried Icesave or Sainsbury's Bank who offer nearly the same
interest rate and can do non-documentary ID verification in most cases?

Jim A

 

[Gio]

Very pedantic organisation. I see from their application screen if you
have a current account but no cheque book, eg basic or non-basic "green"
they are not interested. Most organisations will have a leaflet outlining
identity requirements. Ask for it, if they don't have one stuff them, if
they do try to comply. If you can't comply they don't want you. Tough.
Try not to feel offended.

Have you tried Icesave or Sainsbury's Bank who offer nearly the same
interest rate and can do non-documentary ID verification in most cases?

Jim A

We are having the same problem with ICICI bank. They want a copy of our
passports for identification and utility / bank statement signing by Justice
of the peace, Solicitor, Accountant, Member of parliament.
Ironicaly the actual passport application requires a lower level and easier
to obtain person to confirm the details. -in the case of a passport
application it can be signed by a teacher, post ofice, nurse, chemist etc.
I think banks have just gone way overboard.

Gio

 

[Alan]

We are having the same problem with ICICI bank. They want a copy of our
passports for identification and utility / bank statement signing by Justice
of the peace, Solicitor, Accountant, Member of parliament.
Ironicaly the actual passport application requires a lower level and easier
to obtain person to confirm the details. -in the case of a passport
application it can be signed by a teacher, post ofice, nurse, chemist etc.
I think banks have just gone way overboard.

I bet that if the application is signed by yourself (or anyone else)
pretending to be a Judge, Solicitor, Accountant or MP the signature will
never be checked.

Sending your passport to ICICI bank probably means all the information
will end up in India so don't be surprised if you become cloned

 

[Gio]

I bet that if the application is signed by yourself (or anyone else)
pretending to be a Judge, Solicitor, Accountant or MP the signature will
never be checked.

Sending your passport to ICICI bank probably means all the information
will end up in India so don't be surprised if you become cloned

Perhaps it is just as well we have not processed the application any further
for the time being. I am still awaiting their reply re why the higher level
signature is required. For me it is just too much trouble.
.....................................but who the hell would want a clone of
me? wife says I am free to a good (any) home anyway !

Gio

 

[Jonathan Bryce]

Have you tried Icesave or Sainsbury's Bank who offer nearly the same
interest rate and can do non-documentary ID verification in most cases?

Sainsburys and Birmingham Midshires are both Bank of Scotland, so I would
have thought their ID requirements would be the same.

 

[Gio]

Sainsburys and Birmingham Midshires are both Bank of Scotland, so I would
have thought their ID requirements would be the same.

Are you sure Sainsbury's is BoS ? Midshires, Intelligent finance, Saga,
Capital to mention a few are listed on the FSA register are but I do not
recall seeing Sainsbury's.

Gio

 

[Jim Alexander]

Are you sure Sainsbury's is BoS ? Midshires, Intelligent finance, Saga,
Capital to mention a few are listed on the FSA register are but I do not
recall seeing Sainsbury's.

Sainsbury's Bank is a joint venture (HBOS/Sainsbury) and has its own FSA
registration so a home for £35,000

Jim A

 

[Gio]

Sainsbury's Bank is a joint venture (HBOS/Sainsbury) and has its own FSA
registration so a home for £35,000

Jim A

Sorry Jim, you are correct. I should have said regarding the protection for
cash deposits. We split our funds and so some went to Sainsbury's from our
BoS account because our Halifax account and the BoS account was just classed
as one account. As you say we now have £30K+ protection in each bank due to
the FSA registration.
Well I hope that is the case ?

Gio

 

[Trust No One®]

X-No-Archive: yes

I am annoyed at BM because I wasn't told any of this when I went through
the process of setting up the account online, and I feel like telling BM
where they can stick their account, but will I have the same hassle now
with everyone else?

I asked a similar question on the newsgroup a while back after I received a
similar demand in response to my applicaiton for a Post Office credit card.
They wanted certified copies of my passport and various other documents as
they were "required to collect this information by money laundering
regulations"

I decided there and then that they could stick their card where the sun
didn't shine, but for a bit of fun I wrote back to them advising that I was
happy to comply provided they first supplied me proof of their identity in
the form certified copies of their company incorporation certficate, 3 years
of audit accounts from themselves and any other related companies as well as
a guarantee that the documents I sent would not be processed outside the
United Kingdom

That was several months ago and I'm still awaiting the knock on the door
from the postman. I guess they decided not to proceed with my application

 

[Tim]

Gio wrote

Justice of the peace, Solicitor, Accountant, Member of parliament...
"Alan" wrote
I bet that if the application is signed by yourself (or anyone else)
pretending to be a Judge, Solicitor, Accountant or MP ...

You do not need to "pretend" to be an accountant. Anyone can call
themselves an accountant! There are no required qualifications...

[Whereas if someone catches you pretending to be a
Judge / Solicitor / MP, then there may be consequences!]

 

[Humpty Dumpty]

icesave all you need is your passport number and driving licence number
during the online registration and bob's you uncle ;o)

 

[Tim]

icesave all you need is your passport number and driving licence
number during the online registration and bob's you uncle ;o)

What if you don't have a passport and don't drive?

 

[Yellow]

Jim Alexander [[email protected]] said:

Very pedantic organisation. I see from their application screen if you have
a current account but no cheque book, eg basic or non-basic "green" they are
not interested. Most organisations will have a leaflet outlining identity
requirements. Ask for it, if they don't have one stuff them, if they do try
to comply. If you can't comply they don't want you. Tough. Try not to
feel offended.

Have you tried Icesave or Sainsbury's Bank who offer nearly the same
interest rate and can do non-documentary ID verification in most cases?

Jim A

I set up a Sainsbury account a few months ago and can confirm that I
didn't need to let them have any ID.

 

[Andrew MacPherson]

What if you don't have a passport and don't drive?

You're stuffed. Well, more relevantly, I'm stuffed. I've reached the
conclusion that I need to get a passport even though I've no plans to
ever use it (I think of myself as a world citizen rather than a Brit, and
take great interest in world affairs; I've just never felt any need to
visit the rest of the planet... the TV crews can do all the standing
around in airports for me,

I've been stubborn so far, but there seems no real alternative since the
money laundering legislation started to kick in seriously.

Andrew McP

 

[Tim]

You're stuffed. Well, more relevantly, I'm stuffed.
I've reached the conclusion that I need to get a
passport even though I've no plans to ever use it...

I've been stubborn so far, but there seems no real alternative...

ID cards, anyone?! ;-)

 

[Jim Alexander]

You're stuffed. Well, more relevantly, I'm stuffed. I've reached the
conclusion that I need to get a passport even though I've no plans to
ever use it (I think of myself as a world citizen rather than a Brit, and
take great interest in world affairs; I've just never felt any need to
visit the rest of the planet... the TV crews can do all the standing
around in airports for me,

I've been stubborn so far, but there seems no real alternative since the
money laundering legislation started to kick in seriously.

If you have a home and are on the electoral roll for more than 3 years and
have a credit card of two most *sensible* online banking organisations will
be able to ID you. If they can't in those circumstances they are not
*sensible* so avoid.

To correct something said earlier, the Icesave application says passport or
driving licence, not and.

Jim A

 

[whitely525]

You're stuffed. Well, more relevantly, I'm stuffed. I've reached the
conclusion that I need to get a passport even though I've no plans to
ever use it (I think of myself as a world citizen rather than a Brit, and
take great interest in world affairs; I've just never felt any need to
visit the rest of the planet... the TV crews can do all the standing
around in airports for me,

I've been stubborn so far, but there seems no real alternative since the
money laundering legislation started to kick in seriously.

It is not just the law, but how it is interpreted... this is clear
because different institutions have different criteria.

Unfortunately you probably cannot take BM to the FOS until you
actually are a customer. But you can let them know of your intentions
to do so.

 

[PeterSaxton]

You do not need to "pretend" to be an accountant. Anyone can call
themselves an accountant! There are no required qualifications...

Not true. You don't need to be a qualified accountant to be an
accountant but you need to be an accountant to call yourself an
accountant.

Peter

 

[Rob.]

Not true. You don't need to be a qualified accountant to be an
accountant but you need to be an accountant to call yourself an
accountant.

How about a minister of religion. Jedi master perhaps?