HSBC - only accept face-to-face ID?

Dagobert

JanCee wrote:

The regulations for providing ID are different for online or postal accounts because you can't pay cash into them whereas with a branch based account you can.

Really?
What exactly do the Money Laundering Regulations require for those two types of account?

JanCee wrote:

The regulations relate to money laundering and HSBC are just sticking to their procedures in the same way that any other High Street Bank would do.

dunstonh has already confirmed that a certified copy is treated as an original. Therefore, there is no difference between appearing at a branch with passport and posting a certified copy.

I opened a current account with Norwich & Peterborough through the post. While this account can be operated online, cash can be paid in at any of their branches. They are complying with the Money Laundering Regulations by requesting certified copies.

I could add the Alliance & Leicester to the list of examples. Current accounts can be applied for online, proof of identification provided through the post. Cash can be withdrawn and paid in at A&L branches and post offices.

Are you saying these banks are not complying with the Money Laundering Regulations?

amandathepanda

To open a Natwest account you certainly have to go in to a branch and show either passport or driving licence ID.

Dagobert

Dagobert wrote:

it was explained to me that HSBC only accept face-to-face proof of ID.

Is this true?

I filed a complaint and eventually received confirmation that HSBC has no procedure in place of postal proof of identity.

I received a phone-call from HSBC to-day and the lady did not seem to be aware that other banks accepted proof of id per post.
When I mentioned that their own division, FirstDirect, had accepted postal proof of id - what else? they are an online bank - to open a savings account, she spoke to her manager and, hey presto, they agreed to accept certified copies on this occasion.

jonesMUFCforever

I understand that some banks are now trialing electronic Id and address confirmation so if you have lived at your address for 6 months or longer, are on the electoral role and are UK nationality paper ID might be a thing of the past.

Dagobert

ejones999 wrote:

I understand that some banks are now trialing electronic Id and address confirmation so if you have lived at your address for 6 months or longer, are on the electoral role and are UK nationality paper ID might be a thing of the past.

Yes, some banks obtain proof of identification by checking credit reference agency records.

However, my point was that HSBC, unlike many other banks, do not accept certified copies, which should be treated as an original. It is the first of one-and-a-half dozen banks I am banking with which does not accept certified copies and nobody at HSBC has been able to give an explanation as to why this is the case. It can't be to do with the Money Laundering Regulations as the other banks which accept postal forms of proof of id are compliant, too.

Considering that HSBC are closing 52 branches in the UK this year, I find it rather strange that they still insist on face-to-face id. Do they want to reduce their customer base?

jonesMUFCforever

Certified copies of what?
eg the copyright to your Passport , birth certificate etc belongs to the Crown and therefore no one can make copies willy nilly and certify them (legally anyway). This is why an institution can make a copy for its own records but cannot copy loads for you to take away.

Dagobert

I was presuming you had read the thread - apparently not

ejones999 wrote:

Certified copies of what?

or you would have seen that dunstonh and I had been talking about certified copies of passport and/or driving licence, ...

ejones999 wrote:

no one can make copies willy nilly and certify them

... certified as being a true likeness of the original by a lawyer, banker, teacher, minister of religion, doctor, or whatever profession is permitted to certify copies.

ejones999 wrote:

This is why an institution can make a copy for its own records but cannot copy loads for you to take away.

We had already established in this thread that members of above professions can certify copies, which therefore can be treated as an original. This is common practice and likewise it is common practice for banks to accept certified copies. How else would online banks obtain proof of identification?

ejones999 wrote:

your Passport, birth certificate etc belongs to the Crown

That, of course, depends on the nationality of the person.

Dagobert

ejones999 wrote:

I understand that some banks are now trialing electronic Id and address confirmation

Electronic identification, of course, only works for people who have been recorded by one of the credit reference agencies. This is not necessarily the case for everyone. Not everyone is on the electoral roll and everyone will get his or her first credit card, mortgage at some point.

But even when electronic identification cannot be obtained, face-to-face proof of id is not necessary. I can give you plenty of examples. Here's one: Abbey - acceptable forms of id. They do not even require a certified copy of the passport. As you can see, Abbey will accept a bank statement and a utility bill as sufficient proof.

A list of banks which accept postal proof of identification:

• AA
• Abbey
• Alliance & Leicester
• Bradford & Bingley
• Cahoot
• Charity Bank
• Cheshire BS
• Derbyshire BS
• Egg
• FirstDirect (an HSBC division!)
• ICICI
• Leeds BS
• Leek United BS
• Northern Rock
• Norwich & Peterborough
• Scarborough BS

pin

is there any desire to bank with HSBC? have you looked at putting your bank accounts with First Direct or another online bank, esp if there is all this hassle to open an HSBC account?

jonesMUFCforever

Dagobert wrote:

I was presuming you had read the thread - apparently not


or you would have seen that dunstonh and I had been talking about certified copies of passport and/or driving licence, ...


... certified as being a true likeness of the original by a lawyer, banker, teacher, minister of religion, doctor, or whatever profession is permitted to certify copies.


We had already established in this thread that members of above professions can certify copies, which therefore can be treated as an original. This is common practice and likewise it is common practice for banks to accept certified copies. How else would online banks obtain proof of identification?


That, of course, depends on the nationality of the person.

Whilst I accept all your points, could you please explain to me when you send in certified copies of id a) How does the bank know whether the solicitor, teacher, minister of religion, doctor etc is real and not made up? and b) if it is a certified copy how would the bank know whether the documents had been 'doctored' to show what is needed for the purpose of opening the account?
This is why some banks insist on seeing original documents and why some banks insist on you taking them personally to a branch.