Providing identification

Broadback

autopetfeeder wrote: »

Guess I'm gonna get flamed for this but I think the solution really is to have a government database of every person living liegally in the UK. Checks would be done electronically against that. (ID cards as well? I don't know...)

Flamed no, but I strongly disagree. All new laws to control terrorists, money laundering et al only control the ordinary people. These laws always get abused by authority, for example stopping reasonable demonstrations outside parliament and making sure I use my rubbish bin as the local council decides. Sledge hammers and walnuts come to mind. Then there is the problem of slack security on data bases, dare I say it, possibly corruption as well. Who was it who said that the Muslim terrorists would not be allowed to affect us? Tell that to the Marines, in more ways than one.
OK rant over, back to sleep.

dunstonh

From your posts it is evident that the banks/BS do not have standard requirements, which makes nonsense of the system. Looking back over my records I see that is indeed the case. I have applied for accounts and been nodded through, others have variously asked for identity and or address proof. Though my wife has never been nodded through

The rules are guidelines based and its left to the individual companies to interpret and make decisions on what they perceive the risks to be. That said, frequent fines by the FSA for unsufficient money laundering proceedures has meant that the industry does more or less know what is expected so most of it is the same across the board with just minor differences.

Are you able to say which electoral roll list is used for electronic anti-money laundering checks - whether it is the full list or the edited list? I'm unclear about who/which organisations the full list is available to.

Dont know which. The output we get just states it was found and how long they have been on the roll.

Dunstonh makes some good points but I detect a veneer of general enthusiasm for the current ID system.

Not enthusiasm. It can be a pain at times. More an understanding of why and an acceptance that I stand no chance of going against the EU. (remember these are not UK rules but EU). Plus, I have seen cases of it in action and I think that helps.

2/ Reliance on the electoral roll. My wife as a UK resident for the past several years but not a UK or EU citizen it not entitled to listed on the said roll.

It isnt required. It just helps. The electronic verification tells you how many items match for identity and address. You need a minimum of 1 quality item in each to get a highe enough score. Sometimes you get people with 15 or more items. Sometimes 1 or 2 or even none. Electoral roll gives you 1 quality check and scores you well. You dont need it though if there are enough other things to replace it.

3/ Photo-ID. How does the bank/FI that I send the copy of my photo ID know that it is mine and genuine? It is not difficult (its actually trivial) in a package like Photoshop to modify the name of a jpeg or pdf copy of a passport - particularly if it is already a grainy b/w copy.

They shouldnt accept a copy. Its a big risk but they may decide its worth it. However, if a case of ML takes place and is identified, the FSA will take an interest in what processes were in place. Its at that point they fine you for not having good enough checks.

One other point is that the process is not just a paper exercise. Some of those questions asked go to help the individual doing the work to get a feeling for the transaction. A good cashier will ask questions in a conversation style without you realising what they are doing. A bad one will blubber out questions that make it sound like an interrogation and an attempt to sell you something.

A lot of the successful cases found are not linked to terrorism or drugs but to benefits and tax fraud. The processes make that harder rather than the drug dealer who may know and be able to get false passports. Your small business man isnt likely to know where to do that.

Primrose

I'm really curious about this database check that some financial institutions use for money laundering checks.

How can I, as a private individual, find out exactly what it shows up about me, i.e. all the different items on the electronic verification to match identity and address so I can see how many items I score.

Or don't I have any right of access at all? In which case, how do I know that information about me is being stored correctly? Is there an official body I can write to, enclose my £5 administration fee (or whatever it is) and have access to this information under the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, or whatever? Can anybody clarify please

dunstonh

How can I, as a private individual, find out exactly what it shows up about me, i.e. all the different items on the electronic verification to match identity and address so I can see how many items I score.

Pay me £1.95 and I will do one on you and show you the output.

Joking aside, it uses the credit check system and just like the credit score, we dont get lots of detail. Just a summary, code numbers, a score and a few key points. We dont get to see the individual data that makes up the scores.

Or don't I have any right of access at all? In which case, how do I know that information about me is being stored correctly? Is there an official body I can write to, enclose my £5 administration fee (or whatever it is) and have access to this information under the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, or whatever? Can anybody clarify please

Go to Experian and do a credit check on yourself and you will see most of the information. The rest of it uses publicly available data (like phonebook, electoral roll etc).

Broadback

I knew there was more than one reason to dislike the EU, all jobsworths! However I would like to thank dunstohn for all the information, still not happy, but at least I'm not unhappy in complete ignorance!

Saver-Rob

I always have to prove my ID despite being born here and never having done anything wrong in my life!

mazza111

My OH had serious problems opening a bank account when he moved here. He moved into my home, therefore didn't have any bills in his name. He doesn't have a passport as he can travel anywhere in Europe on his National ID card (chip n pin) which holds a lot of information about him, along with a print out of all the info held on the chip (curtesy of Belgian Police), however a National ID card along with European Driving License is not enough for a lot of banks. He's on Electoral Register for our and European elections.

The best bit is....

he works for the company who makes the bank's ATMs :rotfl:


It's getting harder for everyone to open bank accounts, i had the same problem trying to open a current account (no overdraught), just a basic current account for my daughter to have her first wages paid into it. Bearing in mind, she had been with a certain bank for savings since she was born, but alas as she only had a passport and no household bills, she was refused. Ended up moving my account and all her's and brother's savings accounts to another bank.

savetilibleed

Saver-Rob wrote: »

I always have to prove my ID despite being born here and never having done anything wrong in my life!

Yep know what you mean, same with me. I've even in the last few months had an enhanced CRB check done on me. It was no surprise to have it "clean". The surprise was it was so quick - 2 weeks. Wondered just now if my copy could have been used for ID. Sorry going off topic a bit.

fullstop

Applied for a one year fixed bond yesterday from First Save , was a bit different they did not ask for any utility bills to be sent, it was all sorted with a passport number or driving licence number, so things should move quicker with nothing to send through the post from this end.

http://www.firstsave.co.uk/

autopetfeeder

First Save as in First Save the subsidiary of First Bank of Nigeria?

Yes, I guess its possible they could have different ID requirements.....:rotfl: