BFPO addresses and savings warning

genieuk

A fortnight ago I received a letter from Barclays asking me to proove my BFPO status for my ISA (moved last year and changed address)either by copy of ID card or pay statement as I am not working can't do that and have been told not supply copy of Id card either.

This is supposedly due to the HMRC lumping us under the same umbrella as PO boxes abroad and other like addresses. WE maybe tax evaders, now we are supposed to supply a UK permanant address when opening accounts.
Spoke to Barclays and they have made a note on my account, I can see the reasoning behind this but am very annoyed yet again by the treatment and how we feel 2nd class in trying to get everyday products.[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Simon/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

The Army Families Federation (AFF) have a very small piece on this in their journal

http://view.vcab.com/showvcab.aspx?vcabid=cngSpeclSegrhl on page 20.

Trying_to_be_good

ISAs are only normally allowed for UK residents, over 16 years of age.

Crown servants serving overseas (and their spouses/civil partners) are also allowed to open ISAs, but obviously there has to be some check that you are a crown servant serving overseas (as opposed to an ex-pat living overseas), so I'd've thought a pay statement or ID card would be the logical check.

Why've you been advised not to provide a copy of your service card? You're applying for the ISA from outside the UK on the grounds you're a Service person, or spouse/partner, so they already know you're military.

ICATQ

Trying_to_be_good wrote: »

Why've you been advised not to provide a copy of your service card?

This is a security recommendation that non governmental organisations do not need to have a copy of anyones ID card for obvious reasons.

Cat695

Trying_to_be_good wrote: »

ISAs are only normally allowed for UK residents, over 16 years of age.

Crown servants serving overseas (and their spouses/civil partners) are also allowed to open ISAs, but obviously there has to be some check that you are a crown servant serving overseas (as opposed to an ex-pat living overseas), so I'd've thought a pay statement or ID card would be the logical check.

Why've you been advised not to provide a copy of your service card? You're applying for the ISA from outside the UK on the grounds you're a Service person, or spouse/partner, so they already know you're military.

who don't pay tax to the UK.....forces personel still pay tax and NI when serving overseas. Including ops

it wouldn't suprise me if its just the banks finding ways of not paying you a higher interest rate.

genieuk

I have previously opened ISA's via post without issue. The ISA in question was opened whilst living at an address in the UK I then changed address and now some months later they are questioning my status probably due to the end of the financial year. I now have an account with ING originally Kaupthing who were happy to accept BFPO addresses but ING's policy differs.

As ICATQ stated we have been specifically told not to give copy of ID card why because it would be a security risk and anyone could copy it. Also as I am not working how would my husbands pay statement prove my status.

Andy_L

Would a letter from the CO with the unit stamp, similar to the one used with the forces discount directory, do?

Paul.J.M

The usual BFPO nightmares strike again!! I spoke with HMRC direct and a lovely lady said to me you do not have to prove that you are a Crown Servant or serving member of the forces serving overseas, she said the onus is totally on the Bank/BS that you have the ISA with, in other words if they do not believe you it is up to them to speak to the HMRC to find out.
After several letters from my BS asking me to prove my entitlement to have an ISA (all of which went into the bin) and i took the HMRC advice and ignored the letters. The Bank/BS are being lazy let them prove your not entitled not you.

Trying_to_be_good

Are HMRC allowed to tell bank and building societies you work for the Crown? How do HMRC know they are banks/building societies, and not terrorists (overly dramatic, I know)? I'd've thought that is a massive data protection breach.

EDIT - checked the HMRC rules (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/isa/isa-guidance-notes-2008.pdf):

"3.10 Where ISA managers receive information suggesting that an investor does not, or may not meet the residence qualification (for example, an address outside the UK is entered on the application form), the investor should be asked for written confirmation that he or she does meet the residence qualification.


3.11 In these cases, ISA managers may continue to treat subscriptions as valid for 90 days while they make enquiries."

michael1983l

ICATQ wrote: »

This is a security recommendation that non governmental organisations do not need to have a copy of anyones ID card for obvious reasons.

This is not a recommendation its the law. It is illigal to make photocopies of military ID cards, I suggest you turn your card over and read the back. This was on my F1250 in the RAF at least