Proof of identity & address

Firsttimebuyer_4

Why are only utility bills accepted as proof of residence? (water/gas/elec/phone and council tax)

Why is not credit card bills and other bills accepted?

I applied to open a flexaccount with nationwide today and had to go back home to get a water bill as they did not accept my tenancy agreement, mobile bill, credit card bill, barclays statements, payslip etc.

I don't get it so please enlighten me

lkoky

strange usually a months old bank statement will do.

Anon

I don't know, but I suspect that they stress utilities as they cannot move ie they are tied to the specific address, whereas bank statements, credit cards etc could refer to a previous address (as you can move and move the account at short notice, ie you may no longer live at the address stated on the statement).

Anon

jonesMUFCforever

It's bewildering what some banks etc take and not take.
Surely everyone should take a bank statement within last 3 months as every personal customer with that bank will have been verified by the bank either as a new or existing customer since 9/11 and government regulations.
Mobile phone bills are not acceptable as I believe they can be sent to any address.
The tenancy agreement would be acceptable by some banks as long as it was drawn by a reputable known letting agency.If it is a private agreement perhaps this would be why they refused to take it.
As an account opener for a bank the pressure we are under to get Identification and address confirmation correct is immense so if it was me who you saw when opening the account I would be cautious(don't worry I don't work for Nationwide) as well because we only have 10 days to submit all this to a verification centre or all hell breaks loose.
Good luck with your account!

Dora_the_Explorer_5

Why is not credit card bills and other bills accepted?

Because they are not proof of residence.

Firsttimebuyer_4

It's not difficult to change the name of the utility bill for a short amount of time, nor is it difficult to make a fake copy (but that's another story).

I know banks use the electoral roll for verification, but I hold an EEA passport and not elegible to vote so i'm not on the register. I've got a notice of correction in my credit file but the computer still say "nooo". I have the same problem every time I do something with a financial institution and it takes weeks of manual intervention.

What I don't understand is why banks use the electoral roll? Why not use council tax information? My name is on the council tax bill so why on earth don't banks use this as verification?

I've been in the UK since 1999 but it truly baffles me how things are done here. Very backward and always the slowest possible way with no logic whatsoever.

dunstonh

What I don't understand is why banks use the electoral roll? Why not use council tax information? My name is on the council tax bill so why on earth don't banks use this as verification?

They do. Indeed, it is one of the easiest documents to use for proof of address when there isnt a home visit.

I've been in the UK since 1999 but it truly baffles me how things are done here. Very backward and always the slowest possible way with no logic whatsoever.

The money laundering regulations are European rules and not specific to the UK. The logic and reasoning behind them is quite clear although its not just about money laundering nowadays but benefit fraud and tax evasion.

Here is the current list of acceptable items as taken from the industry standard verification of identity form:

Home visit
Solicitor letter confirming completion of house purchase or land registration
electoral roll check
Most recent mortgage statement
Current local authority tax bill
bank/building society/credit union statement or passbook
Utility bill (not mobile phone)
current UK/EU photo driving licence
Current uk driving licence (old style)
state pension or benefits book/notification letter
Experian electronic money laundering check

as400

"Why are only utility bills accepted as proof of residence? (water/gas/elec/phone and council tax)"

They are not, other proofs are accepted.

However banks will ring these utility institutions and with this information on the forms EG account number name/address confirm the accounts are live and proper.

Its a combat against fraud method, they tend to do every one in five, spot checks etc.

Some other financial documents are harder to verify.

Most of the people who work on customer services on utilities are stupid and will give away lots of information, thus making customer identification to the benefit of the banks easier.