Failed electronic identity check

bryanb

As above really, anybody know what banks check?
Presumably electoral roll ( I'm on it, have been for years) What else?

penrhyn

Experian or similar?

bryanb

penrhyn wrote: »

Experian or similar?

But surely that would only give a check of creditworthiness not of identity? They are perfectly happy to open the (savings) account if I send utility bill etc

rb10

The Experian/Equifax check for identification only checks that someone of that name, living at that address, and with that DOB, etc, exists.

If you have credit accounts elsewhere, then it's a fair guess that you actually exist! The ID check doesn't look at the status of those accounts (i.e. in arrears or not, credit limits, etc).

So provided they can see sufficient proof (from credit reference agencies and the electoral role) that the details you have given are correct, then this is satisfactory for opening an account.

Note though that not all banks use this system yet (e.g. Abbey & Barclays don't), so even if you can generally be verified electronically, you'll sometimes need paper proof.

ed123_2

....I have had my credit records from Experian, Equifax & Callcredit (following a hack re Guardian website)...they contain all your finacial transactions-current accounts /credit cards(credit limits & payment records), savings accounts-identity checks re money laundering regulations, also records of BALs, CCJs and CIFAS filings, plus address/time at address, dob and electoral roll status. You can add a comment to your files and in one case add a password(to stop credit being opened up in your name). They also share information and have other computer records ( which are not available to us) with detailed financial information about you.

bryanb

ed123 wrote: »

....I have had my credit records from Experian, Equifax & Callcredit (following a hack re Guardian website)...they contain all your finacial transactions-current accounts (credit limits & payment records), savings accounts-identity checks re money laundering regulations, also records of BALs, CCJs and CIFAS filings, plus address/time at address, dob and electoral roll status. You can add a comment to your files and in one case add a password(to stop credit being opened up in your name). They also share information and have other computer records ( which are not available to us) with detailed financial information about you.

Thanks, but if all that info is available to them there's no way I could fail.

cottager

bryanb wrote: »

Thanks, but if all that info is available to them there's no way I could fail.

Not unless like us you have a weird situation going on with your address, where your correct postal address differs from the one on the electoral roll (which is also correct, by one yardstick), and differs again from the PO database which many online systems employ whereby you auto-select your address via postcode.

We consistently fail online ID checks for what I believe are probably these reasons: any one of them, or more in combination. I think we know how this has arisen over 4 decades, but to explain in detail would take a long post! -- but essentially historical and geographical (and quite possibly bureaucratic) reasons. It was never an issue when everything was 'manual', but since online ID checking started being introduced we've fallen foul of it, and it's tricky to see how it could entirely be put right.

But the good news is that probably you and the vast majority of people don't have this issue

bryanb

Thanks cottager, that is quite likely as when my parents lived here they named the house, since it's been ours we've dropped the name and just use the number.