Trying to open account - bank won't accept certified copy of ID

thriftymanc

I'm trying to open a new savings account and the bank need proof of ID. From their list of accepted documents, I only have two things - a recent utility bill in my name, and a photocopy of my drivers' licence.

I don't know a single person who meets the criteria for certifying this sort of thing, so I used the Post Office's Identity Checking service to certify the copy of my licence and sent off my forms.

Three weeks later I got my forms back with a letter saying they can't accept the copy as it hasn't been certified properly - it needs to have the person's home address and phone number on the bank.

I went back to the PO and managed to get the same member of staff. They won't do this as it's not part of the service and they don't want to give out personal details (I don't blame them either!).

I phoned the bank but they're useless. They just told me to send a different bit of ID instead. I can't as all the other documents acceptable to them are in my partner's name.

What can I do? Surely, as it's an official nationally recognised service that I've paid for, the bank should accept it? Other than the personal details, it's fine - it's got a signature, an official Post Office stamp and says 'this is a true likeness of the original' or whatever it needs to say.

Comyface

What bank is it? Would they accept a certified copy from one of their own staff? Could you maybe go to one of their branches to get that done?

thriftymanc

It's The AA so it's an online account, grr

It wasn't this hard when I opened a couple of savings accounts last year - no one needed certified ID then!

ChiefGrasscutter

I ran into problems with the PO's service.
The problem is that the actual person doing the signing (the counter clerks) are not themselves FSA certified as individuals though the PO as an organisation may well be. So the person signing cannot supply their FSA authorisation number: and hence the problems....

I really should get round to putting in a formal complaint to the PO about this as they are basically offering a "service" which is not what is its claimed to be.

rb10

Take your ID into any Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch; they will be able to certify your ID for you, for free, and will sent it straight to the AA as well (so make sure you take any account/reference numbers that you've been given by AA Savings).

soulsaver

rb10 wrote: »

Take your ID into any Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch; they will be able to certify your ID for you, for free, and will sent it straight to the AA as well (so make sure you take any account/reference numbers that you've been given by AA Savings).

Or a Birmingham Midshires branch - they are the deposit takers for the AA (and are also part of HBoS bit of Lloyds Group).

rb10

soulsaver wrote: »

Or a Birmingham Midshires branch - they are the deposit takers for the AA (and are also part of HBoS bit of Lloyds Group).

I thought all the BM branches closed down some time ago? Aren't they just a telephone and internet bank now?

soulsaver

rb10 wrote: »

I thought all the BM branches closed down some time ago? Aren't they just a telephone and internet bank now?

Your're right. I didn't know that Halifax had closed or rebranded BMids branches in 2006. Being a brummie but living in NW for the last 14 years it had escaped my notice.
http://www.answers.com/topic/birmingham-midshires