'The bank ID farce: online accounts don't accept online statements' blog discussion

JimmyTheWig

I’ve just been locked out of one of my online accounts, through no fault of my own

I'm not sure anyone else on these boards would get away with such a statement. Come on, Martin, how did it happen?

Certified in this case means I need to find a solicitor to sign the copy

All of this would be made so much easier if they used the same rules as counter-signing a passport application. Why not allow a teacher, health visitor, accountant, etc sign to certify the document?


And out of interest, Martin, how long do you normally keep paper documents filed before shredding them?

lostinrates

I am predominantly a housewife. I have occasional income to an account still in my maiden name, which is not so odd, I didn't think. It makes sense for bills etc to be in my partners name straight from his account. But this, it turns out has put be at a considerable disadvantage, because in my married name, and in fact maiden name, I have very little proof of identity.

MSE_Martin

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I'm not sure anyone else on these boards would get away with such a statement. Come on, Martin, how did it happen?

I dont enjoy the same anonymity as other posters on here, so am always deliberately vague when talking about my finances and bank products - for security purposes.

AFCBdave

I have a Barclaycard which I don't use that often, but last month they sent me a new card and an attractive balance transfer offer.

On phoning to take up their offer I was asked a number of security questions, some of which seemed odd because I had never given them the information that they were asking me for.

On being transfered to 'Fraud Prevention', I was told that I had given incorrect answers to all of the security questions. These included factual information like the last three digits of my work phone number and my last postal address as well as more vague questions such as my email address (I have several) and who do bank with (I bank with two banks).

I politely pointed out to the gentleman (who was several continents away from the first chap) that the answers that I gave were in fact correct while it was likely to be their data that was inaccurate or out of date - an offence under the Data Protection Act as it happens.

When delving further, it appears that they had a work phone number from a company I left 8 years ago, along with coresponding email address, and they wanted the bank that I banked with when I took the card out. That was my first student bank account with Barclays in 1982 which lasted 6 weeks!

To cap it all, I was instructed to go into 'my local branch' (I haven't had one for 27 years) with proof of ID and address - passport and utility bill. This would resolve everything and I could continue to use my account and phone up for information. I wasn't convinced, but that's what his script said.

Popped into a very helpful Barclays branch where they confessed to having no idea why I had been sent there, but the counter manager made it her mission to sort the mess out for me. And when we finally got through on the phone (after 2 x 40 minute sessions) they didn't want any other information confirmed so presumable were happy to continue to hold out of date information. Fortunately the counter manager took it upon herself to update the information on their system.

The chap behind me in the queue appeared to have a similar problem.

ticketcollector

When I tried to open a new metro bank account the ID they wanted was stupid.
An addressed utility bill, but it had to be a certain type from a restrictive list. No mobile, no water, not virgin media even for landline.
3 months of statements from my other bank, not online ones.
Passport
Debit Card from above bank statements.
And a pound coin to open the account with.

Luckily I'm a premier customer with my other bank, so just went to their nearest branch, and asked for the statements with addresses on.
Was told by the minion on the front desk not possible.
Moaned at them and got passed over to the premier account manager and got the statements printed out and stamped with the branch stamp.

Went back to metro bank and was now told that the statements were not good enough, despite being on bank headed paper, stamped and certified.
Went into p***ed off mode and they said they'd see what the ID department could do. (they always have departments for everything).

Amazingly they accepted the docs, did a debit card address check with experian an opened my account.

I also have set up a special question and answer on all my bank accounts which only the bank knows the answer to. Kinda a reverse of when they try to verify me.

scotsbob

Last time I went into a bank branch to try to open an account, they wanted me to show a gas or electric bil.

We must be the only country in the world where you have to be a gas or electricity customer before you can have a bank account, it's ludicrous.

luxor4t

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

my employer has just moved to online payslips that they ask you not to print out unless you really have to. I'll bet they don't satisfy bank or mortgage company requirements when it comes to proving your salary. They've also already said that they won't issue any old format payslips so i think there's going to be a lot of people left in a hole.

They have this system in DH's office. The printer jams every pay day ....

ChiefGrasscutter

TheGrant wrote: »

I don't think solicitors are actually difficult to find. I suspect cost is the issue for most folk. Mine does it for nothing for clients. The Post Office do three documents for 7 quid. Bargain. You can get locked out of two more accounts and make it really worthwhile.

For the umpteenth time.....
The Post office's service is not generally acceptable as certified ID for banks etc because, as I have repeated many times, the individual actually doing the signing (ie the PO counter clerk) are not themselves FSA authorised despite the PO as an institution being so authorised. They cannot thus sign giving their FSA number so the countersigned form is not accepted by many banks as valid certified ID.

ticketcollector

luxor4t wrote: »

They have this system in DH's office. The printer jams every pay day ....

My ex employer uses loads of toner cartridges every week printing just over 5,000 pay slips!

jamesd

The Post Office service is acceptable to the Land Registry for transferring a freehold, though. A fairly high value transaction.