Santander Cash ISA ID question.

savit4l8er

I was in the a branch last week and was advised it was easiest to open an ISA in branch becasue it can all be done in one go. They said on line you have to send ID and so on. Is this correct? If so what is the ID? In the past I am sure a search with a credit ref agency for ID purposes has been done. Does it make a difference if you have a Santander cheque account?

osian

In the past, I have taken ID in with me and it has not been asked for. Today I went to open one of their ISA's (and we hold several accounts with them) and we were asked for ID and it was scanned etc.

Today we took our drivers licence and that was accepted.

KiKi

Even in branch you have to take ID, it's just that it's all done there and then. With an online account you have to send ID in or take it into a branch for verification.

I have lots of Santander products but I have to take ID every time I want to open something new, so I can't imagine that having an account with them will make a difference. I might be wrong, though - I'm just going on my own experience.

KiKi

savit4l8er

Thank you for your reply. I have re read my post and probably not made it clear. I would rather apply on line so what is this business about sending ID?

joyceyjo

Any thime i've applied for a new Santander a/c online it has been a long drawn out process. They always email you and ask you to post them ID or bring it to a branch despite the fact you have done this for every other account you have with them.

KiKi

When you open a new savings product you have to send ID to Santander. Usually a passport / photo driving license and a utility bill with your address.

If I remember rightly, though, the bill has to be an actual one (which they send back) but the passport can be a copy - and so I had to get it photocopied at a Santander branch and they had to stamp it to say it was a copy of the original before I sent it off.

Because I had to go in branch anyway, it probably would have been easier just to do it there and then!

HTH
KiKi

ses6jwg

There are two parts to the ID check in Santander.

The ID check, which verifies that you exist. if you an existing Santander customer who has opened a new account since the Abbey migration to Partenon since late 2008, chances are you have already been "Verified" on the system. This part of the ID check is a driving license, passport, or other acceptable documentation such as a benefits letter + bank statement etc. If you are a former A&L customer, who has not opened an account since the migration of June 2010, chances are you will be asked for this ID. Sometimes, this can be done electronically however if you have an odd house name or commonly use your second name as your first etc, anything like this, it can be an unreliable system.

The second part, the "Impersonation Check", verifies that the person who is opening the account is the person they say they are. On the phone or internet, this done via your security login or via Level 2 Security questions with an Advisor. In the branch, this is done via a signature check from a debit card most commonly, or again via a photo ID such as pport or driving license.

In my experience, it is actually quicker to do things via the branch.

savit4l8er

Ok all, thanks for your replies. After the time it took them to transfer my ISA away couple of years back I swore I would not go back. The ISA is tempting for new cash but at the rates concerned just now it does not make much difference on £5100. With such a long procedure and the quality of their service I will avoid them and just look at an easier option for now. Probably a blessing in disguise. :beer: