Common Mistake from Bank, do not realise

adindas

Quite often the bank keep asking people Home Telephone Number in the Contact detail Information the online Banking team do not realize that some people do not have home telephone number. These might include, students, people who are living in a share accommodation, etc.

In the past it is very relevant but nowadays with mobile technology people do not really need a Land-line. Also quite often people change provider to look for the best deal.

The above query is not relevant to me as I already have few bank a/c. But I have seen the people keep complaining about this.

I raise this issue to discus whether the online Banking team need to find a way around to replace this information requirement.

ChiefGrasscutter

Probably done for ID requirements.
Checking for a landline number against the BT database is just one more "test" they can use to electronically verify your ID.

I'm still waiting for what/when they are going to find as an alternative to bank/utility statements to verify address once we are all 100% online and all have no paper statements available.

That said, any business/person offering its products or services to me without supplying a landline number (and hence traceable) is wasting their time - they won't get anything from me.

JuicyJesus

Many people (read most) still do have a landline. And if they do, it is a very reliable method of getting hold of people outside of office hours.

Any good bank will understand if you say you don't have one, because as you say it is increasingly common to not have one. I didn't for a period of a year, and it didn't go against me in any way (I still wouldn't except for having to use BT for broadband).

opinions4u

I'm going back to the days where nobody had a mobile, or if they did they were a yuppie plonker with a brick ....

.... but loans to those without a landline were significantly more likely to go in to arrears and credit scoring systems reflected this with phoneless applicants almost certain to be declined.

No idea how the risks stand in 2011.

adindas

Fully agree, I also see that it is one of the reliable method to check the address.

But nowadays although it is not a land line, people could easily get Home UK telephone phone number using SKYPE with a small fee.

RadoJo

I have never known a land line to be a requirement without which an account cannot be opened - none of my bank accounts have a land line number attached to them (even though I do have one) and this hasn't caused any problems.

MoneySaverLog

I don't believe they can identify you from a home phone number, I have a landline and it is ex-directory and it would not show up on any BT search, as the number is with Vonage.

Nobody calls the landline anyway, and I don't give it out to anyone but family. So if a call was to come in on it, it is either a wrong number or a family member. Anyone else, including the banks can deal with my mobile if I can take the call else my voicemail service.

opinions4u

Last two times my landline rang it was as the result of a relative dying.

adindas

Yes, probably not part of the requirement to open a new bank a/c. But I have seen in the some online banking platforms, they do require a Home telephone number.

They will not let people who want to register to go away unless they have supplied this information.

While the majority will not work, in a few occasions people could cheat/trick the system by supplying the mobile number. Alternatively, they could also supply the relatives or office phone numbers in case they have two phone numbers in the office.

With the exception of the phone number listed in the BT Register, asking people home phone number is probably not relevant anymore.

RadoJo wrote: »

I have never known a land line to be a requirement without which an account cannot be opened - none of my bank accounts have a land line number attached to them (even though I do have one) and this hasn't caused any problems.