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How do banks / financial institutions verify who you are - and how to improve chances
jfh7gwa
Posts: 450 Forumite
I've mentioned this before on here, and I guess this could go in either the credit card, savings or bank account sections.
But essentially my partner and I have applied for several things online over the last 2 or 3 months where his application sails through fine, but I am subject to all manner of checks, despite both of our credit histories being roughly similar (no bad debt markers or late payments, no CCJs, both British nationals, employed, on electoral role, both lived at our address 6+ years).
Examples:
- Both applied for Halifax Reward accounts.
His details input fine, smooth sailing, didn't even have to send back a signature mandate form, account opened within the week. Mine? Still not opened since early December due to needing signature mandate form, photographic ID, postal address proof. Neither of us have been customers of them before (partner thought he had many years ago, turned out he was wrong, so definitely not got any old associations with HBOS group).
- Credit card applications.
His went through fine with an instant decision, mine needed a few additional security checks (I suspect manual review? took a few days anyway, eventually accepted, with a stupidly high credit limit too oddly enough). Neither of us have been customers of them before, ever.
- This week, we both open the West Brom ISA instant access account.
My application is suspended, pending proof of ID, I'm waiting on instructions in the welcome pack. Partner's went through fine, apparently is fully open just 2 days after submitting the online form. Neither of us have been customers of them before, ever.
What's going on? I've had credit reports done from the main providers, there's NOTHING dodgey on me. All data like name, DOB, is accurate. Even our address (a funny house name, we're 12A) is fine, the same on my partner and me (so surely if it was an issue on mine, it would be an issue on his...).
So can anyone advise me, for future reference, how I can improve my chances of avoiding these paperwork delays, in the same way my partner seems to be able to? I guess this is more of a "ID trust building" question, rather than a "credit score building" question. Gah!
But essentially my partner and I have applied for several things online over the last 2 or 3 months where his application sails through fine, but I am subject to all manner of checks, despite both of our credit histories being roughly similar (no bad debt markers or late payments, no CCJs, both British nationals, employed, on electoral role, both lived at our address 6+ years).
Examples:
- Both applied for Halifax Reward accounts.
His details input fine, smooth sailing, didn't even have to send back a signature mandate form, account opened within the week. Mine? Still not opened since early December due to needing signature mandate form, photographic ID, postal address proof. Neither of us have been customers of them before (partner thought he had many years ago, turned out he was wrong, so definitely not got any old associations with HBOS group).
- Credit card applications.
His went through fine with an instant decision, mine needed a few additional security checks (I suspect manual review? took a few days anyway, eventually accepted, with a stupidly high credit limit too oddly enough). Neither of us have been customers of them before, ever.
- This week, we both open the West Brom ISA instant access account.
My application is suspended, pending proof of ID, I'm waiting on instructions in the welcome pack. Partner's went through fine, apparently is fully open just 2 days after submitting the online form. Neither of us have been customers of them before, ever.
What's going on? I've had credit reports done from the main providers, there's NOTHING dodgey on me. All data like name, DOB, is accurate. Even our address (a funny house name, we're 12A) is fine, the same on my partner and me (so surely if it was an issue on mine, it would be an issue on his...).
So can anyone advise me, for future reference, how I can improve my chances of avoiding these paperwork delays, in the same way my partner seems to be able to? I guess this is more of a "ID trust building" question, rather than a "credit score building" question. Gah!
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Comments
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I've lived here for decades. I'm on the electoral roll, and have several bank & credit card accounts, no mortgage and I'm ex-directory, rural village in home counties of UK, address format matches the offical P.O database exactly.
Every time, and I do mean every time I open a savings account I fail electronic ID and have to send in paper ID and address certification......by way of paper copies of my latest credit card bill - thats the same ones that can be verified by reference to the credit agencies.0 -
ChiefGrasscutter wrote: »address format matches the offical P.O database exactly.
Oh yes, forgot to add that I've checked this too, against the official PO address DB.
Sorry to hear you're also as unverifiable as me!
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Interesting... I just did a 192.com search and my partner comes up in the People results, from his PARENTS house (other occupants are listed as his brother, his younger sister, his mum and his dad), that was from many years ago. And also from 2010 at our house.
(I'm the one that fills in the form - we are both on the electoral register that can't be sold commercially - or should be.)
But I don't appear in the search results, not from my parent's house from years and years ago, nor our houses!! (Inc the current one, living here for over 6 years).
We both vote at every election.
Not sure what else to do now....0 -
You didn't actually say that your electoral roll entry shows up on your credit report.
If it doesn't, the council may have spelt your name wrong. Do you always give your name in the same format?
Since 192.com doesn't find your electoral roll entry either, that looks like prime suspect."It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis0 -
The electoral roll info did show up on the reports when I requested them (don't have them to hand) I think.
Realising that you may be right re: the name spelling (or something else as silly as that), I emailed my local council dept who deal with the roll admin, they replied this (very speedy response!):I have checked the details we hold for your property at [MY CURRENT ADDRESS] and can confirm that the name [FIRSTNAME SURNAME] is registered for voting purposes in respect of that address. I have issued yourself and [PARTNER'S NAME] with official confirmation of registration letters to your home address, which you may, should you wish pass on to any credit referencing agency as proof of registration.
I can also confirm that the canvass form we send out every year to confirm the details of who should be registered at the property and how their names should be shown etc has been returned consistently every year so there have been no lapses in your registration.
Your name was amended per your request in 2008 from [FIRSTNAME MIDDLE-INITIAL SURNAME] to [FIRSTNAME SURNAME], this change would be shown in the new register that would have been published on 1st December 2008.
I have also checked the details that we held for your property at [PREVIOUS ADDRESS] and can advise that we had you registered there as [FIRSTNAME MIDDLE-INITIAL SURNAME].
Regarding online electoral registers, may I inform you that there is no facility to check the electoral register online. There are many marketing companies such as 192.com who claim to be an online Electoral Register, However, this is not the case.
I hope this information has been of assistance to you, however, should you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
So no obvious issues there!0 -
Realising that you may be right re: the name spelling (or something else as silly as that), I emailed my local council dept who deal with the roll admin, they replied this (very speedy response!):
...
So no obvious issues there!
It does confirm a name (format?) change about 3 years ago, maybe this is what causes the banks to become careful with your identity - to make sure it's not an impostor using them to confirm a fake name change. Are both of your own names showing up as aliases and/or are you always giving both when asked what previous names you have been using?
Are all your current creditors using the same format for your name too?
Maybe it needs to roll off the same way as payment records, i.e. 6 years? On the other hand, maybe it doesn't matter after 3 years, but if you still had problems before mid-January, maybe they were using data that *might* be less than 3 years old.
It's good to know that 192.com only have access to the public version of the electoral register -- presumably they can till check the real one wit an actual identity check that is recorded on the credit file, well, because it happens
One more thing that can lend credibility to your partner's identity but not yours if there's a landline registered to your partners name (i.e. published in the phonebook to confirm the address).Enjoy the silence...0 -
It does confirm a name (format?) change about 3 years ago, maybe this is what causes the banks to become careful with your identity - to make sure it's not an impostor using them to confirm a fake name change.
That does make sense - until she pointed it out I hadn't remembered I'd removed my initial from the form one year (i don't tend to use the middle name at all).Are both of your own names showing up as aliases and/or are you always giving both when asked what previous names you have been using?
No, no alias names on any reports. On financial applications e.g. the most recent West Brom ISA application, there wasn't anywhere to write "I'm Alison Jones aka Alison D. Jones" (or something like that) that I remember.Are all your current creditors using the same format for your name too?
I'm not sure; I hadn't realised that changing from Alison D. Jones to Alison Jones on accounts mattered, as long as it was consistently provided in the correct spelling. For years I've used Alison Jones alone and not written my middle initial... again, didn't realise that would matter
I've just checked and e.g. my credit card is using Alison Jones.. so definitely have credit history without the initial.
My current account debit card is showing Alison D. Jones on the card front though. I've called them to request a change on the account, apparently that's being processed within the next few working days.Maybe it needs to roll off the same way as payment records, i.e. 6 years? On the other hand, maybe it doesn't matter after 3 years, but if you still had problems before mid-January, maybe they were using data that *might* be less than 3 years old.
True! I wish someone could confirm it though! i.e. financial institutions - alas I fear asking them why I needed additional checks probably wouldn't get me anywhere (probably wouldn't get anyone that could tell me easily from Customer Services, probably might not tell me due to not wanting to reveal their security arrangements).It's good to know that 192.com only have access to the public version of the electoral register -- presumably they can till check the real one wit an actual identity check that is recorded on the credit file, well, because it happens
Agreed!One more thing that can lend credibility to your partner's identity but not yours if there's a landline registered to your partners name (i.e. published in the phonebook to confirm the address).
Landline is registered to my name (he's the secondary account holder), but we're ex-directory. Would that count?0 -
I have used the electronic money laundering ID service for about 8 years now. I find the worst problems are house names rather than house number of if its a 1a or 2b number. Indeed, if I see a client with a house name rather than number I will usually revert back to the old way in advance just because the odds of failure are so high.
BT phone number and electoral roll are easy things to help you pass. Having correct data on your file is a must. Inconsistent data of incorrect data causes conflict. Not being ex-directory helps.I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.0 -
Family members often have similar names and live at the same address. If you're Alison Jones, Alison D Jones could easily be your mother or your daughter, for all the credit reference agencies know. Using electoral rolls as identity checks is a fraught business."It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis0
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Just for the record, I've written a letter to each of my bank accounts / financial institutions and requested they change my name from Alison D. Jones to just Alison Jones (for example).
Hopefully this should make things easier in the future. it certainly can't make opening accounts any more hassle, can it?! :rotfl:0
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