Nationwide new account - BEWARE

student100

It's possible for me to apply for an account online without showing any ID to anyone in person.

They use the electoral roll and credit check as one proof of ID, and they send a letter to my home address. I have to sign this letter and send it back - the fact I can do so suggests that it got to the right address.

Whether this leaves sufficient potential for fraud is questionable. If it was a big problem no doubt security would have been tightened already by now.

YorkshireBoy

I also opened my FlexAccount (in branch) without showing ID.

I wasn't overly concerned because there are other safeguards in place to prevent someone opening an account in your name.

For example:

• The applicant is asked to confirm how long they've been at their current address (years and months) and this is compared to the credit search result.
• You're asked for your current bank details (valid sort code and account number combinations are shared within the industry).
• You're asked your salary (and employers name/address, telephone number, time with employer etc), which is then compared (using Experian's Hunter fraud prevention system) to the details you gave the last time you applied for credit/banking facilities.

MummyOf1_2

well i never gave them my halifax details just my name address etc, ive been on to head office who are backing me up by saying regardless id MUST be shown, it is also against the law for them to do this. For a building society to not even to double check if a person is who they are saying they are is crazy, they probably couldn't be bothered, too much work for them.

Any other bank etc always asks for photographic id, im more than happy to show them likewise with the nationwide but they refused to look at it.

Anyway head office are dealing with it at the mo.

MummyOf1_2

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I also opened my FlexAccount (in branch) without showing ID.

I wasn't overly concerned because there are other safeguards in place to prevent someone opening an account in your name.

For example:

• The applicant is asked to confirm how long they've been at their current address (years and months) and this is compared to the credit search result.
• You're asked for your current bank details (valid sort code and account number combinations are shared within the industry).
• You're asked your salary (and employers name/address, telephone number, time with employer etc), which is then compared (using Experian's Hunter fraud prevention system) to the details you gave the last time you applied for credit/banking facilities.

None of that stops people opening an account as ive just explained, they can still do so.

YorkshireBoy

MummyOf1 wrote: »

Any other bank etc always asks for photographic id...

Really? Within the last 12-18 months I've opened accounts with Barclays, Alliance & Leicester, LTSB, et al and NEVER had to show photographic ID.

None of that stops people opening an account as ive just explained, they can still do so.

You may be correct (in a 100% foolproof sense), which is why I said I wasn't "overly concerned". However, they'd need to know so much about me that the chances of them succeeding are slim to none IMO. Are you familiar with the Hunter Fraud Prevention system?

tiff

I havent given photographic ID either, just a bank statement and utility bill.

olly300

Halifax do open accounts without having proper ID online . However if you come to withdraw money they can stop you withdrawing it until they have seen your passport or driving licence plus utility bill at a branch.

They claim they send out letters telling you to take your ID to a branch and then they get very sarcastic on the phone.

Strangely they have no problems accepting money from in properly verified accounts.

Poppy9

To the OP: Isn't your real gripe you failed their credit check?

Tori_Bellatrix

MummyOf1 wrote: »

Any other bank etc always asks for photographic id, im more than happy to show them likewise with the nationwide but they refused to look at it. .

Not always .. I've opened a Citibank and A&L account this year and didn't need to provide photographic ID for either

Mark7799

Originally Posted by YorkshireBoy
I also opened my FlexAccount (in branch) without showing ID.

I wasn't overly concerned because there are other safeguards in place to prevent someone opening an account in your name.

For example:
The applicant is asked to confirm how long they've been at their current address (years and months) and this is compared to the credit search result.
You're asked for your current bank details (valid sort code and account number combinations are shared within the industry).
You're asked your salary (and employers name/address, telephone number, time with employer etc), which is then compared (using Experian's Hunter fraud prevention system) to the details you gave the last time you applied for credit/banking facilities.

MummyOf1 wrote: »

None of that stops people opening an account as ive just explained, they can still do so.

How do you know what checks are made after you leave the Branch and that in the event of inconsistencies the application is declined?