Passport certification for First Direct

jeremyinc

Hi Marksfish,

I just rang HMRC and asked them to send out a copy of my tax coding notice, which I then sent to FD and was accepted.

BusinessIsBusiness

This issue highlights the importance of keeping your info up to date. Its not the banks fault you don't keep your details up to date with the likes of hmrc. Which makes it harder to supply something. Yet they are to blame when, after trying and failing to EID you, they ask for further id.

As far as I understand, to EID someone you need to be on the elec roll and have at least 2 credit products regd at your current address. Any slight discrepancy including formatting differences with an address can throw the system off.

Banks are obliged to confirm your id. But its up to them to decide what's sufficient from a risk perspective. ING Direct also ask for certified docs.

A note of advice, if instructions ask for something in particular, don't ignore them and do something different, which you think is fine. If you go to the PO or HSBC etc when that's not what they are asking for- you'll waste no one elses time bur your own. They specifically ask for something for a reason.

Its a nightmare to get a certified document but FD/ ING Direct need someone to certify it with accountability- so a solicitor who is regulated and with an individual reg number would meet FD's risk criteria.

It's up to them to decide what's sufficient. Its clear from this thread most people dont know what hmrc docs are or that you should update your address with them. That's not FDs fault. But does make it harder for you to meet their requirements as a consequence.

BillNBob

FireWyrm wrote: »

I think we're all missing the point. Why on earth would you persist in trying to open a bank account with a bank that makes you jump through more hoops than an illegal immigrant obtaining a job at the local council.

Is there any particular reason why you feel you need to bank with this outfit?

Find someone else more reasonable and less unhelpful.

Exactly...........

I applied on line last week with my husband as a joint account holder, they want him to verify his ID also.
I am not happy with First Direct either, to get documents verified and then to pay to send them through the post securely, I think not.
When I applied I didnt realise there was a £100 at stake.
However as they discovered, we were also account holders about 20 years ago, so we wouldnt be entitled to this £100.

Better banks out there and easier to apply to, tell them where to go................

tipsychick

Hi everyone

I'm self-employed and just wondered if anyone knew if First Direct would accept a "Self Assessment: Notice to Complete a Tax Return" or a "Self Assessment Statement", both come direct from HMRC.

I've just realized I'll need a current account if I want their 3% ISA.

Thanks very much.

tipsychick

To answer my own question, I've just called them and apparently they don't accept either of those HMRC Self-Assessment documents.

The chap I spoke to didn't seem hugely confident in his replies, so I've now emailed them to confirm but it looks like someone else will be getting my £40K ISA pot.

innovate

tipsychick wrote:

I've just realized I'll need a current account if I want their 3% ISA.

.

Have you tried applying? If they find you ok on the Electoral Roll and if the credit search doesn't throw up anything untoward, your application may just sail through without the need for any other documents

msauk

The offices for First Direct are down the road from me - would take me about 20mins to cycle there from home.

40 Wakefield Road, Leeds, LS98 1FD.

After making the enquiry, I was surprised that they would not allow me to bring my passport in person for them to verify my identity directly. In their reply, they state:

I can confirm that we can only accept documents via the post we do not have the facility to verify you in person.

I sympathise with others who have little choice but to pay a solicitor's fee. I recently opened an investment account with TD, whose offices are also based in Leeds. They had no problem at all with my turning up in person with my passport (I didn't even need to make an appointment!). To me, that's far better 'customer service'. I guess folk like me will use the financial incentive to pay for the solicitor to verify the necessary document!

Notjustamum_2

If I'd known about these ridiculously high level ID checks I would never have started my application. They have confirmed the credit check is ok, we have lived at same address for 25 years so electoral roll check OK, we have banked with current bank for over 25 years, never been in debt apart from mortgage (one month left). We were only changing to First Direct as we wanted a small mortgage to cover some home improvements and you have to bank with them to mortgage with them. To get passports or driving licences certified is £20 - £35 at the various local solicitors (x 2 as it is a joint account), so I spent 40 minutes in telephone queue to HMRC to request a duplicate tax coding (I got one in April but it has to be dated within the last 3 months for First Direct), they will send me one but can take up to ONE MONTH as it is "an unnecessary duplicate, the one we issued in April is valid". Now my husband will have to go through the same long queue to request his (IF he gets home before they close) as they can't send one at my request despite me having all the information they need in front of me. I do document checks for enhanced disclosure and barring (CRB) and a letter from HMRC in the current tax year is considered good enough for that. My boss can countersign my passport application but she isn't good enough to then confirm the resulting passport is real for First Direct. If they make it this difficult to OPEN an account then how difficult is it going to be to operate it? Some other lucky bank will be getting our business.......

rnel2158

pinkdalek wrote: »

The organisation is only working to the parameters that have been set by UK law. The application is not face 2 face either. The majority of applications with financial institutions can be verified electronically by credit and voters roll checks, however is the applicant has had several addresses, no previous credit or isn't on the voters roll what else can they do.

With First Direct could you not ask a HSBC branch to certify them for you? Or why not contact First Direct for other alternatives.

I myself am a credit underwriter for a bank and we can accept the following certifiers. A police person, a post office employee, bank branch manager, senior civil servant, teachers, doctors and solicitors. To say that First Direct are restricted to UK law is incorrect as other banks are able to accept certification from various professions. I queried as to why it was only solicitors they could accept and was told it was because they are the only people they can trace. Again this is incorrect as I pointed out that teachers, doctors, police people and post office employees are traceable due to teachers and doctors being on a registered roll. Police people badge numbers and post office and branch managers branch stamps all make these certifiers traceable. I was then told well that’s just who we can accept.

First Direct don’t even know why they can only accept solicitors themselves! I am very dissatisfied as I was not informed at any point in the application and I did phone up (as I have moved address within the last month and assumed I would need to provide such information) that it is only solicitors they accept and if this is the case then it should be made clear before / during the application as they must be aware of solicitor’s extortionate fees for carrying out these requests.

Also just to confirm the bank I am employed with also has no physical presence we too are an online / telephony bank so people who are stating that of course this is the case they have to do it I’m afraid that just is not true First Direct are choosing to be difficult in regards to KYC (Know Your Customer) checks.

Archi_Bald

rnel2158 wrote: »

....Also just to confirm the bank I am employed with also has no physical presence we too are an online / telephony bank

Out of interest, which bank is this? I have only been aware of First Direct as a bank with no Branches (if we ignore those of their parent).