How hard can it be...

max_sand1

... to get the same answer from a company twice?

I applied for a nationwide current account, I would like to take advantage of the free overseas withdrawals as I am abroad quite a bit... anyway... I got accepted and got the usual money laundering ID request. So they want a bank statement as proof of who I am, no problem. They also want either an electricity bill, water bill, mortgage bill or phone bill (not mobile) bill as proof of address (even though my bank statement has my address on it)

I cant supply any of these as I am a tenant and my flatmate is the owner of the flat and he therefore pays all of the bills, I dont pay any except a flat rate rent.

So I called nationwide and the girl says just send the bank statement, this will be fine. So I did, along with a note detailing the conversation.

I then get a letter back saying cant process application as we need x, y or z for proof of address. So im stuck, I dont have any of these bills? How do other people who rent flats get new bank accounts. Are the money laundering laws really this strict. Any ideas?

LittleVoice

The items they list for proof of address are indeed utility bills but they ought to accept items under the proof of name heading as proof of address as long as the same item isn't used for both.

If you have a full driving licence with your current address on, I'd offer that as it does appear on the name list.

Go into a branch with the evidence and that should get things moving.

If you haven't changed the address on your driving licence, get it done straight away in any case. And get yourself on the electoral role (unless you don't qualify for a vote).

max_sand1

Cool I will do that, but ive just looked up the money laundering regulations 2003 and nowhere does it state that certain bills are acceptable and others arent...

Identification procedures
4. - (1) In this regulation and in regulations 5 to 7 -



(a) "A" means a person who carries on relevant business in the United Kingdom; and

(b) "B" means an applicant for business.


(2) This regulation applies if -



(a) A and B form, or agree to form, a business relationship;

(b) in respect of any one-off transaction -


(i) A knows or suspects that the transaction involves money laundering; or

(ii) payment of 15,000 euro or more is to be made by or to B; or


(c) in respect of two or more one-off transactions, it appears to A (whether at the outset or subsequently) that the transactions are linked and involve, in total, the payment of 15,000 euro or more by or to B.



(3) A must maintain identification procedures which -



(a) require that as soon as is reasonably practicable after contact is first made between A and B -


(i) B must produce satisfactory evidence of his identity; or

(ii) such measures specified in the procedures must be taken in order to produce satisfactory evidence of B's identity;


(b) take into account the greater potential for money laundering which arises when B is not physically present when being identified;

(c) require that where satisfactory evidence of identity is not obtained, the business relationship or one-off transaction must not proceed any further; and

(d) require that where B acts or appears to act for another person, reasonable measures must be taken for the purpose of establishing the identity of that person.

carol_a_3

My daughter had this problem because it was my name on all the bills. I think in the end we took in everything in the house with her name on...birth certificate, passport, driving licence, college ID, old bank account statement, college letters with address on etc etc. This was Halifax, in the end they opened her a current account. Have you got a drivers licence with your address on or a credit card bill? I think they are terrified of breaking the rules in case they come unstuck with identity theft.