First direct 1st Account identity confirmation question

lonewolf123

Hi guys

I recently applied to open the 1st account current account with first direct and this morning received an email saying that I needed to confirm my identification and address.

I got no problem with the confirmation on my address as any bank statements will do but I got problems on the identity section.

I got both a passport and drivers license but they only accept certified copies meaning a scan of the actual documents and the following need to be done:

Certified and signed by a solicitor, lawyer, attorney, licenced conveyencer or Barrister. In addition to the signature, the name should be printed to enable us to verify this with respective directories e.g. The Law Society. The document needs to have a company stamp. The document needs to include written confirmation that it is a true copy of the original.

Did anyone else have problems with this? I literally know no one in any of those professions. Does that actually mean I need to contact someone in one of those professions and ask them if they are willing to do this for me as well as probably incurring a charge for asking them?

This may be more effort than its worth....if anyone opened this account how did they go about solving this?

z3phyr04

I had this yesterday and it turns out I was flagged because of a discrepancy with my address. Can you check the wording of the email you received - mine was: "To help us complete the process, please can you send us one of the following forms of identification". Does yours have this line or do they request both?

I phoned HMRC to request my PAYE coding notice and discovered that they had the first line of my address wrong (house name change some years back). Requested they update it and sent my coding notice out which was no problem. Found out that this was the problem when I called First Direct back and was advised that the coding notice that HMRC are sending out with newly updated details would be sufficient.

lonewolf123

Well the exact words on the email are:

Your application is currently underway. To help us complete the process we need you to confirm your identity and verify your address. Please can you send us a form of identification; and a separate document to allow us to verify your address.

So yes I need both...

z3phyr04

I can't see any way around that, it might cost you a bit to get the document certified also - think this has cropped up before on this forum in similar circumstances: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4408799

lonewolf123

I thought so too...

I just called 3 places that can help me and the cheapest was £50 for the process...since I'm opening the account primarily for the regular saver which only nets me £93 a year. I might give this a miss and go elsewhere for the regular saver.

Shame really....

itsanne

Would taking the original into an HSBC branch be acceptable? (That's where you would pay cash/cheques in.)

innovate

The PO does it for £7.50. http://www.postoffice.co.uk/document-certification-service

You should also check your credit reference file - something on there could be wrong/missing (e.g. Electoral Roll registration)

z3phyr04

lonewolf123 wrote: »

Well the exact words on the email are:

Your application is currently underway. To help us complete the process we need you to confirm your identity and verify your address. Please can you send us a form of identification; and a separate document to allow us to verify your address.

So yes I need both...

innovate wrote: »

The PO does it for £7.50. http://www.postoffice.co.uk/document-certification-service

You should also check your credit reference file - something on there could be wrong/missing (e.g. Electoral Roll registration)

They don't accept documents signed by the post office at First Direct as part of their process - it has to be by an FSA approved person as per their list.

OP - Try checking your local estate agents and see if you can find the service a bit cheaper that way?

sabretoothtigger

Send them your ballot papers. If you can vote its enough to pass muster

innovate

z3phyr04 wrote: »

They don't accept documents signed by the post office at First Direct as part of their process - it has to be by an FSA approved person as per their list.

If that is true, FD should seriously update their rules. It's utterly pathetic that you should be allowed to use the Post Office to access your FD account but the PO's official ID certification service should not be acceptable to FD.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/banking/2012/09/hsbc-and-first-direct-customers-to-get-post-office-banking

HeadAboveWater

lonewolf123 wrote: »

I got both a passport and drivers license but they only accept certified copies meaning a scan of the actual documents and the following need to be done:

Certified and signed by a solicitor, lawyer, attorney, licenced conveyencer or Barrister. In addition to the signature, the name should be printed to enable us to verify this with respective directories e.g. The Law Society. The document needs to have a company stamp. The document needs to include written confirmation that it is a true copy of the original.

Did anyone else have problems with this?

Yes! But got it sorted no problem. Walked in off the street to a local solicitors office with my passport plus a copy, explained what I needed, they stamped it, signed it, and I walked out. No charge