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First Direct want proof of identity years after account opened: anyone else affected?

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  • masonic
    masonic Posts: 27,167 Forumite
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    Annabee wrote: »
    Colsten - Not really. 'Please be nice to all money savers'. 'Courtesy helps'. (From the Forum guidelines). Maybe you could explain how the way you write fits in with this? Or what help you think you're giving other users? Still no doubt it gives you a little thrill to be 'right'.

    Unfortunately there are a few users with a sneery attitude, particularly among the more prolific posters. All they do is put other people off posting, surely against what the site is supposed to stand for.
    I only see one person being rude in this thread and it isn't Colsten.
  • Doc_N
    Doc_N Posts: 8,543 Forumite
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    masonic wrote: »
    I only see one person being rude in this thread and it isn't Colsten.
    Really? Odd, isn't it, how things can be viewed so differently by different people.
  • Doc_N
    Doc_N Posts: 8,543 Forumite
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    masonic wrote: »
    It would take a lot of unnecessary effort to consider and weigh up all of the possible ways of looking at this, given that such deliberations would ultimately be pointless.

    It is well known that the regulatory requirements have become more strict, so it seems a little unreasonable to claim FD has messed up by not predicting the information it would be asked to hold about its customers 20 years in the future.

    You could be correct that FD could make other arrangements for customers to provide information that would be more convenient for certain customers. However, FD is free to choose the terms under which it is willing to do business, just as every customer has the right to choose not to accept those terms and take their business elsewhere.

    You're being far too kind to First Direct. Let's not forget that they have already admitted that they didn't get things right. This isn't a question of not predicting the future - it's a question of a basic banking failure.

    "As you'd expect at first direct we set ourselves the highest possible standards, but we're sorry to say that in the past we have fallen short of this in some areas and we now hold incomplete proof of identity and address for a number of our customers."
  • masonic
    masonic Posts: 27,167 Forumite
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    Doc_N wrote: »
    Really? Odd, isn't it, how things can be viewed so differently by different people.
    Yes, unfortunately some people perceive a "tone" when they read written text. This "tone" can only come from a voice within their own head. Others infer sarcasm from a couple of factual sentences, followed by a simple question. In both cases, the true intent is unclear, but the reader has jumped to conclusions.

    However, it is not possible to misinterpret "Maybe they should curb their tendencies to become a busybody and get a life or something" and "there are a few users with a sneery attitude". Those are insults through and though and have no place here. The author of those posts should be ashamed.
    You're being far too kind to First Direct. Let's not forget that they have already admitted that they didn't get things right. This isn't a question of not predicting the future - it's a question of a basic banking failure.

    "As you'd expect at first direct we set ourselves the highest possible standards, but we're sorry to say that in the past we have fallen short of this in some areas and we now hold incomplete proof of identity and address for a number of our customers."
    In this case, we're discussing an account opened 20 years ago. The only mistake is that they didn't ask for the additional info sooner. For others who opened an account in the last few years, then a case could be made that the information should have been obtained at the time the account was opened.
  • Archi_Bald
    Archi_Bald Posts: 9,681 Forumite
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    Doc_N wrote: »
    "As you'd expect at first direct we set ourselves the highest possible standards, but we're sorry to say that in the past we have fallen short of this in some areas and we now hold incomplete proof of identity and address for a number of our customers."

    What's the problem? If it's a matter of them having omitted to ask at some stage in the past and they are asking now, it has overall the same effect on the account holder.

    The T&Cs are quite clear in that they state that FD may collect information from their customers in connection with various matters, including verification of customer identity and compliance obligations. There is no time limit to such collections.

    The T&Cs are also clear in that a customer has the right to take their business elsewhere at any time. It would be fair to assume, however, that all other banks have similar terms and conditions.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
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    edited 11 September 2015 at 10:46PM
    meer53 wrote: »
    Is it not easier to post documents than trail to a branch of HSBC ?
    Not really as they want notarised copies.
    You can also show them your documents by video call, direct from your own armchair if you like.
    Are you sure? IIRC they used to offer this option earlier and in some letters only, not all. It looked that they pulled it.
  • Doc_N
    Doc_N Posts: 8,543 Forumite
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    How heartening it is to see such support for a bank that's admitted failing to act correctly, and then goes about trying to rectify its own mistakes in a manner that makes it so difficult for its customers.

    There are some pretty naive people out there prepared to be so accepting. For the record, First Direct backed off when tackled about it. All a big con actually.
  • masonic wrote: »
    Yes, unfortunately some people perceive a "tone" when they read written text. This "tone" can only come from a voice within their own head. Others infer sarcasm from a couple of factual sentences, followed by a simple question. In both cases, the true intent is unclear, but the reader has jumped to conclusions.

    However, it is not possible to misinterpret "Maybe they should curb their tendencies to become a busybody and get a life or something" and "there are a few users with a sneery attitude". Those are insults through and though and have no place here. The author of those posts should be ashamed.

    .

    I am sorry, I think this is piffle. In response to my first post I was immediately answered in an aggressive way, (or at least very unfriendly) by colsten, or whatever his name is. What is his problem? He could, if he wanted, have made the same points in a non-aggressive way, but chose not to.

    I am seen similar posters on many sub-forums on here, jumping on posters and telling them they are wrong/should have known better etcetera. One wonders what they get out of it. Usually they are among the most frequent posters. As are you, I notice.

    So I assure you I am far from ashamed to point this out!
  • First Direct are a bunch of jerks for imposing this stupidity on some of their long-standing customers. No other banks are doing this. These days details can be checked electronically. I read in another thread a couple of days ago how someone has opened 20 different current accounts and only HSBC required any form of physical identification whatsoever - and that's with new accounts! Tell FD to shove their account!
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,681 Forumite
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    GingerBob wrote: »
    First Direct are a bunch of jerks for imposing this stupidity on some of their long-standing customers. No other banks are doing this.

    NB First Direct and/or their parent company, HSBC, have been hit by huge fines fines for non-compliance with various banking legislation. I'm not a customer, but it's easy to understand their new stance .
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