electronic identity checks

etienneg

Does anyone know what sort of electronic checks are carried out to establish identity? Last year my wife and I both applied (on the same day) to the same building society to transfer our ISAs. Mine went through without hitch but she had a letter to say her identity could not be verified electronically and if she wanted to proceed with the application to go into a branch. The nearest branch is miles away and we were busy at the time so we opted to transfer elsewhere where she already had a different account.


As it was an ISA we're just talking about identity check, not a credit check which I assume could be more extensive. The obvious thing is electoral register, but we've lived in the same house for over 30 years and voted in many elections so we know this isn't the issue. I'm wondering if there's anything we can do to make things easier for the future.

TakeCareOfThePennies_2

etienng,

What KYC checks are done are normally dictated by the firm's compliance department and how risky the firm thinks you are. The regulator only issues guidelines.

Many companies use an electronic tool called URU. No doubt a few minutes on Google will lead you to their website with a brochure that might give you hints as to what the service checks.

You could ask if you could send certified copies of your documentation to the branch ? That might save you the travel hassle.

You say that you know "electoral roll isn't the issue".

But that's on the assumption you are on the public electoral roll. If you are on the restricted electoral roll then this could be the cause of your problems.

Have you opted-out from the public electoral roll ?
Are you or your wife employed in certain parts of the public sector ? (police, security services etc.)
And various other reasons you might not feature in the public electoral roll, largely as a result of your employment or some historical personal circumstances.....

dunstonh

Does anyone know what sort of electronic checks are carried out to establish identity?

Yes I do. I have been using them for over a decade.

The obvious thing is electoral register, but we've lived in the same house for over 30 years and voted in many elections so we know this isn't the issue. I'm wondering if there's anything we can do to make things easier for the future.

There are lots of things checked. However, the things checked can vary with different systems. Utility bills, BT phone line (if not BT, then often that bit fails if also ex dir), Land Registry, Credit applications etc.

If most of the things are loaded in your name and not your wife then you can find yours will slide through easily but hers will fail due to lack of numbers.

sheramber

After being refused a loan, my husband was dismayed to find he had a less than good credit score.

He queried it with the credit aganecy and was told it was because he was not on the electoral register.

He has voted on every election since he was of age to and had voted in the independence referendum the previous month.

When he contacted the electoral registrar she confirmed that he was on the register but offered to send him a letter confirming this. He forwarded a copy of this to the credit agency who the updated his credit score.

butterflymum

There can be mistakes in Electoral registrar entries too.

We have opted-out of the public register since it became possible to do so, but various sources provide online details of earlier years entries, and for some unknown reason, in those, I appear as part of the household of a neighbouring property, whilst my husband appears in our house on his own.

InvestInPoker

As others have said there are many electronic databases used to verify identity for UK customers by financial institutions. The Electoral Roll is only one and there are several others. 192.com is another that is used if I remember correctly from a while back.


Do not be disheartened if any company asks for proof of ID and proof of address regardless of how safe and verifiable you might be. If you get into moving very large amounts of money you will likely have to provide copies of actual documents regardless of electronic verification. They have to be sure due to their regulations and it is no slight on you. Once its done its done and you will not be bothered by them again in this regard. At the strictest level you can have notarised copies requested so be thankful you didn't get that!