Beware the Post Office credit card

general_beckencall

I applied for the Post Office credit card because I am going abroad and wanted a fee-free card to use. I was amazed and concerned with the amount of personal information they required in order to issue one: when I looked at what I would be sending, it included my passport photocopy, one month's bank statements (showing, incidentally, all the details of my day-to-day spending and income) my credit card statement (also showing spending patterns/choices) and my salary slip (showing who I worked for and my workplace details including my NI number).
I had to have photocopies of all of these certified at my local post office (thereby showing this information to a third party) and am told that these photocopies would not be returned.
Am I the only person who finds this slightly sinister? With a quarter of this information to hand, an identity could be cloned or marketing targetted. Needless to say, I tore the application form up. Am I paranoid?

GentleGiant_2

Eek - And I thought it was bad enough when i had to take proof of id to the Halifax, when I already had a Halifax Bank account

exel1966

Seems a pretty standard request to me. Yep you're paranoid !!

Money_Man

exel1966 wrote: »

Seems a pretty standard request to me. Yep you're paranoid !!

Standard request, thats nonsense, I would laugh at them if they asked me all that additional information. Why can't verify who you are like all other card companies do by accessing the information on your credit file, i.e voters role information and existing credit facilities.

Karl.H_2

I hate the hassle of this when opening Savings Accounts.

Tirian

Funny how I didn't get asked for any of that when I opened my Sony Amex then! Or my M&S &More card ..

Grade_A_Reject

They didn't request any ID from me.

That kind of information request is pretty standard on accounts that you will be depositing funds into and is a legal requirement for anti-money laundering regulations. As a credit card isn't really a "deposit" account I'm surprised they asked for all that info.

wyebird

It varies. I had to provide all of that information ( they did send it back though!) but my OH didn't have to send anything. I assumed it's because I am self employed, but maybe I just look suspicious :-)