John Lewis Financial Services unreasonable requests

Macqureshi

I and my husband have had a John Lewis credit card since 2006, we pay in full each month and have never had monetary issues of any kind with them or any other body, mortgage paid off in full etc, now they have requested that my husband provides 'proof' that he is who he says he is. They have supplied a list of 'the great and the good' who can verify this, if you are not on their list i.e. judge, airline pilot, police officer etc you are a 'nobody' and cannot authenticate said documents, he is required too have a photo's taken and provide various items of information proving himself, this seems an outrageous way to carry on with customers that have always been loyal to the John Lewis brand in every way. they have said if we do not provide the information within 30 days we will no longer be able to use our cards - outrageous. Can anybody offer any advice on how best to handle this situation.
thank you.

MEM62

If sounds like a money laundering countermeasure. Either way the choice is yours, if you think the requests are unreasonable you can close the account. Loyalty is irrelevant.

[Deleted User]

Macqureshi wrote: »

Can anybody offer any advice on how best to handle this situation.

Provide the information if you want to keep using the account.

I've had to do the same with First Direct, and while it was a mild pain, I understand their regulatory needs for doing it and felt it a small price to pay for continuing to have a bank account. I certainly didn't consider it outrageous.

mcpitman

It's a legal regulation often known as KYC or know your customer all tied up with Anti-Money Laundering regulations.

I know it's not nice, but as previously mentioned, you can either do as they ask or close the account, at which time when setting up a new account with anyone else they will need the same data.

Paully232000

Macqureshi wrote: »

I and my husband have had a John Lewis credit card since 2006, we pay in full each month and have never had monetary issues of any kind with them or any other body, mortgage paid off in full etc, now they have requested that my husband provides 'proof' that he is who he says he is. They have supplied a list of 'the great and the good' who can verify this, if you are not on their list i.e. judge, airline pilot, police officer etc you are a 'nobody' and cannot authenticate said documents, he is required too have a photo's taken and provide various items of information proving himself, this seems an outrageous way to carry on with customers that have always been loyal to the John Lewis brand in every way. they have said if we do not provide the information within 30 days we will no longer be able to use our cards - outrageous. Can anybody offer any advice on how best to handle this situation.
thank you.

not much anyone can say other than do one of two things

provide the info
close the account

none of the other things you mention (loyalty, mortgage paid off etc etc) are relevant

pb3

I posted a similar tale to that of the OP a while ago, however in my case I have had my John Lewis card for far longer. They wrote to me requiring me to verify my identity - the common thread to the requirements was that they wanted some form of photo-id.

I decided out of principle not to comply with the request, planning to return the card cut into pieces if necessary.

A few months went by then they wrote to me again. They did not go for the ultimate sanction as in the OP's case but warned that I would be unable to request credit limit increases if I did not comply.

I'm perfectly happy with this compromise

For info - respondents to my post advised that this identity check requirement is driven by HSBC rather than John Lewis. I believe HSBC will be taking over the running of the John Lewis cards.

pabenny

HSBC have run the JLP cards for many years. As mcpitman says, this is driven by the need to HSBC to comply with anti-money laundering legislation and it rather suggests that they have been a little lax in the past.

As the request makes clear (I have had one too), you can meet their requirements by producing documents - eg passport and driving license at any HSBC branch. Take your request from JLP card services; branch staff will take copies of your documents and return to you there and then. No big drama and less trouble than having an arguement that you cannot win.

pb3

I now believe this is all tied in to HSBC related accounts opened before the introduction of the U.K Money Laundering regulations in 2007.

The identity checklist introduced of documents required for proof of name seems geared towards "extracting" photo-ID from individuals dealing with businesses covered by the Anti-Money Laundering Reegulations.

My account was opened way before 2007 and I cannot remember having to provide any of the photo-ID related documents - passport/photo are driving license etc now required for proof of name.

What seems clear is that HSBC appear intent on retrospectively applying the AML Id verification requirements on accounts opened before 2007.

What I'm not clear on is whether this is a legal requirement. I doubt this and believe HSBC are making it up as they go along and being "proactive" given they have been burnt in the past by their own misdeeds. A number of my other credit cards were opened before 2007 and none of the card issuers have so far tried this tactic.

Doesn't really help the OP I know.

mantleovmygt

It's a legal regulation often known as KYC or know your customer all tied up with Anti-Money Laundering regulations.