Certifying documents at the branch- what is the norm?

pantaiema

pavane wrote: »

I went into Lloyds, where I do my main banking, today to request certification of my driving license. They had previously done both my passport as well as my driving license 3-4 years ago. I spoke with a helpful manager type chap who came around to help as the regular queue I was a part of was rather long. He told me Lloyds branches no longer do this unless it is for use within Lloyds. I told him I was happy for Lloyds to retain a copy for their use but he said they can't let me keep a copy and that this service would only be in cases where a customer is applying for a Lloyds product for internal use due to "privacy protection". I thanked him and left, not raising the point that about 2 years ago when a large online card payment was blocked as a precaution the identification questions they asked me over the phone included information from these documents, despite them not mentioning to me at the time they were keeping copies for themselves. So much for privacy I thought, surely just cost saving.

I walked down the street to Halifax where I also have an account. Once I managed to get the attention of the young lady playing on her phone, I was explained she "could only do it for those she personally knows". I tried to explain the request again which is to certify the copy of the document, not anything about the individual, but saw this was a pointless discussion and thanked her and left.

On my way back, I passed a Nationwide. Not a customer, never been inside a Nationwide. I asked the same question, "certainly sir" was answer. "...but I am not a customer" I said, "not a problem" I was told. Had my certified copy in 30 seconds.

So what is the norm?

NW is well known to employ a lot of novice lack of competence.
Legalisation of your document is the same thing with helping their competitors. People might be using this to apply other banks product.

pantaiema

Those who are lucky to find a nice bank officer to certify your document which is not related to their product then good for you. Keep in mind as a bank officer they could the job for free as personal capacity such as the one they could do for their friends, relatives. But if they do it during working hours and not part of their bank policy they might be risking their job.

But it is highly unlikely that it is the bank policy to certify document which is not related to their products you apply. Why should they have policy to help their competitors?????

d123

pantaiema wrote: »

Legalisation of your document is the same thing with helping their competitors. People might be using this to apply other banks product.

Why would they? If you're applying for another banks product surely that other bank would take their own copies? Something the banks do for internal use (as described in the OP)...

pantaiema

d123 wrote: »

Why would they? If you're applying for another banks product surely that other bank would take their own copies? Something the banks do for internal use (as described in the OP)...

In many cases many banks BS do not have branches to where you live. If you apply for a product and they need a certified copies, you do not want to pay you for it, some people here think they could simply step in to any bank and ask to certify the certificate for you. We are not talking about applying the product from the same banks or banking group.

In many cases you will need your passport/driving licence to be certified not only bank account

Vast majority of bankers will not do that for you let alone for free. A few nice newbies working in the front line on the bank might be doing that for you. But majority would not. I am speaking from personal experience. I have bank accounts to almost all of high street banks, BS in the UK.

Why would they want to do it for you? If they do that for free the same thing they are helping their competitors.

Many banks charge you about £5 per statement to get copies of your own monthly statement why would they this more risky thing for free?

JuicyJesus

Last time I needed address verification something the place wouldn't even take branch certified stuff.


My existing bank were more than happy to send me duplicate statements free of charge though (mainly because I'm paperless otherwise).

raspberryrippl3

Tried to open a first direct account last year as they were so "customer focussed" - ended up cancelling half way through as they wanted photocopies of my passport, about 5 different security questions and all sorts so i just said no.

then opened an account with atom on my iPhone in all of 5 minutes - bring on the current account!!

JuicyJesus

raspberryrippl3 wrote: »

then opened an account with atom on my iPhone in all of 5 minutes - bring on the current account!!

You may well find that Atom will want just as much information from you when/if they do offer a current account rather than just a fixed rate bond with no real potential for laundering money or committing fraud.

benjus

spenderdave wrote: »

The list of people the banks allow to do this is getting shorter and shorter. When I had to do this for Tesco recently I found they had removed minister of religion (which for me, being a church member, is the easiest option). Left with GP and solicitors and the like who would probably charge serious money to do it I took the Post Office option - OK, a charge (£8, not a tenner), but small fry compared with the money I was about to invest. Can only be done at main branches, but efficiently done by their approved procedure and custom made stamp - and yes the lady at the till had never ever seen me before.

Solicitors will usually make certified photocopies for about £5. I've had several done at a firm near where I work in London.

takman

raspberryrippl3 wrote: »

Tried to open a first direct account last year as they were so "customer focussed" - ended up cancelling half way through as they wanted photocopies of my passport, about 5 different security questions and all sorts so i just said no.

then opened an account with atom on my iPhone in all of 5 minutes - bring on the current account!!

Well considering that Atom are only offering 1.5% interest rates on their fixed savings account and First Direct were offering 6% interest on its regular saver then Atom seem pretty poor and you should have stuck with First Direct.


Yes i do realise that the Atom account has a £100,000 limit vs First Directs £300 a month. But anyone who has a large amount to save will be better off puting it into longer term investments which gives a far better return, anyone who has a smaller amount to save would be bettter off opening 5% interest accounts to get the most from their money.

adindas

raspberryrippl3 wrote: »

Tried to open a first direct account last year as they were so "customer focussed" - ended up cancelling half way through as they wanted photocopies of my passport, about 5 different security questions and all sorts so i just said no.

then opened an account with atom on my iPhone in all of 5 minutes - bring on the current account!!

I do not know what account did you you try to open in First Direct. Presumably the one you opened with atom bank was a saving account as they have a very good saving product in term of interest rate.

There is a significant difference between opening a current account and a saving account.