problem opening a BS or Bank account by post

cepheus

I have just been informed by a Building Society that opening any BS or Bank account by post requires either an original, or certified copy of a named document, all which are valuable (driving licence, passport etc) in addition to another document that verifies your address. Is this correct?

I am sure this isn't the case with all banks and BS see the Anglo-Irish

http://www.angloirishbank.co.uk/personal/fixed-rate-bond-how-to-open-account.asp

BlightyAndy

When i've opened accounts i've always need to bring my passport to confirme me and signature and a utility bill or old bank/bs statement to confirm address.

masonic

It isn't the case with all banks. I believe the anti-money laundering regulations that have led to this situation are not clear on what lengths banks need to go to in their checks, meaning that some banks are much stricter than others. Also, some banks have automated systems for verifying the information, so they can do their checks without needing the actual documents.

Check the list of accepted documents carefully. Some banks accept non-valuable documents (e.g. HMRC notice of tax coding) as proof of identity.

Milarky

It would be less of a problem if 'brother' banks that we already deal with would certify our own photocopies against an original (eg) drivers licence. That's not a lot to ask of them is it? But of course they can plead two things

'busy' and

'we could be fined if it turns out to be a fake'

In other words they don't trust us to prove our identity even when we are already their longstanding customers.

It's useful to keep a file of recent original (but non vital documents) for account opening purposes such as

council tax bill - good for 13 months

last utility bill - good for 3 months

letters from the government - they are usually good for 6 months

TV licence reminder/threat letter (for those with no TV) - BS will take that as proof also.

I've opened about 35 new accounts this year and was able to avoid sending a certified copy of a DL in all except one case. If you look into what they say all institutions are able to make reasonable allowances for which original documents they will accept - almost entirely non-valuable documents as cited above

Chadsman

Some banks/BSs will verify identity electronically using the electoral roll.

cepheus

masonic wrote: »

Check the list of accepted documents carefully. Some banks accept non-valuable documents (e.g. HMRC notice of tax coding) as proof of identity.

Yes this is acceptable, but I don't think I have one (only P60 tht isn't accepted). Isn't this something you get if your tax code changes?

masonic

cepheus wrote: »

Yes this is acceptable, but I don't think I have one (only P60 tht isn't accepted). Isn't this something you get if your tax code changes?

I believe you can request one free of charge from your tax office at any time.

omis

I sent oriignal ID documents (recent bank statement, current council tax bill and signed personal cheque) with application form (which included fields for all the usual passwords - memorable place, date, etc) to Cheslea Building Society on 17 September to open a new savings account. Got proof of posting and thought nothing more of it until nothing arrived. Chased up only to be told they have no record of having received it. Have asked for a trace by Royal Mail and arranged a referral placed on my bank account in case someone tries to gain access or requests a new card. A complete nightmare nontheless. My advice would be if they request ID, see if you can take it to a branch, even if its for an online account.

omis

isofa

If you are going to post such documents through the post, only use Royal Mail Special Delivery. Don't even both with recorded, it's treated the same as normal mail, and still might not arrive.

Biggles

cepheus wrote: »

I have just been informed by a Building Society that opening any BS or Bank account by post requires either an original, or certified copy of a named document, all which are valuable (driving licence, passport etc) in addition to another document that verifies your address. Is this correct?

I am sure this isn't the case with all banks and BS see the Anglo-Irish

This is the case with Anglo Irish, should they fail to verify your ID electronically with the electoral register, which many - but not all - banks will try first.

I thought the increasing demand for verified copies of passports etc would be a problem but found that, just by walking up to the enquiries desk at my branch of the bank where I hold my current account, that they will certify it then and there on the spot, free of charge.

That will then be accepted by anyone and no worries about valuable documents going missing in the post.

fallen121

Having a nightmare with a couple of firms right now.

First of all Capital One. Having just moved to a new address following a change in family circumstances, I am not yet on the Electoral Roll. Capital One accepted my application no problem, but they won't take certified copies, they want original documents. I asked about travelling to a local office to show these to a member of staff, this was rejected by them with the excuse that 'we deal with all applications in the order we receive them, if we allowed this, it would be tantamount to queue jumping'.

I then asked about how they returned the documents, they said Recorded Delivery which is totally useless. There is no compensation for loss and no tracking with RD, it is just a proof of delivery service. Royal Mail even say on their website that they won't compensate for documents sent this way. I tried explaining about the difference between this and Special Delivery and they didn't seem interested. I then pointed out that the address they were giving me to send the documents to was a PO Box number and you can't send stuff by Special Delivery to a PO Box number, again they were just not interested.

Anyhow, I've now terminated the application.

Next I get a letter from Self Trade who are asking me to prove my identity for an account I've had for nearly ten years, must be the change of address thing. First of all they wanted a Utility Bill and a Bank Statement which 'must be originals, no online printouts'. Great, except my gas, phone and electric have all pursuaded me to go paper free and if I shift back to paper copies I'll lose about £60 in discounts. The Bank statements are also online only. I then spent half an hour on the phone to the Bank (0845 number, so doesn't count as part of my free evening calls allowance with Sky) to discover they want to charge me £15 for a copy statement!

Self Trade also want a copy of my Driving Licence, but thank God will accept a certified copy from my Bank Manager. Except my Bank is First Direct and they don't have branches, and being in Scotland I can't even pop into a local HSBC as they don't exist here (might be one in Glasgow, but that's like a 3 hour drive away).

Next I phone a solicior and an accountant to see if they will certify copies for me. Certainly, they say, but because they are having to do so many these days they are now having to charge £25.

This is getting bloody ridiculous. I'm all for preventing fraud, but there's no way I'm paying out money to prove my identity, and there's no way I'm sending original documents through the mail only to find two weeks later they've gone missing and being sold on some street corner.

The whole country has gone barking mad. :mad: :mad: :mad: