NS&I took payment but I can't verify

mitchie_mbs

After reading the MSE email recommending NS&I for current interest rates and it being all online I thought I'd give it a go. Yes, I made a HUGE mistake, stupid to think it would work without decent verification but, it doesn't mention this until after making payment. I don't drive and have no passport (in date that is). I've been on the phone to NS&I and I can't even use the 14 day right to cancel, as no account is set up "verified" (I have an account number and can log in). There's no mention on the website of how to cancel a payment or request a refund. If clicking "upload some documents" on your dashboard, it does mention "We need to receive your documents by this date otherwise we wont be able to open your account and will have to refund your money" if hovering over the "?" by the side of the due date, an auto refund which happens after a month. Do i just sit and wait for that? What if it doesn't work? 

I was setting it up this morning, payment is still pending in bank account, I've been on the phone to them too.

Any info appreciated. Thank you.

colsten

You would expect that they comply with their legal obligation and ensure that it is actually you who opened an account in your name, and not some fraudster who is using your ID for nefarious purposes, wouldn't you? For some reason, they were unable to identify you electronically (e.g. via the Electoral Register and/or Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs)), so you now have to provide the relevant proof. You don't need to drive for this or have a passport - just upload images of other suitable documents which are listed on https://www.nsandi.com/which-documents-can-i-send-prove-my-identity-and-address. If need be, ask HMRC to confirm your tax code to you.

To avoid similar issues in future, double-check that you are on the Electoral Register and that your CRA information is up-to-date, and ensure that you are using exactly the same spelling of your name and address everywhere.

mitchie_mbs

colsten said:

You would expect that they comply with their legal obligation and ensure that it is actually you who opened an account in your name, and not some fraudster who is using your ID for nefarious purposes, wouldn't you? 

That's why i wrote it was stupid of me. 
It's asking for passport or licence, there are other things in the list but much less likely, like firearms licence. I am registered to vote and up to date... My name is as is but the address has variance due to it being a name not a number, that is likely the trigger. Not sure how the "confirmation" thing works.

Thank you

jayship

Give a couple of days to see if they request verification documents. I had a similar message to yours when I opened the account despite giving them my passport number. In the end it worked out smoothly. NS&I are slow compared to banks. It takes up to  24 hours before the funds appear on your account

mitchie_mbs

jayship said:

Give a couple of days to see if they request verification documents. I had a similar message to yours when I opened the account despite giving them my passport number. In the end it worked out smoothly. NS&I are slow compared to banks. It takes up to  24 hours before the funds appear on your account

I have read about that here. The issue isn't the funds showing in the account or not, the issue is I can't verify the account and documents have been requested. They were requested in the set up process but after payment was made. As I can't verify, I need to cancel the payment or wait the 30 days and hope it refunds okay. There is no way to cancel.

steampowered

You are going to have to go exactly the same process to open an account with any bank. 

So, it's best to just get the information together. 

colsten

If you verify successfully, you will get interest from NS&I from your date of deposit, which would be today if you used a debit card, or in a few days time if you used a bank transfer.

If you don't verify successfully, your money will get returned to source after 30 days. So the max you would lose is 30 days of interest on whatever your deposit sum was. For £100,000, it would be £94.52. I would guess, however, that your deposit was for much less, so you seem to be stressing over a tenner or so.

If you feel sufficiently aggrieved, you can still raise a complaint with NS&I, which may or may not result in a payment to you for the distress you say it caused you. You can find their complaints procedure on https://www.nsandi.com/files/asset/pdf/complaints-brochure-print-friendly.pdf

mitchie_mbs

steampowered said:

You are going to have to go exactly the same process to open an account with any bank. 

So, it's best to just get the information together. 

This is very true and why I jumped at this online activation, not realising. I do already have a bank but I've maxed the savings potentials there, also paying in to a right to buy ISA with them, only left with 0.01% losing accounts that they have, which is so bad pointless even saving. Luckily I didn't transfer the lot from my banks low savers but I did close those accounts into debit. 

A provisional licence seems like the easiest option at first but then on realises, the easiest way to get one of those is with a passport. To pay for a passport right now would be pointless, I'm not going anywhere soon. The Tax Number seems like the best option (I'm self employed) but getting the documents certified is problematic. I'm still a bit stuck!

Thank you

mitchie_mbs

colsten said:

I would guess, however, that your deposit was for much less, so you seem to be stressing over a tenner or so.
If you feel sufficiently aggrieved, you can still raise a complaint with NS&I, which may or may not result in a payment to you for the distress you say it caused you. 

When starting at the bottom, homeless, stressing over the tenners is what got me this far. However, I wasn't worried about any loss of interest, mainly the issue of the refund working or not, my mind wont let this rest until resolved, a few days is okay but a month, hell. I do feel confident now that it well resolve with minimal effort. I may even figure out a verification, but I doubt that. Ringing them dead on 7 in the morning seems to get through quickly, that was bonus.

Thank you

colsten

Verification of documents can be done at any Post Office. Though from memory, NS&I accept verification by many other people. 

RG2015

Original documents do not need to be certified. I needed to send documents to Virgin Money which has similar A and B lists to NS&I.

I used an original HMRC letter and an original bank statement. Both had been set up as paperless but I changed them to postal documents. Alternatively you can get the Post Office to certify copies for £12.75 for 1 to 3 documents.