Verifying identity for savings account

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Credit Club Login.

DST

Hello

I was blocked from opening a savings account because I could not be verified. I have had the same problem trying get verified for a Government website login. I have tried to register with Klarna and Trans Union and they say they can't verify me and ask for an old address postcode. I have lived at my current address for 25 years and have credit cards and bank accounts at this address. Has anyone any ideas what I can try next? I know I am also on the electoral roll.

GeoffTF

Is your entry on the electoral roll public? Try getting a credit report, e.g. from Experian:

https://www.experian.co.uk/

DST

Thanks Geoff. That is the odd thing, Experian has not problem with my identity.

Patr100

DST said:

Hello

I was blocked from opening a savings account because I could not be verified. I have had the same problem trying get verified for a Government website login. I have tried to register with Klarna and Trans Union and they say they can't verify me and ask for an old address postcode. I have lived at my current address for 25 years and have credit cards and bank accounts at this address. Has anyone any ideas what I can try next? I know I am also on the electoral roll.

Bit of a faff if you don't but do you have a UK passport? That should help with UK Gov log in.

Daz2009

From my experience of opening a new bank account in the last couple of years,if you don't have a UK passport (recently expired is ok) or a photo ID driving licence,it's impossible

dunstonh

There are a number of different electronic ID check systems.  Most of them are a score based system.  

In my experience, you tend to see more failures in the following scenarios:
1 - Where there is a house name rather than a house number
2 - Where the house number is shared with another e.g. number 2 and number 2a.
3 - Where there has been a recent change in information (house move in the last 6-12 months,  change of name etc)
4 - Where there is inconsistent information because someone input spelling mistakes on the name or got the date of birth wrong.
5 - Where someone doesn't go by their birth name but a middle name or something completely different but hasn't changed it officially or they spell it differently.

Some things make it easier to pass.    Have a BT telephone and do not go ex directory.   Being on the electoral roll.   Correct any spelling errors in your name and address or mistake in DOB on any of credit companies, utilities or Government bodies.   If you move house, use the Royal Mail redirection (that is logged on the systems and visible to checkers).

I had one fail the other day because the person has their name spelt in different ways on various sources.  That created inconsistencies that lowered the score below the pass threshold.  When I reverted to the old paper way, I asked for his driving licence, it was spelt wrong on that too.      A lot of the smaller, internet/app-based banks are not profitable or have a very low margin.  They don't want to revert to the old way as that is time-consuming and costs more and they would have to lower their interest rate which defeats their objective.  So, they will often reject those that do not pass electronically.

masonic

Does your Experian credit report contain your electoral roll information, council tax (if applicable), and credit cards/current accounts you mention? Are there any discrepancies with your name or address in the credit report vs how you've entered them elsewhere?

Patr100

Daz2009 said:

From my experience of opening a new bank account in the last couple of years,if you don't have a UK passport (recently expired is ok) or a photo ID driving licence,it's impossible

There's a difference between Current account opening and SAVINGS account opening as in the OP - I only had a passport since Jan 2020 - from my experience I've never had much problem opening online savings accounts before that -  I did it often -  switching and following  the rates - having a passport ID  did  help with the Govt account to check my pension prediction even though I already  had a gateway log in for my self employment for years  - it kept failing to verify me for much more access until I got the passport.
I had lived at the same address for over 25 years and on electoral role then  moved in 2021 though that didn't  seem to affect my being able to open 2 online savings accounts after that.

I do agree that opening a current account without a passport or DL is  extremely difficult in theory , if not practice . Thankfully I've been with the same bank , First Direct, for decades now.

Daliah

DST said:

Hello

I was blocked from opening a savings account because I could not be verified. I have had the same problem trying get verified for a Government website login. I have tried to register with Klarna and Trans Union and they say they can't verify me and ask for an old address postcode. I have lived at my current address for 25 years and have credit cards and bank accounts at this address. Has anyone any ideas what I can try next? I know I am also on the electoral roll.

DST, any chance you had tried registering on the Transunion US site? You need https://www.transunion.co.uk/. If it's the latter you tried to use and it won't work, all I can suggest is that you contact their CS and ask for their assistance.