Problems opening Cynergy accounts?

Takedap

Today I've tried to open an account with Cynergy bank for their one year bond (2.72%)   I have received an e-mail from them requesting more information, specifically regarding identification documents.  (quote from email below)

Identification documents
We require an original or a certified copy of one of the following identification documents. We will return any original copies: A valid passportA valid photo card driving licence issued by the UK or an EU stateA national identity card (for the European Economic Area or Swiss Nationals only)I have rang them & told them I am not prepared to send my driving licence or passport through the post & asked what they class as a "certified copy"  and/or if there is any way that I can scan these documents & send an electronic copy as I have been able to do with other organisations.   They told be that they will only accept seeing the originals or a copy that has been signed by "somebody that works for the Government"  This is despite having lived at my current address for over 12 years & having opened many bank accounts & accessed other financial services without a problem. 

Is this normal?  I now have a large sum sat in a Nationwide account having just cashed in Premium Bonds with the expectation that opening a savings bond would have been almost instant.
I am going to give up on Cynergy (Trustpilot reviews seem to suggest that a lot of customers aren't happy anyway) but am I now likely to have problems elsewhere?

refluxer

I guess the question is - is this Cynergy's standard procedure for confirming the ID of all new customers or have you failed the standard online ID checks for some reason ? 

If it's the former, then I guess you just have to be prepared to look elsewhere but if it's the latter, then you may find you come across the same issue with other banks.

FWIW, I've opened various accounts with many different banks over the last few years (not Cynergy though) and have never had to post off a passport or driving license to confirm my ID so, like you, I wouldn't be prepared to do that with Cynergy either.

masonic

Best course of action would be to drop the application and go for the next best account (probably only a few basis points lower). Sometimes the extra interest just isn't worth the effort (and postage costs).

Signed by "somebody that works for the Government" is going to be challenging for most people, although I hear there are a lot of ex-ministers with extra time on their hands.

It would be worth checking your details at the three credit reference agencies before applying for another account. Are you using your full name as on the electoral roll, address matches, etc. I once got failed for electronic verification for not specifying my middle name... because the firm didn't ask for it.

Takedap

refluxer said:

I guess the question is - is this Cynergy's standard procedure for confirming the ID of all new customers or have you failed the standard online ID checks for some reason ? 

If it's the former, then I guess you just have to be prepared to look elsewhere but if it's the latter, then you may find you come across the same issue with other banks.

FWIW, I've opened various accounts with many different banks over the last few years (not Cynergy though) and have never had to post off a passport or driving license to confirm my ID so, like you, I wouldn't be prepared to do that with Cynergy either.

Really don't know why I would have failed any checks.  As I said in the post, I've got over 12 years at the same address.  Also had the nominated account for over 20 years and never had a problem with credit checks either.

Wheres_My_Cashback

Personally I find Cynergy one of the easiest banks to deal with, just as they were when Bank of Cyprus UK.

And once a customer they have one of the quickest and simplest processes for opening further accounts....inside 60 seconds!

The only issue I've had was a slow ISA transfer last year, but I was well compensated for that.

Takedap

masonic said:

Best course of action would be to drop the application and go for the next best account (probably only a few basis points lower). Sometimes the extra interest just isn't worth the effort (and postage costs).

Signed by "somebody that works for the Government" is going to be challenging for most people, although I hear there are a lot of ex-ministers with extra time on their hands.

It would be worth checking your details at the three credit reference agencies before applying for another account. Are you using your full name as on the electoral roll, address matches, etc. I once got failed for electronic verification for not specifying my middle name... because the firm didn't ask for it.

I think you're right about going elsewhere.  There's a couple of things that they might have picked up on but they're all at their end.  One is using their system to get my address.  It's on of those put your postcode & pick it from a list jobs.  Except that it doesn't link my address to the village that I live in.  It gets the house name & street right but then thinks that I'm somewhere in the nearest town!   The other thing is that although I've applied for the bond just in my name, the nominated feeder account is in joint names.  The intention was to for my wife to also cash in her PBs and then for her to also get a bond.  But hey, it seems that they don't want my custom?

Uxb1

Yes it can be normal
I've in the past needed to send in certified copies of my passport plus an original of a bank/cc statement showing my address.
Many many times have I done this
I've lived here umpteen decades - in fact SO long that this is probably the problem - I'm out of the ordinary
I simply got my passport photocopied a few times and the copies certified by a local solicitor.
These were then provided as and where necessary.

Cynergy's requirements are here
https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/personal-savings/identification-requirements/
note the acceptable certifiers list at the bottom and it is "NOT" someone form the gov

Takedap

Uxb1 said:

Cynergy's requirements are here
https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/personal-savings/identification-requirements/
note the acceptable certifiers list at the bottom and it is "NOT" someone form the gov

I can't remember the exact words that they used when I phoned them but they definitely said someone who works for the Government and then qualified it by suggesting the police or a doctor!  Anyway, it didn't fill me with confidence.   To be quite honest, I think I'm probably more suspicious of them than they should be with me.  After all, I'm trying to give them money, not the other way round!  I think I had less problems actually renewing the passport and driving licence which they are now asking for....

TheGardener

I have had a similar experience with Sainsbury's: Call me a cynic but...I suspect some of these advertised rates are designed to get them into the top interest best seller lists but they make it hard to actually open an account.  Like Currys never having any of the great bargains they advertise on telly left in stock...

elsien

I opened a Cynergy account a little while back and was ID’d electronically. I didn’t  have to post anything off to them. 

Their website says they only ask for certified copies if they have difficulty in identifying you electronically for any reason. Did they give any sort of reason for your ID not being sufficient online? 

Takedap

elsien said:

I opened a Cynergy account a little while back and was ID’d electronically. I didn’t  have to post anything off to them. 

Their website says they only ask for certified copies if they have difficulty in identifying you electronically for any reason. Did they give any sort of reason for your ID not being sufficient online? 

No reasons given.  When I phoned to inquire about it, they did not even ask for my name or the reference number for the account application.  In short, they didn't even know who they were talking to unless they indentified me from the phone number that I gave on the application (which I doubt).  I told them all the stuff about long residency and how long I'd held the feeder account but it just seemed to be Computer says No....