Can I reuse a Post Office certified document

Astronought

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

35har1old

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Check what identification is required and it might say post office acceptable as long as it isn't more than 12 months old 
The cost of getting a id certified is making it that you have to be investing large amounts  to offset the cost 

Astronought

35har1old said:

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Check what identification is required and it might say post office acceptable as long as it isn't more than 12 months old 
The cost of getting a id certified is making it that you have to be investing large amounts  to offset the cost 

They say that the post office would be acceptable, but I'm not sure whether I'll need to get a new certified copy and put this new company onto the application form, or whether the version that was used for the other company will still be okay. i.e. is there something, somewhere, that would invalidate the reuse because it is to prove my id for a different company?

35har1old

Astronought said:

35har1old said:

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Check what identification is required and it might say post office acceptable as long as it isn't more than 12 months old 
The cost of getting a id certified is making it that you have to be investing large amounts  to offset the cost 

They say that the post office would be acceptable, but I'm not sure whether I'll need to get a new certified copy and put this new company onto the application form, or whether the version that was used for the other company will still be okay. i.e. is there something, somewhere, that would invalidate the reuse because it is to prove my id for a different company?

The fact that a building society would accept a post office up to 12 months old would suggest to me that the reuse is possible

masonic

Astronought said:

35har1old said:

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Check what identification is required and it might say post office acceptable as long as it isn't more than 12 months old 
The cost of getting a id certified is making it that you have to be investing large amounts  to offset the cost 

They say that the post office would be acceptable, but I'm not sure whether I'll need to get a new certified copy and put this new company onto the application form, or whether the version that was used for the other company will still be okay. i.e. is there something, somewhere, that would invalidate the reuse because it is to prove my id for a different company?

A certified copy is where an accepted authority certifies that they have seen the original and the copy is a true likeness. Through certification, it is treated as if it were the original. It should be possible to reuse anywhere it meets the criteria for acceptance.

Astronought

35har1old said:

Astronought said:

35har1old said:

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Check what identification is required and it might say post office acceptable as long as it isn't more than 12 months old 
The cost of getting a id certified is making it that you have to be investing large amounts  to offset the cost 

They say that the post office would be acceptable, but I'm not sure whether I'll need to get a new certified copy and put this new company onto the application form, or whether the version that was used for the other company will still be okay. i.e. is there something, somewhere, that would invalidate the reuse because it is to prove my id for a different company?

The fact that a building society would accept a post office up to 12 months old would suggest to me that the reuse is possible

Oops sorry, I read your bit about checking to make sure that the post office is acceptable, but missed your last bit about whether it said that it was acceptable if it wasn't more than 12 months old.

So it does say that the post office is acceptable, but there's no mention about any timescale, it just wants the certified copy to have the date on which it was certified - which if I use the reused copy would have an early July date on it.

Astronought

masonic said:

Astronought said:

35har1old said:

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Check what identification is required and it might say post office acceptable as long as it isn't more than 12 months old 
The cost of getting a id certified is making it that you have to be investing large amounts  to offset the cost 

They say that the post office would be acceptable, but I'm not sure whether I'll need to get a new certified copy and put this new company onto the application form, or whether the version that was used for the other company will still be okay. i.e. is there something, somewhere, that would invalidate the reuse because it is to prove my id for a different company?

A certified copy is where an accepted authority certifies that they have seen the original and the copy is a true likeness. Through certification, it is treated as if it were the original. It should be possible to reuse anywhere it meets the criteria for acceptance.

That's what I would hope. I'm just concerned why the Post Office would ask on the application form which company the certified copy was being sent to and whether that was some additional level of verification.

BooJewels

I've been trying to remember exactly what happened when I had a document certified at the PO about a year ago and remembered that I took a photo on my phone of the docs fanned out on the worktop in the PO before I posted it.  Just checking it, the docs themselves have a blue stamp saying "This document is a true likeness of the original".  There's a box for the printed name of the counter staff and their signature and another box with the PO stamp, which contains the date.

I also remember them asking me who it was for and as mine was for a complicated sounding firm of solicitors, I showed him their letterhead and he took it from that - I think that was just for the receipt he gave me - it doesn't appear on their certifying bit - maybe they have to record it in case the validity of the document is ever checked.  So I see no reason why such a document couldn't be re-used - as long it's within a sensible time frame.  It's still exactly what it purports to be.

masonic

Astronought said:

masonic said:

Astronought said:

35har1old said:

Astronought said:

I recently used the Post Office to certify my id document for an account application. It's not yet been returned, but I've now found that I'll need the same id certification for another, so I wondered whether I'll be able to reuse the certified copy..

I had thought it would be fine, but I now remember on the Post Office application form having to fill in the company that the certified copy was being sent to, so I wondered whether my now sending it to another company would be an issue. I'm fairly sure that the company was not mentioned on the certified copy that I sent off, but can't be 100% sure.

Thanks for any insights on whether this will be fine or not.

Check what identification is required and it might say post office acceptable as long as it isn't more than 12 months old 
The cost of getting a id certified is making it that you have to be investing large amounts  to offset the cost 

They say that the post office would be acceptable, but I'm not sure whether I'll need to get a new certified copy and put this new company onto the application form, or whether the version that was used for the other company will still be okay. i.e. is there something, somewhere, that would invalidate the reuse because it is to prove my id for a different company?

A certified copy is where an accepted authority certifies that they have seen the original and the copy is a true likeness. Through certification, it is treated as if it were the original. It should be possible to reuse anywhere it meets the criteria for acceptance.

That's what I would hope. I'm just concerned why the Post Office would ask on the application form which company the certified copy was being sent to and whether that was some additional level of verification.

In theory a company could contact the Post Office for confirmation that they did indeed certify the document, but I doubt this happens in practice. If it did happen, then the terms of your agreement with the Post Office could state that their certification cannot be reused, in which case they might not cooperate. In practice, I doubt the Post Office has the capability to keep tabs on all of the documents they have certified should someone phone them for confirmation. Likewise, companies simply do not have the time to investigate the certified documents they receive.

BooJewels

By chance, I was just looking for something and found the receipt from when I did this last year - the name of solicitors I gave at the counter does appear on the receipt as "Intended Recipient:" and followed by how many documents were checked.  I mis-remembered handing him the letterhead though, it must have been my pre-filled application form which I'd put the name on and now have the receipt stapled to and he signed and stamped that too, to indicate the checks he'd done.

Astronought

BooJewels said:

By chance, I was just looking for something and found the receipt from when I did this last year - the name of solicitors I gave at the counter does appear on the receipt as "Intended Recipient:" and followed by how many documents were checked.  I mis-remembered handing him the letterhead though, it must have been my pre-filled application form which I'd put the name on and now have the receipt stapled to and he signed and stamped that too, to indicate the checks he'd done.

Many thanks. Interesting that it says "Intended Recipient" rather than just "Recipient".

The existing certified copy has still to be returned to me, so this might soon only be an academic question as I'll have to buy a new one if it's not returned within the next week.