InfoTrack eCos Onboarding being used by my solicitor

SandyN21

It's been over 30 years since buying a house and I'm now in the process of buying my flat.  My solicitor tells me that their firm has switched to the online 'InfoTrack eCos Onboarding' system which is to verify my ID, proof of address and source of funds.

Has anyone else used this system and is it used to pay the deposit and then the full funds on exchange - and have you encountered any problems using it? 

user1977

I would expect it to be used only for the things they've told you it's used for, and not for additional things they have kept secret from you so far! You send money directly to your solicitor.

eddddy

I guess what you're saying is you're wondering whether Infotrack uses the "Open Banking" API to make payments from your bank account to your solicitor's bank account.

Taking a step back, you probably realise that Infotrack will use the Open Banking API to allow your solicitor to view your online bank account(s) in real time. Solicitors will often want to look back through your last 6 months of transactions in your account(s) for AML purposes.

The Open Banking API certainly allows apps (potentially like Infotrack) to initiate Faster Payments, BACS transfers, and CHAPS transfers. 

In simple terms, the app would send an instruction to your online banking, to transfer £x from your account to your solicitor's bank account.

But I don't think Infotrack has that functionality built into it. I guess you could ask your conveyancer.

And even if it does, I guess you can ask if you can 'opt out' from using it - and just go into your online banking, and do the transfer 'manually'.

Moonraiker

I have found it to be an incredibly stressful experience for conveyancing. My wife had difficulties entering data that had been entered by me-information on source of funds was required even though I had provided this. Address entry wasn’t accepted and solicitor’s policy was not to start work on the conveyancing until the onboarding was complete. Hence an impasse—solicitor won’t proceed but onboarding system clearly flawed. It seems the requisite duty of care to clients has been sidelined in favour of intransigent rigid adherence to an inadequate deficient and lacking IT system. What does this say about the demise of the role of humans?

EssexHebridean

I'm not aware of Infotrack currently having any systems set up for handling client money, so I would be very surprised if funds went through it. 

The reason why a lot of firms are now going through third party organisations for the initial onboarding checks is that so much is now required, some of it specialist, and an awful lot of Professional Indemnity Insurers are now insisting things are done this way. It's not necessarily that firms would opt to do things that way if they had the choice about it! 

loubel

Gone are the days when people instructed a local solicitor and went in to meet them and show their ID or filled out forms by hand and posted them back.

These systems have been set up to allow remote checks to be carried out and to collect any paperwork required. 

EssexHebridean

loubel said:

Gone are the days when people instructed a local solicitor and went in to meet them and show their ID or filled out forms by hand and posted them back.

These systems have been set up to allow remote checks to be carried out and to collect any paperwork require

Those things still happen, it's just that there have been further steps put in place now too.

NottinghamMan

Moonraiker said:

I have found it to be an incredibly stressful experience for conveyancing. My wife had difficulties entering data that had been entered by me-information on source of funds was required even though I had provided this. Address entry wasn’t accepted and solicitor’s policy was not to start work on the conveyancing until the onboarding was complete. Hence an impasse—solicitor won’t proceed but onboarding system clearly flawed. It seems the requisite duty of care to clients has been sidelined in favour of intransigent rigid adherence to an inadequate deficient and lacking IT system. What does this say about the demise of the role of humans?

Yes it's horrendous, they using eCos to do their ID checks. Immnese stress, some notes here I sent solicitor yesterday.

2nd thing. I’ll do this time for you, but any others, we’ve known you 28 years, why cannot you & your firm of solicitors supersede this? We’ve done ID with you many times, you know who we are, should your word not be good enough in future to skip these ID checks if needed again?

3rd thing, I’ve done ID with Thirdfort before, surely they have not got to have our passports again? Where is there  provision for a returning customer?

This is driving many of us Landlords nuts.
In fact, I’m looking on the app now, used twice last year, once with you at XXXX on XXXX 18 Nov says Completed. Why have we got to do again?
 2 screenshots enclosed which clearly show the date & we are still within 3 months of last one, why have we got to do any of the ID again?

I’ve got the Thirdfort app, it’s now telling me to download eCos Legal App, why another app?
It has a 2.3* review on Google Play, that says it all. We gonna’ struggle.

I’m now on the eCos app.

3rd screenshot enclosed telling me it's sending me code to another device. Who? Where?
Asking me if I want to set up Biometric authentication.
Can’t do it XXX, the eCos app telling me Move phone further away to get in frame.
Move closer.
Move out glare.
This is immensely stressful &time consuming.

It now wants bank statement, I’ve downloaded PDF as most companies want PDF, it now says only photo’s AAahh  F__ks sake. How the f__k do I do that on my phone when the statement is on my phone.

Why the f__k is it asking me if I have Utility bill at sale address?

That was f_cking horrendous XXX. I could email u a passport in 21 seconds.

Another screenshot enclosed of my words to the app.

Cherribear

A very stressful experience, took us about 3 hours of pain, refused to put my bank details in when asked and not sure if what we did do was correct. Contacted the solicitor next day to be told it appears ok 🤷‍♂️

Sapindus

loubel said:

Gone are the days when people instructed a local solicitor and went in to meet them and show their ID or filled out forms by hand and posted them back.

These systems have been set up to allow remote checks to be carried out and to collect any paperwork required. 

Those things still happen when people do not have smartphones.