Give Your Head a Wobble

sgthammer

I recently tried to set my mum up with a T212 ISA, but she struggled with the ID verification system – specifically the bit where you have to turn your head from side to side in time with a phone camera. We tried and tried, but she just couldn't match the timing. All the previous application steps were thus wasted.

Two questions.

1. Is this system now ubiquitous, or are there other similar products that are easier to apply for?

2. Is the incomplete application, which includes her passport info etc, stored or listed as failed anywhere, possibly having an impact on future attempts?

eskbanker

sgthammer said:

1. Is this system now ubiquitous, or are there other similar products that are easier to apply for?

More commonplace than before, but not ubiquitous - it's perhaps more likely to be found with newer fintech providers than the traditional players.

sgthammer said:

2. Is the incomplete application, which includes her passport info etc, stored or listed as failed anywhere, possibly having an impact on future attempts?

I imagine there'll be some data stored, although I don't see how or why it would affect future attempts - if she's concerned about data security, confidentiality, etc, she should be able to insist on passport info being deleted.

Cisco001

Instead of turning her head, would moving the phone work?

Eyeful

Whats so special about the T212 ISA? 
Just go somewhere else where you do not need to do this stuff to open an account.

boingy

I have a long beard and a shaved head and getting those face verification things to work can be quite a battle. Some of them claim there is more than one person in the frame, some can't see any person at all and others say I'm too close or too far away regardless of the distance! I enjoy the challenge so I've always managed to "win" eventually. In one memorable one I changed to a high-neck T-shirt, tilted my chin down and tucked most of my beard into the shirt!

Can't remember the T212 specifically but most of the applications I've done will let you pick-up where you left off so you can just keep trying until it accepts it rather than having to redo the application each time.

And it's very unlikely they will keep a record of "failures". Just try again with different lighting, distances etc. (or go somewhere else!)

sgthammer

Eyeful said:

Whats so special about the T212 ISA? 
Just go somewhere else where you do not need to do this stuff to open an account.

It was just the best interest rate for a flexible ISA at the time. I think it might still be even after the recent rate cut.

I was hoping for recommendations for "somewhere else where you do not need to do this stuff", since banks are understandably cagey about their security procedures and like to spring them on you halfway through an application, as in this case.

LHW99

Had this for a passport, but not for a bank so far. Have used Aldermore, Chase, Shawbrook, RCI recently, and not had that.

sgthammer

Went with Tesco Bank in the end. No video palaver, but they're sending out a letter looking for "more information". I'm assuming this is just going to be a wet signature to confirm her address, but we'll see.

Albermarle

LHW99 said:

Had this for a passport, but not for a bank so far. Have used Aldermore, Chase, Shawbrook, RCI recently, and not had that.

None of the banks I use have ever asked for it, but my OH has her current account with Nat West and she has to regularly confirm transactions with face verification on her phone, which only seems to work in certain lighting conditions.