Proof of identity to Probate solicitor

kuepper

I'm a beneficiary in a will and returned all the forms I was asked to by the probate solicitor involved. I've now been told that their online identity check does not fully confirm my identity. I'm surprised by this as I'm in my 70s, always lived in the UK, always had the same name, always been on the electoral roll, been at the same address for many years etc. 

They said they cannot give the specific reason for this anomaly but will only say it's not uncommon for this to happen where eg there is a variation between the information they hold (which I've provided) and the information in 'the online database' (whatever they mean by that).

As a result they've asked me to provide 'an original bank statement that has been posted to your home address and is dated within the last 3 months'. It feels a bit intrusive being required to provide this where they can see my income and expenditure.  Is this standard procedure? I would have thought eg a photo of my driving licence and debit card would provide better proof of my ID.  

BooJewels

It could be something simple like the way your name or address is formatted in some documents, compared to whatever database they use.  Like whether your name is Mr Fred Bloggs, Frederick Bloggs or F B Bloggs etc.

My adult son kept having issues with things like car rentals, he'd be refused contracts and it took a while to find out that he always expressed his address as 'Flat 3, 345 Any Road', but it transpired that the database being referenced by these organisations had it down as 'Apartment 3,  345 Any Road'. Enough to prevent verification.  Likewise, when selling my parents house, which was 'Something House, 123 Any Road' - sometimes just had the house name, but no number and sometimes the opposite.  So the more automated systems are used (depending on how well their matching algorithms are programmed), the easier it becomes for modest common sense discrepancies to trip things up.

I had a bank employee refuse to action an LPA because one proof document I took was addressed to 'Mrs F Bloggs' and she claimed that I could live with my sister-in-law with the same initial and it be her document. 

poppystar

I was asked on several occasions for bank statement to verify address. I understand it does feel intrusive but in the end I just did it. As was pointed out to me, they are probably too busy to really be interested in anything other than checking name and address. I actually preferred it to banks taking photocopies of my passport. 

kuepper

BooJewels said:

It could be something simple like the way your name or address is formatted in some documents, compared to whatever database they use.  Like whether your name is Mr Fred Bloggs, Frederick Bloggs or F B Bloggs etc.

My adult son kept having issues with things like car rentals, he'd be refused contracts and it took a while to find out that he always expressed his address as 'Flat 3, 345 Any Road', but it transpired that the database being referenced by these organisations had it down as 'Apartment 3,  345 Any Road'. Enough to prevent verification.  Likewise, when selling my parents house, which was 'Something House, 123 Any Road' - sometimes just had the house name, but no number and sometimes the opposite.  So the more automated systems are used (depending on how well their matching algorithms are programmed), the easier it becomes for modest common sense discrepancies to trip things up.

I had a bank employee refuse to action an LPA because one proof document I took was addressed to 'Mrs F Bloggs' and she claimed that I could live with my sister-in-law with the same initial and it be her document. 

I get that but a bank statement seems an invasion of my privacy, you'd think there was a better way of confirmining my ID without the need to see my income, DDs, SOs etc and other payees

Savvy_Sue

kuepper said:

I get that but a bank statement seems an invasion of my privacy, you'd think there was a better way of confirmining my ID without the need to see my income, DDs, SOs etc and other payees

Redact the financial entries apart from the date if you want to. Big black marker pen, job done. 

WillowLeaf

These places that want an original bank statement dont seem to be aware of the concept of paperless that seems to the default these days

flaneurs_lobster

kuepper said:

BooJewels said:

It could be something simple like the way your name or address is formatted in some documents, compared to whatever database they use.  Like whether your name is Mr Fred Bloggs, Frederick Bloggs or F B Bloggs etc.

My adult son kept having issues with things like car rentals, he'd be refused contracts and it took a while to find out that he always expressed his address as 'Flat 3, 345 Any Road', but it transpired that the database being referenced by these organisations had it down as 'Apartment 3,  345 Any Road'. Enough to prevent verification.  Likewise, when selling my parents house, which was 'Something House, 123 Any Road' - sometimes just had the house name, but no number and sometimes the opposite.  So the more automated systems are used (depending on how well their matching algorithms are programmed), the easier it becomes for modest common sense discrepancies to trip things up.

I had a bank employee refuse to action an LPA because one proof document I took was addressed to 'Mrs F Bloggs' and she claimed that I could live with my sister-in-law with the same initial and it be her document. 

I get that but a bank statement seems an invasion of my privacy, you'd think there was a better way of confirmining my ID without the need to see my income, DDs, SOs etc and other payees

You could also consider it to be very professional and responsible behaviour by the solicitor involved to be absolutely sure that your inheritance is only paid to you - how annoyed would you be if they'd just paid out to some bloke with a similar name who lives in the same town?

They couldn't care less about your income or where you shop, but if you like just take a permanent marker to the details. 

user1977

kuepper said:

I would have thought eg a photo of my driving licence and debit card would provide better proof of my ID.  

And providing those doesn't seem intrusive? They could in theory spend money with your debit card details, they can't with just a statement. Neither the licence nor your debit card are particularly good evidence of your current address, which I presume is what they are really looking for.

Isn't the fact you've inherited money (which obviously they already know about) far more interesting than whatever's usually on your statement?

kuepper

WillowLeaf said:

These places that want an original bank statement dont seem to be aware of the concept of paperless that seems to the default these days

Yes, I'm paperless and bank want £2.50 to send a statement.  Not much but annoying when you think there'd be a better alternative.

BooJewels

kuepper said:

BooJewels said:

It could be something simple like the way your name or address is formatted in some documents, compared to whatever database they use.  Like whether your name is Mr Fred Bloggs, Frederick Bloggs or F B Bloggs etc.

My adult son kept having issues with things like car rentals, he'd be refused contracts and it took a while to find out that he always expressed his address as 'Flat 3, 345 Any Road', but it transpired that the database being referenced by these organisations had it down as 'Apartment 3,  345 Any Road'. Enough to prevent verification.  Likewise, when selling my parents house, which was 'Something House, 123 Any Road' - sometimes just had the house name, but no number and sometimes the opposite.  So the more automated systems are used (depending on how well their matching algorithms are programmed), the easier it becomes for modest common sense discrepancies to trip things up.

I had a bank employee refuse to action an LPA because one proof document I took was addressed to 'Mrs F Bloggs' and she claimed that I could live with my sister-in-law with the same initial and it be her document. 

I get that but a bank statement seems an invasion of my privacy, you'd think there was a better way of confirmining my ID without the need to see my income, DDs, SOs etc and other payees

If they're paying you a sum of money, which potentially might be a large sum, they want to be sure they're paying it to the right person, as already mentioned.  So confirming bank details specifically in this instance might be more pertinent than the details on your driving licence.  I doubt they have the slightest interest in how much you spend in the supermarket.

My sister and I gifted my son some money from an inheritance for a house deposit and I think with that one, I had to provide a bank statement and a cancelled cheque, along with proof of the source of the funds.  I had to provide different formats because his mortgage lender needed some, as well as the conveyancing solicitors.  There was a lot of form filling with that one.

It's just the price of doing financial business these days unfortunately.  As with most things, it's the felonious activities of a few that inconvenience the law abiding many.

YoungBlueEyes

If you go in to the bank they should give a statement free of charge which you can then take to the solicitor.

Alternatively, do you have online banking? Ask if the solicitor would accept a pdf of your bank statement emailed to them.