[Finance] Proof of ID

[Lyndhurst 14]

I wanted some taxation advice from an accountant. They asked for a copy of my passport and a utility bill as proof of ID. Seems pretty standard so far to comply with anti money laundering laws. I sent them copies of the documents and they are now requesting an additional ID check which involves sending a copy of my passport and a selfie to a specialist 3rd party who will use facial recognition software to check authenticity. This seems really OTT especially as no financial transactions or investments are involved, just some taxation advice. I've had many times when I've needed to prove ID and a copy of a passport or driving licence has always sufficed. Any NSCers have any experience of this sort of thing.

 

[dazzer6666]

I wanted some taxation advice from an accountant. They asked for a copy of my passport and a utility bill as proof of ID. Seems pretty standard so far to comply with anti money laundering laws. I sent them copies of the documents and they are now requesting an additional ID check which involves sending a copy of my passport and a selfie to a specialist 3rd party who will use facial recognition software to check authenticity. This seems really OTT especially as no financial transactions or investments are involved, just some taxation advice. I've had many times when I've needed to prove ID and a copy of a passport of driving licence has always sufficed. Any NSCers have any experience of this sort of thing.

Presumably they haven't seen the original documents as you sent copies - would explain their additional due diligence (which they'll have outsourced as it's a pain in the arse)

 

[Flounce]

They’ll probably bill you for the third party check too

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Presumably they haven't seen the original documents as you sent copies - would explain their additional due diligence (which they'll have outsourced as it's a pain in the arse)

That's true. They are a London company, so may try and find a local Brighton company where I can just turn up with the docs. Just don't like the idea of docs like that being in the hands of third parties

 

[Goldstone1976]

KYC rules/best practice has continued to tighten. Not unreasonable.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

I wanted some taxation advice from an accountant. They asked for a copy of my passport and a utility bill as proof of ID. Seems pretty standard so far to comply with anti money laundering laws. I sent them copies of the documents and they are now requesting an additional ID check which involves sending a copy of my passport and a selfie to a specialist 3rd party who will use facial recognition software to check authenticity. This seems really OTT especially as no financial transactions or investments are involved, just some taxation advice. I've had many times when I've needed to prove ID and a copy of a passport or driving licence has always sufficed. Any NSCers have any experience of this sort of thing.

I think you have to do the same thing for online passport renewals so probably standard procedure.

 

[Easy 10]

I think you have to do the same thing for online passport renewals so probably standard procedure.

Nope. I renewed my passport online a couple of months ago. All I had to do was upload my picture (and post them the old expired passport).

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Had to do this when verifying my identity to open my son a bank account. Scan of passport and a photo of me holding it open at the photo page. Biggest problem was I couldn’t use my bank statements from the same bank as proof of address.

 

[Nicksinclair13]

To be honest it does seem like par for the course with a lot of regulated activities these days…

For the FCA/other regulatory bodies they will have to evidence that they have done their due diligence or they face hefty fines or striking off.

As you have provided initial docs then been asked to provide more, it may well be something has flagged - I.e similar name/date of birth to some reprobate.

As much as it is a ball ache for you, they would rather inconvenience you for 10-15 mins to provide this info rather than spare you the hassle and get their collars felt.

I do sympathise with the whole ‘don’t want these documents in the hands of 3rd parties’ however we are now in 2025 and in all honesty those docs will likely already be in the ether somewhere.

Even if you turn up somewhere physically, they will likely scan it into the interweb anyway for their records.

It’s a pain but I would likely just comply with the path of least resistance to tick the box and get the help you need

All the best with it!

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Nope. I renewed my passport online a couple of months ago. All I had to do was upload my picture (and post them the old expired passport).

You‘re right. I know my daughter had to do it in the last year so it may have been when she registered online with HMRC.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I had to do this, plus a video passport verification thing, when I recently obtained an esim for my phone.

 

[Badger]

I actually work on identity verification software at my company. Uploading your document to an app and then doing a video/liveness check is quite a common step for identity verification now. To clarify a few things on how this usually works:

- The document images and video will be uploaded to the third-party tool which will have to comply with data protection rules, get stored securely, and get deleted (probably after 30 days) unless you are creating an account and agree to keep the data stored there.

- The third-party will only share relevant information with the business you are dealing with. So, they wouldn't be sending your document image, just the bits of information you are proving - this might just be a flag to say "this person has a valid ID" or "this person is over 18". This is a key advantage over showing your ID in person, where you are over-sharing all the other information on the document which they don't need to know.

- It's a lot cheaper and quicker to do validation this way, over in-person document checks. It's also been proved a computer can do a better job of recognising a likeness to a picture on an ID.

(Yes, I'm fun at parties)

 

[Skuller]

It seems to me that all these shenanigans are there to cause as much pain as possible to the honest citizen, while the ne’r-do-wells seem to have no difficulty creating bogus UK bank accounts when they want you to “protect” your money by moving your life-savings into them.

 

[Easy 10]

It seems to me that all these shenanigans are there to cause as much pain as possible to the honest citizen, while the ne’r-do-wells seem to have no difficulty creating bogus UK bank accounts when they want you to “protect” your money by moving your life-savings into them.

I disagree.

Yes its a hassle to take these extra steps, but if it makes it harder for these SCROTES who are looking to exploit any online loophole they can get to harvest our private data and details, then we just have to suck it up. I'd prefer submitting some extra security details, onerous as it may be, than having a quick and easy option and then getting savagely BF'd further down the line.

 

[dazzer6666]

I disagree.

Yes its a hassle to take these extra steps, but if it makes it harder for these SCROTES who are looking to exploit any online loophole they can get to harvest our private data and details, then we just have to suck it up. I'd prefer submitting some extra security details, onerous as it may be, than having a quick and easy option and then getting savagely BF'd further down the line.

…..is the correct answer

 

[Cheshire Cat]

If I am not me, then who am I?

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I wanted some taxation advice from an accountant. They asked for a copy of my passport and a utility bill as proof of ID. Seems pretty standard so far to comply with anti money laundering laws. I sent them copies of the documents and they are now requesting an additional ID check which involves sending a copy of my passport and a selfie to a specialist 3rd party who will use facial recognition software to check authenticity. This seems really OTT especially as no financial transactions or investments are involved, just some taxation advice. I've had many times when I've needed to prove ID and a copy of a passport or driving licence has always sufficed. Any NSCers have any experience of this sort of thing.

Seems over the top for taxation advice.

Assuming you haven’t met them face to face as the selfie element of the check in financial services mitigates fraud in that they can evidence the ID was supplied by the genuine party rather than a genuine ID being used dby somebody else.

Who’s the third party, I can at least give a view on their credibility having worked in FS financial crime now for 25+ years if you have any concerns?

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Seems over the top for taxation advice.

Assuming you haven’t met them face to face as the selfie element of the check in financial services mitigates fraud in that they can evidence the ID was supplied by the genuine party rather than a genuine ID being used dby somebody else.

Who’s the third party, I can at least give a view on their credibility having worked in FS financial crime now for 25+ years if you have any concerns?

A company called SmartSearch.

I agree with your comment about seeming OTT for taxation advice - I'm not investing or making a financial transaction

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

A company called SmartSearch.

I agree with your comment about seeming OTT for taxation advice - I'm not investing or making a financial transaction

Maybe it’s more to protect them than you? I don’t know the ins and outs of the law but it seems good business practice to fully verify someones ID.

 

[Dave the OAP]

If I am not me, then who am I?

Spartacus?