all this so-called security and they fall down on the simplest precautions.

I recently had to supply original copies of my own birth and marriage certificates and Mr L's birth certificate in order to claim an occupational pension.

of course, I sent it "signed for" delivery. they sent it back in an unsealed envelope - the glue on the flap hadn't been touched.

and when I had to send off the bamk book recently, I sent it "signed for" and it came back ordinary post. so did my credit card, and I'm lucky I've got honest neighbours because that was delivered to the wrong house.

I'll believe it isn't just nosiness taking advantage of ill-thought-out legislation, when elementary common-sense dictates the handling of valuable documents.

We have had all sorts of useful documents sent back regular post that anyone could have used for ID fraud. Its all sent back in one envelope so there is all the information you need in one handy place!

quote:

I'll believe it isn't just nosiness taking advantage of ill-thought-out legislation, when elementary common-sense dictates the handling of valuable documents.

Yeah that's right, all businesses love the fact that this legislation is a barrier to business! They love the fact that they have to spend millions of pounds self regulating money laundering legislation! And all because they love being nosey?

Believe me, all businesses are interested in is your money. Your Birth certificate is not of any great interest to any Bank or Solicitor. Do you think they sit there going "oooh she was born in such and such, and her father was a cobbler, how interesting".

The FSA fine and can imprison those not showing due diligence. A risk not worth taking.

quote:

Originally posted by stateofplay:
They had to tighten legislation due to millions of pounds going through Banks in London that funded Al Quieda. Sad fact but true.

If you have nothing to hide then just accept it and do as asked, if it helps to stop terrorism it is a price worth paying.

Oh I agree entirely with the principle of the money laundering regulations to stop organisations from laundering millions of pounds in this Country but my point was from my above post is that some Companies have got it so wrong in how they deal with the Government Act and interpret the rules. In my case it was £525 and it was my money they were holding on behalf of the Tenant, paying it to me!

The only people all this extra legislation won't affect are the terrorists. They'll find a way around it.

It's the thin end of the wedge...

quote:

Originally posted by stateofplay:
Yeah that's right, all businesses love the fact that this legislation is a barrier to business! They love the fact that they have to spend millions of pounds self regulating money laundering legislation! And all because they love being nosey?

Believe me, all businesses are interested in is your money. Your Birth certificate is not of any great interest to any Bank or Solicitor. Do you think they sit there going "oooh she was born in such and such, and her father was a cobbler, how interesting".

The FSA fine and can imprison those not showing due diligence. A risk not worth taking.

you evidently didn't read the post. documents sent through the ordinary post without any precautions - such as simply sealing the envelope - can be reead by anybody who gets hold of them en route. do you know how many thousands of articles get "lost" every year? ever heard of identity stealing?

No, I disagree, I definately read your post.

In fact I quoted the script of your post that I was replying to.

And yes, I have heard of identity theft. How you would stop that from happening is a different matter, recorded delivery will not act as a deterrent. I had to stop using recorded delivery as a high percentage of my letters were being stolen. I now send them in a plain envelope, and have had no problems since. Of course, I do take the precaution of sealing the envelope.

Another thing that happened to me recently.

The company I use for online share trading wrote asking me for proof of id even though I'd been with them for years and years. They wanted original utility bills etc. I didn't want to send it as I was in the middle of moving.

Anyway they must have had complaints so they changed the policy to send a letter to each investor containing a code number to enter online to verify that the investor lived at that address.

But by then I'd moved. Luckily I had royal mail re-direction in place and it had redirected the letter to me (royal mail re-direction is pretty unreliable). So I was able to enter the code to verify my address, even though that wasn't really my address anymore. I've yet to convince them I've moved, if they want utility bills for that it's difficult as it takes a while before the first bills come through. In the meantime they still write to the old address and who knows who the new occupant is and how honest they are...