AMEX requesting photo ID

[RicksAlfas]

For 20 plus years my wife and I have had an American Express cashback card. The account is in my name and my wife is an additional card holder. A couple of months ago AMEX contacted her by phone requesting her photo ID was uploaded to their website. My wife said she wasn't happy doing this and finished the call. They then sent her an email asking the same thing by which time she'd got the huff with them and as we've got other cards she decided they could lose her business. Last night she received this:

We recently contacted you requesting information regarding your Account. This is to comply with regulatory requirements in line with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing Regulation and to fulfil our 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) obligations. Unfortunately, your Card Account has been suspended as we have not been able to verify your information.

What's puzzling me is why haven't they asked me as the account holder for my ID?
Also, why don't Visa or Mastercard ask for this? Or is it just the start and eventually they all will be doing?

Anyone else had this from AMEX?

[egomeister]

I suspect its coming everywhere. I've had to do it for a couple of my cards recently (not even credit!)

[Jonathan27]

Its a regulatory requirement - and perfectly reasonable request. If you get your card from your bank you may not need to do it separately as they will have gotten this when you opened the account, and maybe with AmEx you may have provided it when the account was opened.
If your wife doesn't want to provide photo ID to a card provider, then she may well soon find herself unable to get a card.

[Guyr]

I've got this as well. I suspect they asked for my ID when opening my account about 30 years ago, but never did when I added my wife as an additional cardholder.

I assume they've decided, or have been ordered to, verify all the additional cardholders identities.

[Somebody]

My Mrs got this exact same request yesterday from AMEX as a supplementary card holder.

[RicksAlfas]

Somebody said:

My Mrs got this exact same request yesterday from AMEX as a supplementary card holder.

Let's hope she's less stroppy about it than mine!

[jonsp]

Couldn't you upload your wife's passport/licence yourself?

Understand that might cause a row short term but have to assume if she continues to refuse it will raise a black mark.

[Sheepshanks]

Us too - did it a few weeks ago. Was bemused it needed wife, as an additional cardholder, to have her own log in.

Took quite a while - maybe 10 days - for them to confirm all OK.

[egomeister]

jonsp said:

Couldn't you upload your wife's passport/licence yourself?

Understand that might cause a row short term but have to assume if she continues to refuse it will raise a black mark.

In my examples above you needed to take a pic of the ID then do a selfie to verify, but these were both app based accounts so other providers might not be so techy

[alscar]

Had exactly the same thing a few months ago.
Wife rarely uses the second card.
I think it took me about 5 minutes to log on create the account details for her and do as requested ie upload the driving licence.
Received an email confirming all ok within 5 minutes.

[Terminator X]

Jonathan27 said:

Its a regulatory requirement - and perfectly reasonable request. If you get your card from your bank you may not need to do it separately as they will have gotten this when you opened the account, and maybe with AmEx you may have provided it when the account was opened.
If your wife doesn't want to provide photo ID to a card provider, then she may well soon find herself unable to get a card.

What benefit is it giving to Amex and/or the cardholder?

TX.

[alscar]

Terminator X said:

What benefit is it giving to Amex and/or the cardholder?

TX.

Allows Amex to tick the KYC box and the cardholder to add that second card.

[TGTiff]

I keep getting age verification requests even though I have had my account for 40 years.
Yet they still deny my information and I have to ring up there call centre and go through a barrage of questions to buy a bloody nail trimmer off amazon.
This better bloody change soon or they will be losing a customer!

[chip*]

I don't get all the fuss with this KYC / photo request myself. Earlier this year, I had to provide a biometric facial scan in order to activate the mobile token (critical to approve payments and account set ups) on my non UK banking app. I am sure my facial profile will be used / tracked in public places when I am abroad, but then I really don't have anything to hide.

[Rough101]

Revolut are doing the same.

Thus far the people I’ve heard moaning about that and the Companies House verification are the same ones moaning about Turkish barbers etc., they want everyone else scrutinised, not them.

[I 8 a 4RE]

The comments relating to: I won’t do it, you’ll lose a customer in multiple comments.

Do you really think AmEx care about losing a single customer vs the impact of not meeting their regulatory obligations?

[SV_WDC]

RicksAlfas said:

Anyone else had this from AMEX?

Yes.

[psi310398]

I had to do this today and the app was having complete brain farts, as was the website. My advice is to go straight to customer service rather than wrestle with the IT.

I had finally to engage with chat function which confirmed that the KYC team had received my driving licence photos and told me not to worry about the other questions. Apparently KYC will contact me within 4 working days if they need further and better etc.