Identification - Solicitors

[vixpy1]

I have been asked by a city bank to supply identification so they can transfer some assets into my name, they want a copy of my drivers license or passport which has been certified by a Solicitor or banker etc..

Just been to a Solicitors and they say they can no longer do this except for their clients.

Is this true?

[pdV6]

Don't know... but why should they provide a service for free?

Just a thought, some Post Offices can do certified copies of documents for passport applications, so why not for other uses?

[Big Al.]

Think you'll find a GP's and Surgeon's come into this category.

[vixpy1]

pdV6 said:

Don't know... but why should they provide a service for free?

Never said I wanted it for free..

[pdV6]

Odd. I've never known anyone in the legal profession to turn down cold hard cash...

[mutt k]

Think you just need to shop around. I've had to do this several times recently and found it quite easy to get the documents certified. Very often I think the cash goes straight ito the pocket of the certifying solicitor's pocket rather than to the firm as receipts are never offered.

[pdV6]

mutt k said:

Very often I think the cash goes straight ito the pocket of the certifying solicitor's pocket rather than to the firm as receipts are never offered.

Aha - proably hit the nail on the head there, then
Solicitor gets diverted from billable time to pocket a bit of cash... firm gets annoyed and bans the practice?

[Davel]

Think it's something to do with this anti money laundering scheme.

We've just instructed a new solicitor and had to provide passport/driving licence info, copy of utility bill for home address etc.

Even employing a new member of staff now, I've been told that you should ask them to provide similar info.

>> Edited by Davel on Wednesday 15th December 16:51

[Eric Mc]

These ID chcks are part of the procedures brought in to comply with The Money Laundering Act and The Proceeds of Crime Act. It would be ironic if solicitors were back pocketing cash (A Money Laundering Act and Proceeds of Crime Act offence) in their fulfillment of the regulations.

[Billsnemesis]

Effectively the solicitor is providing confirmation of identity. Each firm will have its own means of establishing identity of a new client but would not want to be part of the process of identifying someone for whom they have not carried out their own checks.

Our procedures for confirming the identity of a client are complex and time consuming and there is simply no mileage in it for a firm asked to certify a copy document for someone who is not a client.

What seems odd is that the bank want a certified copy rather than production of an original. Surely they should be prepared to use their own judgment to check an original?

I would ask them why production of the original for the bank to check and take its own copy is not adequate.

[vex]

Isn't this what the States call a notery public, (poor spelling)

A couple of people round here offer that service.

[agent006]

vixpy1 said:

Just been to a Solicitors and they say they can no longer do this except for their clients.

Surely if you pay them to certify the documents, you become a client?

[Eric Mc]

The banks are just trying to pass responsibility on to a third party - like they've succeeded in doing with the introduction of the chip and pin credit cards.

[vixpy1]

Billsnemesis said:

I would ask them why production of the original for the bank to check and take its own copy is not adequate.

There are several different banks, all of them city ones instead of highstreet ones.

[2 Smokin Barrels]

If they know you they are less likely to certify a fraud. For the pocket money they'd charge to certify a document the risk ain't worth their while

[simpo two]

Irony: the solicitor won't do it because they can't be sure of your identity, but you want a copy so that it will prove your identity...