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I was out and about today and one of my errands was to pick up an Internet order from a shop. All well and good, "have you got your confirmation email?" Yes, here you go. "Thanks very much sir, that's all sorted, just one more thing, do you have any ID?"
Well... no, I have my phone. I don't have my wallet because I didn't think I'd need it. "It says on the email that you need to bring..." yeah yeah, that would involve me reading a click & collect notification email. Sorry. Oh wait, I have a photo of my driving licence on my phone! "We can't accept photographs." Oh, er... bollocks then, stalemate, it looks like I'm driving an hour plus round trip to go back home.
But then he says "do you bank in town? You could ask them for a statement, we could accept that." Sounds leftfield but can't hurt to try I suppose. I wandered across town to the branch (which looks like an Apple store these days, I see now where the money's gone from closing my local one). Explained the situation, she said sure, we can do that.
She had me sign a scrap of paper, asked me for my account number and sort code (she actually said "if you log into the app you can find..." but I know it offhand because Geek). Tippy tappy, here's your statement for last month. Back at the store, "that'll do nicely sir."
So, PSA: if you find yourself needing ID when you don't have any, your bank can do it. It would never have occurred to me if the bloke behind the counter in CEX hadn't suggested it.
It can get a bit silly. I once had to argue as I'd given my passport as ID but they wanted "more points ID" like a passport wasn't sufficient to pick up a parcel (which could have been left at my house).
Yet the same dum-fks leave my new watch (which needed to be signed for) on my front porch. Dur.
You'd think they'd have just scanned the Bill Gates chip 🤔
As an extra PSA if you only have your phone the post office have an app, easyID, that you can add verified copies of your passport and license to. Not sure if anyone would formally recognise it though.
I have in the past used my railcard app as photo ID.
A Twitter Blue account should sort it out.
I’d given my passport as ID but they wanted “more points ID”
I thought a passport was the gold standard for ID. It's the only photo ID I have. A bank statement doesn't prove anything unless you can show that you are the account holder.
No address on a passport is there?
So the ID they actually wanted was the proof that the name & address on the parcel matched something you had - which a Passport wouldn't.
Wait for Voter ID in March AKA Voter Suppression.
If your lucky like us, our Council Tax bill is emailed to us.
Council Tax seems to be like cat nip for Jobsworths
One is reminded of a Bill Bryson anecdote - caught out by the imposition of ID checks for internal flights in America, he rummages through his bag and finds a book with his picture on the back, but that's not accepted. Eventually he finds an old driver's licence but that too is turned down - "sorry sir, but that's expired."
"Then I won't ask to drive the plane." 🙂
I’m d rather like my driving license on my apple wallet. My BC race licence is in the case but that doesn’t have my address.
She had me sign a scrap of paper, asked me for my account number and sort code (she actually said “if you log into the app you can find…” but I know it offhand because Geek). Tippy tappy, here’s your statement for last month. Back at the store, “that’ll do nicely sir.”
This sounds.... uhm.... nice and secure, doesn't it?
This sounds…. uhm…. nice and secure, doesn’t it?
Sounds very insecure....
Last time I went to the post office delivery depot place to collect a parcel and my wallet was in my other coat pocket I showed the guy my name on my phones Apple ID and he was happy with that…
I thought a passport was the gold standard for ID.
You'd think, wouldn't you? However, I have to get by DBS check renewed for Scouts and have to provide passport (sounds reasonable), driving license (for address maybe?) and birth certificate (because a 48 year old piece of handwritten paper issued at Glossop town hall is absolutely infallible...)
This sounds…. uhm…. nice and secure, doesn’t it?
All you need to write a cheque is account number, sort code and a signature.
Good PSA for now but my local branch is about to shut. It was the last one in the area, I'll now have to drive for at least half an hour to get to branch. I'll keep carrying my [s]id card[/s] driving licence. Useful for voting too.
All you need to write a cheque is account number, sort code and a signature.
...and a cheque book with those details preprinted on the bottom strip. Whilst in theory a cheque can be written on anything, who's going to accept anything other than an 'actual' cheque? The bank you attempt to pay it into certainly won't.
Disappointed this wasn't about the conservative peer dissing the governments requirement for photo ID to vote, on R4 this morning.
Daft question, what bank ? Hardly any branches now !
Yeah there’s no actual bank branches left are there.
just remembered bulb app on my phone allows me to download a statement which would work as proof of address. In fact when I need paper copy of proof of address I download it from there and print it…
Wait for Voter ID in March AKA Voter Suppression.
Its not voter suppression. It is to prevent election fraud. This is a major issue. In 2019, the last year we had large scale elections, 595 cases of alleged electoral fraud were investigated by the police. Of these, four led to a conviction and two individuals were given a police caution.
Need to reduce those crime stats, four convictions from millions of votes are four too many!
Oh look over there, a squirrel!
So, PSA: if you find yourself needing ID when you don’t have any, your bank can do it.
They can, if you have an old fashioned bricks and mortar bank, but some will charge you for the pleasure.
Tnis whole ID thing is such utter bolleaux - one more illustration of our broken country. MrsJ has been going through endless hoops relating to ID for her "settled status" application and also for DBS.
yeah, mine did years ago, would be quicker to just nip home 😂Good PSA for now but my local branch is about to shut.
Seems very inconsistent, it's pretty rare though to actually get asked for ID these days I'd say. Got a new van battery (over £100) from Halfords at the Weeknd and all they wanted was my name (no proof)! Yet recently had a £20 order from B&Q which they refused to give me without ID (showed them the text on my phone etc) which was really frustrating!
Best (worst, for security, I guess!) one was Screwfix, I walked in and said "I've just ordered..." and they'd got the item on the counter & handed it to me before I'd even said what it was (I literally had just ordered it on my phone less than 5 mins ago), no name/number/anything 😃
…and a cheque book with those details preprinted on the bottom strip. Whilst in theory a cheque can be written on anything, who’s going to accept anything other than an ‘actual’ cheque? The bank you attempt to pay it into certainly won’t.
Anyone who gets a business cheque which is just printed on the bottom of a letter?
And who goes to a bank to pay in a cheque anymore?
Best (worst, for security, I guess!) one was Screwfix, I walked in and said “I’ve just ordered…” and they’d got the item on the counter & handed it to me before I’d even said what it was (I literally had just ordered it on my phone less than 5 mins ago), no name/number/anything
Crazy thing is that it’s entirely the opposite at my local Screwfix. It’s not a fraud hotspot but they insist on seeing photo ID regardless of the item or cost. Obviously if I’m going to steal something, a £10 bottle of central heating inhibitor is a prime choice.
You’d think, wouldn’t you? However, I have to get by DBS check renewed for Scouts and have to provide passport (sounds reasonable), driving license (for address maybe?) and birth certificate (because a 48 year old piece of handwritten paper issued at Glossop town hall is absolutely infallible…)
You don't have to actually provide those (although for the 200+ DBS applications I have verified in the last 2 and a bit years they are the most commonly used). There's a load of things you can choose from - at least one has to show your address.
Daft question, what bank ? Hardly any branches now !
HSBC. My local branch was Accrington which closed ages ago, but I was shopping in Blackburn.
just remembered bulb app on my phone allows me to download a statement which would work as proof of address. In fact when I need paper copy of proof of address I download it from there and print it…
This crossed my mind when I was halfway across town, whether they'd accept a statement on the app on my phone as proof.
Seems very inconsistent, it’s pretty rare though to actually get asked for ID these days I’d say.
To be fair, it was CEX. I expect that most modern-day pawn shop equivalents have a high incidence of people trying to fence stolen goods. I'm not too surprised that they were a little twitchy about security.
To be fair, it was CEX. I expect that most modern-day pawn shop equivalents have a high incidence of people trying to fence stolen goods. I’m not too surprised that they were a little twitchy about security.
Probably something in the pawn-traders trade association code of conduct etc...
I work for screw fix. This is pretty much the worst part of the job.
Please dpnt pick on the sales assistant behind the counter who won't hand over your makita site radio at £179.
Its not my fault you didn't read the confirm email and text telling you to bring the card for a pin check. Or the "your order is ready to collect, please bring card or ID if you paid with PayPal"
Tjis is not hard.
Why are you shouting at me because you failed to read the texts.
There is a simple 3 step system we are trained to follow.
Surname, what you have ordered and then postcode check if low value, pin check or photo id if higj value or PayPal.
You would be shouting even more if i gave your de humidifiers to the wrong James Turner for example, or someone on a site overhead you saying you had ordered a new radio fron screw fix and thought they would try their luck.
I dont think we would accept a bank statement either.
We have been the victims of theft and fraud and some of scheming is very clever.
With the cost of living only going up fraud is on the increase too. Shouting at someone on £10.50 ab hour because you failed to follow simple instructions is quite harsh and unnecessary, im not saying you were shouting, not at all but it happens alot and there have been threats of physical violence ad well.
I tend to meander through life woefully underprepared, but it would never occur to me to go and pick up a parcel, hire car, whatever without proof of address. Jesus you've got to do this stuff to use our council recycling centre* midweek, and to be honest that place is a bit of a dump.
But from the OP, is it a big deal to know your bank details? I've not got 'that sort' of memory, any sort of memory really, but I know the long numbers on my cards as well as bank stuff, NI number (only realised i knew it when asked for it when hiring a car), employee no. and a bunch of other work ones, passport number just through familiarity. I don't think I know my NHS number, and I know many fewer phone numbers than back in the day as you just don't have to.
*Actually I've got a special pass now. Get me.
This is pretty much the worst part of the job.
Please dpnt pick on the sales assistant
I don't know if that's addressed at me but, of course I didn't do that.
I didn't read the email beyond "your order is ready for collection" for the same reason that I don't read the EULA when installing a printer driver. Who does? When challenged I replied yes, I'm a nob for not reading it, sorry. The whole point of my OP was to pass on the helpful advice provided by the store because it would not have occurred to me to try the bank. It was all very amicable.
Aside: I don't remember ever being asked for ID at Screwfix. Maybe when I initially created an account?
Yoti app on mobile. Contains name, address, DoB, photo, phone number. Log in with a 5 digit code.
Aside: I don’t remember ever being asked for ID at Screwfix. Maybe when I initially created an account?
that's just internet dating for you
You're confusing Screwfix with Screw Fix.
You don’t have to actually provide those (although for the 200+ DBS applications I have verified in the last 2 and a bit years they are the most commonly used). There’s a load of things you can choose from – at least one has to show your address.
But it's perfectly possible to not have anything which shows your address. If your bills and accounts are online, or in your spouse's name, you can be stuffed 🙁
Re read it.
The part where i said " im not saying you did this, not at all..."
That bit.
We try to be helpful and there are usually ways to prove id without it becoming confrontational.
I usually say " its a simple check to make sure we dont give your items to someone else"
But it is one of the challenges, that and refunds where either the eg drill has clearly been abused, or the job they bought it for has been completed so they now want to exchange it for a sander.
Sure.
I've worked in customer-facing roles. It's how I honed the finely-tuned people skills I have today. 😁 Most people are great, but a few are entitled arseholes.
Funny this should come up. I was talking to someone who worked on digital driving licenses in NSW yesterday. He was sceptical of the value and security at the time. Now he’s used it he’s a convert, and I think it’s a great idea! Haven’t had to use a wallet for years.
The only snafu I’ve found is that other states don’t yet recognise the digital license, so picking a car up at an airport can be frustrating.
I had some dimwit refuse to accept a SGC as proof of Id. FFS. Photo, address, police check needed.
My SGC is the only thing I do have with adress.
Strikes me as mad. I’d love to see stats for opportunistic thieves that either steal those cards that get posted through your door or save their “you have a parcel at x” emails just so they can go and collect somebody else’s parcel. Thwarted by the need to produce a random piece of ID. What if you went to all that trouble and the parcel was something really shit?
Remind me, why is the UK press so against the French ID card system in which everyone who wants one (no obligation to own one or present it to anyone if you do have one but don't want to) gets a free biometric ID card yo prove who they are if ever they need to. It makes a whole load of formalities easier. Electoral fraud isn't much of a subject here either.
My SGC is the only thing I do have with adress.
I just had to Google SGC and I'm still none the wiser. File me along with your dimwit. *Shrugs*
Tnis whole ID thing is such utter bolleaux – one more illustration of our broken country.
This country is, I believe, unusual in not having state-issued photo-ID, and in quite a few it’s mandatory.
Remind me, why is the UK press so against the French ID card system in which everyone who wants one (no obligation to own one or present it to anyone if you do have one but don’t want to) gets a free biometric ID card to prove who they are if ever they need to. It makes a whole load of formalities easier.
Something, something, intrusive government overreach, something, something…
I dunno, either. I can’t see why any ordinary, reasonable person would object to carrying an official plastic card with basic details, along with a photo and maybe a QR Code link to a government website confirming the validity of the details. Many people don’t have a passport, mine ran out some years back, and plenty of people don’t drive, so don’t carry a driver’s licence.
I do, it’s in my wallet which is always with me, and I’ve been asked for ID quite often when collecting a parcel from the Post Office or other local collection point.
I’m not sure about having a driver’s licence in my phone’s Wallet - it’s becoming standard in most of America, but I’m not certain about here.
had some dimwit refuse to accept a SGC as proof of Id.
What's one of those, then?
Regardless, the guys on the desk probably have a list of company-approved forms of ID and aren't allowed to go off piste.
why is the UK press so against
The UK press is against anything that they think will sell newspapers to the intellectual proletariat. It'll be paprika next week.
Sorry. Shot Gun certificate.
I care not a toss about company policy. If they or their company have conditions they are expected to be fool proof, especially when they accept less secure ID. If a company cannot cross a few Ts they they damn well should learn to.
Remind me, why is the UK press so against the French ID card system in which everyone who wants one (no obligation to own one or present it to anyone if you do have one but don’t want to) gets a free biometric ID card to prove who they are if ever they need to. It makes a whole load of formalities easier.
Thats never been suggested as far as I know. What is suggested is compulsory ID cards and that reverses a lot of the basis of UK law.
Remind me, why is the UK press so against the French ID card system
If our govt could be trusted not to abuse the system, maybe there'd be more support.
I thought we were told by QAnon or such that needing tp carry ID had been resolved by the small microchip that was in each dose of the Covid vax. 🤔
Just a thought OP......wallet with driving licence in?
Old school me. 🙂
Sorry. Shot Gun certificate.
I care not a toss about company policy.
And they probably don't care what you care. Your lost, next customer please.
The problem here is that they aren't trained to recognise a shotgun certificate. It can be challenging enough spotting forged money and they see that every day. An ID is only as good as the reputation of its issuer (what in my world is called a "chain of trust") and your licence issuer is not a recognised authority to a layman.
What cougar just said. I bet a lot of folk don’t even know you can legally possess a firearm in the uk let alone recognise a bona fide shotgun certificate, sorry, sgc.
I guess if they do recognise your sgc the double win for them is that they now also know that not only you are who you say you are, but you’re mentally fit enough to operate said drill/ site radio etc….
Also who carries a shotgun certificate round with them all the time in preference to a driving licence? They’re much bigger and harder to stash and you’re not even obliged to have it on you when you are actually transporting/ using your shotgun IIRC, only when buying one, buying cartridges etc. I certainly wouldn’t be leaving it in the car/ van just in case I needed to pop to Screwfix!
If I had a shotgun certificate I don't think I'd be showing it to people to advertise the fact I'd got a shotgun to steal. They've got your address too.
When asked for proof of ID, I fix the personage with a hard stare and yell "DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM?????"
And if that doesn't work I see to the miscreant with my cane in order to remove the responsibility from their manager for giving them a damn good thrashing, and then flounce off, top hat at jaunty angle and my smoking jacket tails flowing raffishly behind me.
Or I show them my photocard driving license.
I just produce my shotgun
When asked for proof of ID, I fix the personage with a hard stare and yell “DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM?????”
You're Ronnie Pickering 🤣
Just a thought OP……wallet with driving licence in?
I have one of those. It was in my bag at home.
If I had a shotgun certificate I don’t think I’d be showing it to people to advertise the fact I’d got a shotgun to steal. They’ve got your address too.
It could have the opposite effect?
When asked for proof of ID, I fix the personage with a hard stare and yell “DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM?????”
Tromping back to the store at the weekend, I did idly think that it was a shame I wasn't the Queen, because I had a fiver in my back pocket.