"Money Laundering ID Required" really is the subject line on a letter sent to me today as an email attachment by the Estate Agents whom I appointed in January to sell my house in the UK. I was very tempted to send them the terse response that since I am not nor intend to be engaged in that activity, I have not bothered to apply for a Money Launderer's ID. Besides which, to whom would I apply and why would I want to identify myself as undertaking in a criminal activity? The body of their succinct letter is as follows: Now that might seem a reasonable request at a first reading and until I tell you that the sender has been acting as my agent for over 7 months, that I live in the Philippines - exactly 7,410 miles from their office - that I visited their office on 3 occasions during the last week of July and I do carry when travelling printed scans of both my Passport and Philippine Aliens' Residency ID (ACR-I Card). At no time did they ask me to produce ID whilst at their office nor during the following three weeks whilst still in-country. I did some checking and it's by no means a new piece of bureaucracy: Estate Agents - and Letting Agents - have been required to register with HMRC for anti-money laundering compliance since 2007 and was one of Ed Balls' dictats! They are required have their clients positively identify themselves using at least one form of government-issued photo ID. Banks are also under a similar obligation and additionally must carry-out money laundering checks on transactions. This raises two issues. Firstly is it really up to a private company to act as Policemen - remember, this is somewhat similar to Teresa May's ill-considered plan to have Lettings Agents and employers check that their tenants and employees are legally entitled to live/work in the UK, a plan that was still-born. The second concerns data protection and prevention of identity theft and fraud: Estate Agents will have thick files full of scanned copies of current Passports, Drivers Licences and what have you - an identity fraudster's wet-dream. You might want to bear this in mind the next time you rent accommodation or sell a house: choose your agent with care and apply due diligence! It wouldn't be so if they were truly professional and regulated. But they're not.
Not exactly, John, no. The agency declined my suggestion that they provide me with a round-trip air ticket since it is their clear omission that my identity wasn't verified when I visited their offices. However, at their suggestion I have emailed a copy of my Passport to them and they will talk to their legal compliance officer so see if that will suffice. Since HMRC already has copies provided to them by my bank and by my Solicitor (necessary for her to be able to transfer funds to my account), they should be able to compare them. I am however a tad concerned that the compliance officer will be a jobsworth and physically require me and my Passport to be at one of their offices failing which the agency may have to cease acting for the sale. But there is a chance that I will have to make a further visit later this year on family business but I am keen that the house should not be withdrawn from sale in the meantime.
Get a passport copy notorised by a public notary in the Philippines, and mail it to the agency in the UK. I have used this method on several occasions for banks / building societies. I recall that it cost me about 100 peso.
I don't know if you can still claim domicile in the UK; if you can I suggest signing up for Noddle reports (it is free) https://www.noddle.co.uk/ For even better protection (also for free) you could get yourself an Aqua Credit card which will then give you some otherwise paid-for Noddle services which alert you whenever there is a change on your credit status... http://www.aquacard.co.uk/
I am sure you can log into Noddle from overseas, even if it means using a proxy server. The question is, can anyone sign up for Noddle if they are no longer domiciled in the UK? If they cannot, they may want to contact all three credit reference agencies and have a note appended to each of them saying that no applications for credit can be made in their name. This can be done via a NOTICE OF CORRECTION and is entirely free. This should allay any fears that Markham has about his 'Money Laundering ID' being used for fraudulent purposes. But I think his main worry is the manner in which his Estate Agent has handled this matter. The fact is the banks fail to follow the rules on anti money laundering as this news report shows... http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/apr/17/nigeria-governor-james-ibori-sentenced.
Thank you one and all for your suggestions! Dave: Sending a notarised copy of my Passport to the UK won't work in this instance as HMRC only accepts notarisations from countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention which the Philippines is not. I had already looked into that a few years ago when I had to comply with another similar request. It now appears that I will have to make another trip to the UK in any case within the next few weeks. My ex-wife has decided to vacate the property, taking with her all the furniture (as agreed) and it will therefore be empty. Even though she has kept up the buildings and contents insurance - and the policy is still in my name - the policy is voided 15 days after she moves out. Normal household policies will not cover empty properties apparently. Via my Solicitor I am having to obtain 'empty buildings' insurance which has a veritable shopping list of requirements and I will have to arrange for new insurance-grade locks and for a frost-stat on the central heating system (so that it automatically energises should the temperature drop below 3 degrees). The insurance company will send my Solicitor the necessary declarations that have to be completed (and notarised!) when the work is completed. None of this can take place until after the ex vacates (in case she manages to get the new keys) and I have to be present. I will however be fully-covered should my property be broken into and occupied by squatters, the insurance company not only covers all the damage but also all the repossession legal costs. This is all a bit of a long-winded way of saying that I will now have an opportunity of complying with the agent's money laundering requirements, albeit at some expense.
Could your solicitor in the UK notarise the photocopy he has in his possession and forward to the Estate Agent?
