So we're at it again next day.
Now if like me, you have never heard of 'VERIFY' before, it is a system that apparently allows your identity to be confirmed using information on file at a number of 'Private Companies' about you. Now this is promoted by HMRC, if they get positive feedback, they will accept this as proof of your identity.
It is unclear who instigated this system, or if it has anything to do with HMRC.
You are presented with a list of companies and organisations who can do this for you, companies like Royal Mail, several banks, several credit reference agencies and digi info companies.
We choose DIGIDENTITY a company which says once 'Verfied' by them your cyber identity is secure. Do you have a passport? No! driving licence, yes! .... give us all the details. Do you have a current account? .... yes, give us all the details. Do you have another bank account or credit card? ...... er yeah! ..... give us all the details........sorry we can't verify you with the information you have given us, do you have another bank account or credit card? ..... fuck this I tell him, they are 'harvesting all your personal details' so say no, we do, then it tells us to take a photo of yourself and your driving licence and forward it to them. At this point I log it out.
We are referred back to the 'Verify' site which says sorry, HMRC were unable to confirm your identity,
Experian says they can help, and we forward to their site. Same MO as the other firm, driving licence, current account. Despite my mate having had a bank account with the same branch for almost 40 years, they say they can't confirm his details. Do you have another bank account? (he does now and is willing to give this up) ...give us all the details......Sorry Nationwide is not part of the 'Verify' scheme, give us the details of your credit card account which starts with the number 4 and ends with the number 2 ...... WTF!! but he says ok, and they want everything down to his closing balance. ....... Sorry we are unable to find details of this account, do you have another credit card from this selection? ..... I tell him to fuck this off, they know the numbers then say they have no record of it? ......this whole thing stinks!
The upshot is, he has now given all this information away for no result using this 'VERIFY' scheme, It is not about you it's these private companies harvesting as much personal information as they can from you.
It's a fucking disgrace that HMRC are promoting this scheme.