A couple of hours ago I had a call purportedly from Nationwide UK asking if I received their letter about closing my account. Immediate red flag.

 

Apparently unless they receive a copy of my passport by early June for KYC checks they will have to close it. Hmmm

 

To verify it's me I will have to answer some security questions. Even bigger red flag.  Nope, no way. Lol

 

They he asked me to call a U.K. number to speak to the correct department and give them details. As he was talking I checked the number online and others had reported a scam on that number. Apparently a fake letter is sent out with a QR code to use. Lol

 

Anyway, he wasn't getting anything out of me, so I proceeded to rant on about the banks to rack up his phone bill. When I stated that you can't be too careful these days as there are so many scammers out there he seemed anxious to get off the phone.  🙂 

 

I'll wait and see if I get letter and probably send Nationwide a message to clarify. 

 

Just a head's up.

 

 

 

 

Yeah just contact Nationwide independently, don't use links or phone numbers provided. 

 

I rarely answer the phone, check the number after the call

**Update**

 

So it turns out that this is not scam as I first thought. 

 

Accessing my secure online Nationwide account there's a pdf in the documents section bizarrely named idv-bridge which shows a letter sent me at the beginning of May. The letter states that if I don't comply with their ID requirements my account may be blocked or closed. 

 

They give a link to a company called Mitek who handle online id's. They seem to be legit. You have to have your face and your passport photo verified as matching. 

 

You might want to check it out if you have a Nationwide account as they're not giving much time to confirm before they act.  

 

On 5/14/2025 at 9:06 AM, Baht Simpson said:

Accessing my secure online Nationwide account there's a pdf in the documents section bizarrely named idv-bridge which shows a letter sent me at the beginning of May.

 

Nothing there for me.

 

On 5/13/2025 at 8:19 PM, Baht Simpson said:

A couple of hours ago I had a call purportedly from Nationwide UK asking if I received their letter about closing my account. Immediate red flag.

 

Apparently unless they receive a copy of my passport by early June for KYC checks they will have to close it. Hmmm

 

To verify it's me I will have to answer some security questions. Even bigger red flag.  Nope, no way. Lol

 

They he asked me to call a U.K. number to speak to the correct department and give them details. As he was talking I checked the number online and others had reported a scam on that number. Apparently a fake letter is sent out with a QR code to use. Lol

 

Anyway, he wasn't getting anything out of me, so I proceeded to rant on about the banks to rack up his phone bill. When I stated that you can't be too careful these days as there are so many scammers out there he seemed anxious to get off the phone.  🙂 

 

I'll wait and see if I get letter and probably send Nationwide a message to clarify. 

 

Just a head's up.

 

 

 

 

You don't even need a passport to open an account, so why would they ask you, Passports are not mandatory ....yet.

This might help

 

https://www.nationwide.co.uk/help/your-details/using-biometrics/

Around the same time as the OP got his phone call in May, I was deluged by letters from most of the banks, building societies and finance companies that I have accounts with in the UK. 

 

All of them asking for extremely detailed KYC details, including my Thai tax ID, UK national insurance number, updated passport copy etc.

 

This is the first time I've ever received such demands and so obviously it points to new, anti-money laundering legislation.

2 hours ago, brian69 said:

You don't even need a passport to open an account, so why would they ask you, Passports are not mandatory ....yet.

This was a long existing account. You do need identification information as part of the periodical Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer checks. ID could be a passport or Drivers Licence or something similar. A utility bill can be your proof of your residence. 

 

As a former AML officer I'm aware of the regulations and understand that these two things haven't changed. 

 

The issue wasn't the request for AML data, it was the method they were using and the speed in which it needed to be done. I guess they've set a time limit to get this completed. 

1 hour ago, Baht Simpson said:

This was a long existing account. You do need identification information as part of the periodical Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer checks. ID could be a passport or Drivers Licence or something similar. A utility bill can be your proof of your residence. 

 

As a former AML officer I'm aware of the regulations and understand that these two things haven't changed. 

 

The issue wasn't the request for AML data, it was the method they were using and the speed in which it needed to be done. I guess they've set a time limit to get this completed. 

Just ignore it, easy to log in using a card reader, and any UK bank card reader will do, (presuming you have a current atm card.)

54 minutes ago, brian69 said:

Just ignore it, easy to log in using a card reader, and any UK bank card reader will do, (presuming you have a current atm card.)

Brian, I think you're getting confused. This wasn't about logging in; I've used a card reader for many years for that. My post was made in May and this issue was resolved long ago via the NW website.

It’s getting harder and harder for expats. Not allowed accounts in your own country nor in Thailand. C@nts.