Strict ID Checks – There’s a Good Reason…

At Freers Askew Bunting Solicitors we have a strict client identification procedure, which may seem tedious at first, but we can assure you it’s for a very good reason. As fraudulent property claims are on the rise, our procedures ensure that we protect you and ourselves as much as possible from any of these unwelcomed activities.

We will initially ask you to come in to one of our offices either on Baker Street or Borough Road in Middlesbrough, or the Market Place in Guisborough (at a time and date that’s convenient for you) and bring with you two forms of identification – photographic evidence of name and date of birth and evidence of your current address. Forms of ID we accept are listed below:

Photographic Evidence of Name & Date of Birth

• Current valid full passport
• Current photocard driving license
• HM Forces ID card
• Firearms Certificate

Evidence of Address (Recent meaning within 3 months of the current date)

• Recent Bank/Building Society statement
• Recent utility bill or council tax bill
• Recent mortgage statement
• Current driving license (if not used from above)
• Council Rent Card or Tenancy Agreement
• Recent credit card statement

If you are not able to visit our office in person (it may be that you live out of the Middlesbrough/Guisborough area), we will require you to have your ID certified by a practicing Solicitor from another firm. This is simply so we can ensure that you are who you say you are. The Law Society Gazette published an article about a recent judgement to do with this kind of fraudulent activity. The judge found both the Solicitor and fraudster negligible as sufficient ID checks were not carried out.

The judgment, published here, effectively means that lawyers representing the purported sellers bear responsibility for carrying out sufficient checks on their clients.

Cheques – Old school, but it works…

When your matter has completed, you will be sent any monies owed to you via a cheque. We get asked on many occasion to do a bank transfer, but unfortunately for security reasons, our company policy forbids us from doing so. Due to recent fraudulent cases in the UK, this is the safest and most secure way to issue you a refund.

The cheque will be issued in the name of the person that appears on the Land Registry, this is to ensure that any monies owed is sent to the correct person. If it’s more convenient for you, it is possible to collect your cheque from the relevant office in Middlesbrough or Guisborough.

Should you have any queries about this, please don’t hesitate to contact us.