Government issues ID after 19 years?

[retro_koopa]

Hi

I have been selling with eBay fro 19 years, I recently moved and they suspended my account. They are asking for either a Driving License, Passport or Government ID card, none of which I have and none of which I want or need.  

I've spoken with an agent 4 times over the past 2 days, 3 said 'oh you'll be fine with a birth certificate and a utrilty bills' (which I uplaoded but it didn't work) and today the final straw was a non-plussed lady saying 'yeah, you need to have photo ID and that's that, don't know why it's taken 19 years to ask and I don't care, bye'

What is this all about? You were happy enough to take a slice of my money for 19 years and now it's all 'stuff you'? How can a company demand you have a passport or driving license? seems suss to me.

[*vyolla*]

I had to supply the same a few months ago to eBay and to another selling site, photo ID is something that's going to be needed for ID verification for most online sites now. Pretty sure it's needed in order to be able to vote in the UK too.

It's not a requirement that eBay have decided to implement, I believe that it's some money laundering/ID requirement set by the government. 

[retro_koopa]

Cheers for the reply, I've been raging all weekend. The difference with voting (which I did do, I got one of those voter things) is getting that ID is free, I don't drive (I'm for to angry for that LOL) and passports are expensive (and I don't need one)

Do you reckon the voter ID thing will count as ID? and I've been raging for no reason LOL 

[sml192]

A birth certificate and utility bill should be sufficient provided the details on each exactly match those on your eBay account. 

[*vyolla*]

Post #3 on this thread is from an eBay employee and they state that you can use a birth certificate and utility bill for ID. That was back in January, I've no idea if that still stands:

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Payments/Photo-ID/td-p/7553658

[*vyolla*]

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@retro_koopa wrote:

I've spoken with an agent 4 times over the past 2 days, 3 said 'oh you'll be fine with a birth certificate and a utrilty bills' (which I uplaoded but it didn't work)

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I think that might be the issue here, if you uploaded the documents but something went wrong. I'd try again, and factor in the following:

Please note that when uploading documents, you need to upload a clear picture in full (so, the information on it can be read, and no information is cut off the picture). Also, if you decide to upload the birth certificate with proof of address, please note that the proof of address can be any bill with your name on it, and it can't be more than 3 months old.

[the-nutwood-collection]

I've seen it suggested on these boards that you should apply for a provisional driving licence, cost £34, lasts 10 years, and is accepted by all the pests that want photo ID. 

[lucy_farmer]

Never got the need for 'photographic ID' on online sites......... nobody has a clue what you look like, online!

[sml192]

I don't think it's really about the photo, more the fact that Government Issued Photo ID is the most official form of ID that a person holds and the most difficult to forge. 

[*vyolla*]

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@lucy_farmer wrote:

Never got the need for 'photographic ID' on online sites......... nobody has a clue what you look like, online!

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They probably have a good laugh at everybody's passport photos. I look like a serial killer in mine. 

[retro_koopa]

Ha! This was my back up plan if the voter ID doesn't work. As you say, a lot cheaper than a passport 

[*vyolla*]

I will say, that in this day and age of identity theft, it's really worth investing in a passport, just in case you need to prove who you are. Identity theft is a nightmare to sort out.

[retro_koopa]

Whilst you make a very good point, I'm very much an 'old man shakes fist at the clouds' type when I feel the 'bloody governement' is trying to steal my 'the data'

[marco@ebay]

Hi retro_koopa, thanks for your post.

As *vyolla* advised in post number 5, referring you to one of my old posts, you can definitely upload a utility bill that is not older than 3 months along with a birth certificate. I was checking for you there, and the ones you uploaded didn't match, or was not valid or readable. Due to the nature of this query, and privacy and security reasons, we can't tell you exactly what it was. However, you can contact customer services, so they can properly guide you to resolve this.

Alternatively, you could try uploading everything again, and make sure that the bill and your birth certificate is showing the entire page (do not cut off anything off the picture), and it is clearly readable. Also make sure that the information on your documents match exactly what's on your eBay account, as otherwise you will get a mismatch error, and lastly make sure that your bill is not older than 3 months. 

Thank you,

Marco

[ile136yz]

Did you get a Voting Photo ID?   If you did, take a scan of this & send to eBay.

[theelench]

Recently it's mostly the govt. that's forcing us to disclose our sensitive data, weakening our security.

Is there anything securely private and confidential that we haven't had to submit and verify to ebay (and every other financial site we use) to prevent money laundering, tax evasion, financing terrorism or realising the proceeds of crime?  

I don't think there will be once we've all handed our NINOs over, as the govt. now wants us to do.

So having put every shred of secure, personal info. we possess on-line and vulnerable, what will be the next demand?  Retinal scans every time we sell a used frock or old vase?  Finger-print ID to use an ATM 'to make sure it's really you'?  

[1956glyn]

I have a question Marco.   Most womens names will not now match that on their birth certificate.

So would this be automatically rejected?

[lucy_farmer]

So : utilites bill, birth certificate *and* wedding certificate?

[kempseykate]

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marco@ebay 

Well, I have my maiden name, married name, and re-married name! so would I need to document all this? I'm not sure that I have my first wedding certificate/divorce papers.

[marco@ebay]

Hi 1956glyn & kempseykate,

In order to be in compliance, the names on the docs you upload have to match the names in your eBay account. Otherwise, we won't be able to verify the information, as different names could mean that it could be a different person, which is why the names have to match.

This is all done for safety and privacy reasons, and we have to be in compliance, so while I understand that this is probably not ideal, we have to stick to all laws and regulations.

Thank you,

Marco