Banks To Check For Illegal Immigrants.

[anotheoldgit]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/21/uk-banks-to-check-70m-bank-accounts-in-search-for-illegal-immigrants

Since they have now been warned in advanced , perhaps the government would be wise to investigate those who withdraw their accounts now?

That is of course if they actually have money to place in the bank's care.

[jackthehat]

It seems a sensible idea.
However, I fear the implementation will be cack-handed and numerous problems will abound....

[youngmafbog]

One wonders if the reason for announcing it is to flush out the first wave by looking at accounts being closed.

It's a start although many are probably operating cash to avoid taxation and being traacked.

[Mamyalynne]

Sensible but as Jack says, let's hope chaos does not ensue.

[Togo]

Why were the banks not doing that from day 1?

[fender62]

Togo, same reason why they gave loans to people who could not afford to pay it back, like mortgages

[Togo]

Aahh I see Fender. If you are a good liar or the right "sort" no questions asked.

[New Judge]

Yet another example, following on from haulage contractors, employers and landlords, of organisations being required to do the job of the UK’s Border Agency.

“Banks and building societies are to carry out immigration checks on 70m current accounts from January in the biggest extension of Theresa May’s plans to create a “hostile environment” for illegal immigrants in Britain, the Guardian has learned.”

Yes, so stand by for all 70m account holders, 99.999% of whom are perfectly entitled to be in the UK and to hold a bank account, to be asked to go through yet another rigmarole to continue going about their lawful business. In fact it’s already started. Last month I had a missive from my stockbroker (with whom I have held an account for more than fifteen years). It read thus:

"New legislation (The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive 2 (MiFID II)) requires us to confirm the nationality and National Client Identifier (NCI) for the account holders on your joint account by 3 January 2018. Your NCI will depend on your nationality but in most cases it will be something you've already been issued with. For example, for UK nationals it's your National Insurance Number.
If you do not provide this information, you will be unable to trade shares, ETFs, investment trusts, bonds and a number of other stock market listed securities from 3 January 2018. You'll also be unable to take part in certain corporate actions on these holdings, should one arise."

They already have this information. They've had it for fifteen years and I told them so. Not good enough. They need to have it again in response to their specific question. Regulations, dear boy. Well that should get rid of a few illegals.

[Peter Pedant]

// That is of course if they actually have money to place in the bank's care.// dear sweet old AOG

jesus even I can see that if one doesnt have an account or money in an account - then you cant really investigate sudden withdrawal ( er of the money of course)

presumably there is a banking code -ii- for illegal immigrant or something

[Peter Pedant]

// (with whom I have held an account for more than fifteen years). //

banks are already required to do due diligence on a regular basis by current money laundering regs

once and that is it for life is not good enough

[Peter Pedant]

// Regulations, dear boy. //

read again - you're a judge! - R v Shah

S. have you transferred my money ?
bank no
S why not
Bank we cant tell you

fear of tipping off - upheld by the courts

[ubasses]

'Why were the banks not doing that from day 1?'

They have been, as far as the information they have access to has allowed. Being able to check against a list of known names and having a reporting process now give them an advantage. In the past greatest care has been taken with I/D. Trying to work out if a passport is genuine is not always easy and if refugees they have to produce the correct Home Office Documentation. During my working days many applicants were sent away, but there was no way to report them.

[jourdain2]

They will, as usual, hit the ordinary folk and fail to find the more cunning and criminal. Written by someone who has just spent a month convincing her bank that she is not liable to French taxation laws! I await more idiotic letters!

[EDDIE51]

I saw this earlier today
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/education-41358791/immigration-check-wrong-bank-accounts-will-be-frozen
It boils down to the fact that many immigrants particularly Muslims have virtually identical names and it will be impossible to sort out who is who.

[EDDIE51]

Continuing the theme , did the know the most common surname for a UK doctor is Khan and the second most common is Patel ?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2738067/Dr-Khan-likely-Asian-surname-common-doctors-Patel-second.html
How are they going to check which of the hundreds of thousands of Khan's and Patel's are the legit ones, I'm not just talking of doctors here, it's any of them with a bank account.