3v demanding personal documents

Our man in Havana

Got a registered missive thru the door from 3v looking for documents such as passport and 2 bills. Says its so they can comply with their obligations. It says they need them cerified by the gardai.

What will happen if I don't comply with their request? Surely its their responsibity to ask for these documents before allowing a person to buy the 3v vouchers?

Sponge Bob

They will send the guards down to investigate an attempted or suspect fraud if you ignore them, you have basically gone too far to stop now

Random

I thought the idea of the 3V was that you don't need any hassles... topup and go?

Or did I miss something ?

KdjaCL

Thats correct Ciaran unless your buying hardcore porn/weapons or suspected off fraud /drug dealing and laundering, hence the above request


This is the 2nd time i have heard them ask for this, i ask the other guy who got that request what happened in 2 to 3 years time



kdjac

vector

what did you buy to attract their attention?

Our man in Havana

nothing of interest really, paid for holidays & hotels - taxed the car & bought some NON porn DVDs cant think of much else I have bought - took the misses & me on holiday thats the main expense.


Have no intention of sending any details - they should have asked before issuing the card!!!

BrianD

This is where I would say 3v is going to go down the tubes. Having a 3v card is a credit card and that is akin to a bank account. The Criminal Justice Act requires that the financial institution identify the person holding the account to prevent fraud, money laundering etc. 3v is not the perfect way of money laundering but could be used.

What 3v will probably do is close your account but then you can open it up again whatever way you like. By the sounds of it you've spent a lot of money using a 3v card. I wonder is there a threshold that you have passed that made them contact you? BTW Why not get a regular credit card?

Mr Burns

It is €2000 in any rolling 12 month period.

I wonder if 3v could report the OP to the Gardai saying that he is a money launderer or a drug dealer? Or would they need proof before they could?

BuffyBot

I wonder if 3v could report the OP to the Gardai saying that he is a money launderer or a drug dealer? Or would they need proof before they could?

As far as I remember, banks etc are obliged to report any suspicions of money laundering - they don't need proof. 3V should have a Money Laundering Reporting Officer on staff, or attached via their link with ptsb who the suspicions would be reported to initially

Mr Burns

I don't think the Gardai could do alot with it though. The OP doesn't seem to be doing very much wrong. Buying a few flights and taxing his car would not be very money launderish imho.

AFAIK if the Gardai were to approach the OP they would need some sort of proof. It would not be up to the OP to prove anything.

is_that_so

Just standard compliance issue. Had to do it for an account I signed cheques for. Annoying but as long as you have "nothing to hide" no big deal.

Our man in Havana

I am certainly not in the drug business or laundering money. I can't get a normal CC.

I don't have any bills in my name. So it seems I can't comply even if I wanted to.

Squaddy

If youve nothing to hide let them come after you, they are wasting time and money. Theyve no evidence....

Our man in Havana

I think that what I will do. I will sit tight and see what happens.

Blackjack

If you want to keep using the account, I'd ring them and ask them what else you can provide if you don't have these.

Surely you have some other docs from the Revenue or somewhere in an official capacity, a Bank Statement perhaps?.

I would not ignore it - organisations don't go to the bother of Registering these things for the fun of it. Not unless you don't want to use it anymore.

Our man in Havana

I am not pushed either way. Tbh I would just stop using them. I am getting a debit card from AIB shortly so no need for 3v anymore.

Squaddy

^^ If you do ring them up tell them criticise their service and tell them you wont be using their service anymore, you have rights too....

vector

their agreement with Visa might require them to request documentation from a random selection of customers, a spotcheck designed to placate the anti-money laundering authorities

ja_diz

Banks have to verify the identity of their customers once they spend this amount of money on any product. Its the law. Its nothing to do with what your buying - they couldn't care less. Its the fact that you've moved €2000 through one of their financial services. Once that hapens thay have to know who you are - thats why they asked for documentation. If you give it to them they just record it and you can continue on. If you don't they have to suspend your account. Its all european law to prevent money laundering.

Our man in Havana

I still haven't given them the docs and nothing has happened.