Cannot Verify Me Online

Shar | Feb 27, 2018 | 21 posts since 2016

I tried to open a NASA Federal Credit Union account online and it was rejected because they said they couldn't verify my information. They wanted several types of documents/cards to be notarized, which my bank and local currency exchange wouldn't do, so I just shrugged my shoulders and decided I would open a CD with someone else. Well, this morning I tried doing an online application with BMO Harris and the same thing happened. Some of the information did not apply to me at all and there was no box to say, "None of the Above." I went in person to BMO Harris where I had no problem in opening the CD, but the banker did say another person with my name came up in their systems. Is this why my online application got rejected twice. How can I fix it so that this won't happen again? Twice in a row is raising red flags for me and seems more than a coincidence.

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Answers

Sylvia | Feb 28, 2018 | 389 posts since 2012

Have you pulled your credit reports? That's where I would start.

Shar | Feb 28, 2018 | 21 posts since 2016

Do you mean credit scores? I did do it recently at Credit Karma and they are in the excellent range. The banker thought the problem might be in the verification questions like, "Which of these streets are nearest where you live?" None of them were near me.

DAJunkie | Feb 28, 2018 | 12 posts since 2016

I'm not sure this is relevant in your situation, but I was also nearly tripped up on that
question recently. However, careful followup research revealed one of the 'foreign' names
presented was indeed 'nearby' (several miles!). Even with multi-decade residence at the same location, the street name posed was surprisingly unfamiliar. Note similar questions,
possibly offered in context of an even less familiar area, such as your employment address, can be devastating!

Although I barely managed to pass the test for that institution's application, I subsequently
experienced a mysterious 'failure to verify identity' result on a similar one elsewhere.
In that case, a CSR suggested restarting the entire application process from scratch.
Fortunately, that was finally successful.

Your second experience (BMO online) does seem more suspicious though.

Shar | Mar 1, 2018 | 21 posts since 2016

I will try to do another application by scratch if it happens again. Thanks!

Sylvia | Feb 28, 2018 | 389 posts since 2012

Not credit scores, the actual reports. Find out which credit bureau they used (e.g., Equifax), then get your report. This is to make sure there's no suspicious stuff suggesting identity theft. The other person with your name presumably would not have your same SSN so should not have confounded info used to authenticate you.

Shar | Feb 28, 2018 | 21 posts since 2016

Thank you, Sylvia.

Sylvia | Feb 28, 2018 | 389 posts since 2012

My pleasure, Shar. In case you're unaware, https://www.annualcreditreport.com. You can get a free one annually from each of the big bureaus.

Bozo | Feb 28, 2018 | 1,375 posts since 2011

Shar, give them a phone call. I recently joined INOVA FCU to avail myself of their 14-month 2.3% IRA CD. Aside from a photo of my driver's license (sent by e-mail), the branch manager took all the information over the phone. A few hours later, I was in the branch, all the paperwork was done and ready for me to review and sign.

Shar | Feb 28, 2018 | 21 posts since 2016

Unfortunately NASA FCU was adamant about the notarized documents. However, my main concern is why this is suddenly coming up now when it hasn't been an issue before.

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