Progressing
Posted: Mon 22 January, 2007 Filed under: Domestic, House Purchase 2 Comments »Tonight, we’re filling in the second of the really big forms regarding the house purchase.
First came the mortgage application, and all the joys that come along for the ride with that one (three hour appointment, shitloads of paperwork, all that guff) and we’re still waiting to hear the results from that one. (Which reminds me, really must give the IFA a call today or tomorrow)
Tonight is the stuff for the solicitors – we’ve appointed some, but we now need to fill in all their forms, provide copies of ID (although quite what that proves, I don’t know) and all that shit. So that’ll be fun, then.
ID check is because of the anti-money laundering regulations. (same as when you open a bank account)
Since failure to stop/report money laundering (which technically includes handling any money which is the ‘proceeds of crime’, including that £10 cash in hand you didn’t put on your tax return) can land the solicitor (or any other professional) with up to 14 years in prison, most organisations are fairly conscientious about it. Yes, I know that seeing ID doesn’t prove you’re not trying to launder money, but it is a way of the solicitor / bank showing that they are taking all reasonable steps to identify their clients and know where the money is coming from. This is also why many solicitors and other professionals will not accept large payments in cash. :-))
(Of course, any serious criminal can no doubt get false ID if they really need it, so it’s the poor sod with no passport or photo drivers licence who has problems, but hey, they probably don’t vote either so why worry . . . )
The issue, though, is that because we’re dealing with a solicitor Far Far Away, we’re not sending any ID through the post, all they’ve asked for is copies of the ID.
Which, frankly, is fucking pointless.