UPDATE: Barclays wanted Drivers Lic / Soc Sec Copies.. Escalated to Execs and Approved

[Anonymous]

Dont APPLY to Barclays.. I was thinking of getting this card and not using it.. (Utilization Boost)... tsk tsk... Why would anyone want to send their Social Security Card and Driver's License through the physical mail.... I asked if i could fax in copies, and they said NO... No way im sending it in, Especially to a P.O. Box.. Im definitely gonna file complaints at the BBB, CFPB and Delaware Attorney General's office.. for this ridiculous hard inquiry I just got.

Even if they do approvals.. thats very suspicious. Anyone can get that envelope and basically hit Jackpot...

Beware of Barclays..

[ryox03]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Dont APPLY to Barclays.. I was thinking of getting this card and not using it.. (Utilization Boost)... tsk tsk... Why would anyone want to send their Social Security Card and Driver's License through the physical mail.... I asked if i could fax in copies, and they said NO... No way im sending it in, Especially to a P.O. Box.. Im definitely gonna file complaints at the BBB, CFPB and Delaware Attorney General's office.. for this ridiculous hard inquiry I just got.

Even if they do approvals.. thats very suspicious. Anyone can get that envelope and basically hit Jackpot...

Beware of Barclays..

---

thats odd. Where did you apply? They never requested anything like that from me. No issuer has...

[Anonymous]

I think you're overreacting a bit (or a lot) I understand not being comfortable sending in your information but not every verification with lenders Barclay or otherwise is taken care of by phone. If thats their process in your case then not much you can do except refuse and move on. But advising others not to apply based on this experience is a tad extreme.

[Anonymous]

That is extremely strange.  Are you sure you didn't apply through some email phishing link or other fraudulent site?

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Dont APPLY to Barclays.. I was thinking of getting this card and not using it.. (Utilization Boost)... tsk tsk... Why would anyone want to send their Social Security Card and Driver's License through the physical mail.... I asked if i could fax in copies, and they said NO... No way im sending it in, Especially to a P.O. Box.. Im definitely gonna file complaints at the BBB, CFPB and Delaware Attorney General's office.. for this ridiculous hard inquiry I just got.

Even if they do approvals.. thats very suspicious. Anyone can get that envelope and basically hit Jackpot...

Beware of Barclays..

---

Why get a card you won't use, utilization purpose or not? It is still a new tradeline and can impact your credit. What they are asking for is verification where you would send in a copy of both in the mail. I am surprised they did not offer the option of going to a local bank and verifying identity there with a notarized letter and copies. BBB, CFPB, and the like will not hear it, honestly as this is standard business practice and actually is a security feature. If someone applied for a card with your information and did not have these documents to tender then fraud has been effectively deterred. Adding to that, No hard inquiry is ridiculous unless you absolutely did not apply for credit.

[Anonymous]

It is a copy they are requesting, and it is becoming more common. Were you thinking that they wanted you to mail your actual license?

[Anonymous]

I think you misunderstood what they were asking of you. They were asking you to send in "copies" of your SS card and driver's license - not the actual cards.

[Pway]

There is something called VERIFICATION.  Telling others not to apply is something you should not do.  I can see a bad experience but VERIFICATION is something that is normal and is becoming more common.  I mean come on now. 

[longtimelurker]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

It is a copy they are requesting, and it is becoming more common. Were you thinking that they wanted you to mail your actual license?

---

OP is concerned about the sending in the information which could be intercepted and used for identity theft.   So a copy is almost as good for that purpose.    

[Anonymous]

---

@longtimelurker wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

It is a copy they are requesting, and it is becoming more common. Were you thinking that they wanted you to mail your actual license?

---

OP is concerned about the sending in the information which could be intercepted and used for identity theft.   So a copy is almost as good for that purpose.    

---

And when and IF that happens, there would be cause for concern. There have been way bigger security breaches than this before.