Extreme Discover Card ID Verification

rbentley · ‎02-25-2020

So on an early morning whim last week, I applied for the Discover card. Their mailing me application invites every week finally wore me down. The application went well but came back requesting a picture of the front and back of my DL as well as my SSA card. The DL was no problem but I didn't think I had a copy of my SSA card and dreaded the thought of having to go to my local SSA office because the lines are so long. I half decided that I would just let the app stat uncompleted, as I didn't think my credit had even been pulled yet. An hour later I got an alert that they had put an inquiry on my Experian file and so I went looking for my SSA card. Found it rather quickly, took the necessary pics and submitted the app. It requested that I let them send me a text code to continue and I did, thinking that this had been an ordeal. I got a message to call Discover and it was only to talk to a CSR who asked to call me back on my cell to verify my number. I agreed, answered the call and I was told I was approved for a $6500 SL, which I thought was small, but accepted.

Fast forward to today and I get an email from EQ on behalf of Discover requesting an IRS 4056-T. I wasn't sure it was real, but an hour later Discover Security called to follow up on the request. I wasn't happy about this. I had declared $70K in income, which is supported by my last few years of returns, but I was not happy about my returns floating around Discover. I reluctantly agreed and was told my card was on hold pending the income verification. I asked if this was routine or if something prompted this scrutiny, as I had never encountered such ID and Income verification before. The Security Specialist said it was routine. Is it?

In retrospect, I regret the app and that I had no real choice but to provide the verification after the hard pull had already been done. (Mod cut - not here, please - The 5 Things We Don't Talk About). Their card - their rules, I guess.

thornback · ‎02-25-2020

Identity verification (license, ss card, etc.) is common for new accounts. The 4506t requests are fairly new for Disco & there are quite a few threads on this... folks losing / closing their credit lines. They even requested the 4506t for secured card applications and folks that have had their accounts for quite some time. Hopefully, since you jumped through all the hoops, all works out well for you. If the income you reported to Disco is fully supported by your returns, all should be fine. Some provided household income to Disco and ended up getting their accounts shut down because their returns only reflected their individual income; others reported "new" income (like afteer a raise) to Disco that had not yet been filed with the IRS and got shut down; others simply refused to comply and either closed their accounts or got shut down.

Disco is a great card though so Good luck!

(oh.. and you may want to consider removing the slightly political line in your post -- while, point taken, we try to avoid politics around here).

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blindambition · ‎02-25-2020

The ID verication isn't uncommon anymore. Especially if new lender. They often do this with address variations. Also with fraud alerts.

The 4506T is also becoming common with Disco and new acct. Did you make a BIG purchase or BT? You should be good to go after providing. Otherwise acct closure would happen.

NimbusIII · ‎02-25-2020

The discovery of discover! The struggle is real. My guess is with all there extra verification lately that they either were hit with a federal indictment or they had a string of I.D. theft burns that left them a need to tighten the belt. As credit pushes the boundaries in the lending universe I would suspect we will start seeing this more and more from other institutions as well.

“The man who says he can, and the man who says he can not… Are both correct.”

Anonymous · ‎02-26-2020

I don't really mind them asking for whatever back-up they want.

I do mind - a lot - that they only request it AFTER the hard pull and the account has been opened and is reporting. I am stuck with a hard pull and a lower average age of credit for a card that was never even sent to me, let alone used.

All I did was try to establish an honest business relationship with them and instead of just refusing, they harmed my credit score. Harming my credit score is MY job!

However, it does mean that since they won't approve me again, I can do a pre-qual every 8 days and get a free Fico 8 score!

AverageJoesCredit · ‎02-26-2020

@Anonymous wrote:
I don't really mind them asking for whatever back-up they want.

I do mind - a lot - that they only request it AFTER the hard pull and the account has been opened and is reporting. I am stuck with a hard pull and a lower average age of credit for a card that was never even sent to me, let alone used.

All I did was try to establish an honest business relationship with them and instead of just refusing, they harmed my credit score. Harming my credit score is MY job!

However, it does mean that since they won't approve me again, I can do a pre-qual every 8 days and get a free Fico 8 score!

You can get a free monthly Ex Fico 8 from Experian.

Anonymous · ‎02-26-2020

While ID verification is a normal process, I feel that this new 4506-T should be included in the app verbage. To at least inform people of said possiblity and not feel blindsided after the HP and supposed new account with SL. And that failure to comply will result in immediate closure.

Not that most of us would even read that fine print...

I mean you're not even allowed to get it from IRS and then send it to Discover, they want EQ to handle botching even more of your info! lol

It's bummer that this is happening more and more with no rhyme or reason, even though they maintain it's routine. Since when though?

Would be nice to know what is promting this, maybe from people who have the reports froxen that Disocer uses to gather income info.

GApeachy · ‎02-27-2020

What I find creepy is that several here have reported that right after or shortly after opening the 4506-T email request from EQ the phone rings and it's Discover. {{{{shivers}}}}}

Lol! How do they know?...do they really Know?

My Take Home Pay Don't Take Me Home

Anonymous · ‎02-27-2020

@GApeachy wrote:
What I find creepy is that several here have reported that right after or shortly after opening the 4506-T email request from EQ the phone rings and it's Discover. {{{{shivers}}}}}
Lol! How do they know?...do they really Know?

I don't think it's that creepy. Most of us have push email so there is likely a rep that has to review them and send the request off manually and when they finish with Equifax they're calling. Sounds plausible to me.

GApeachy · ‎02-27-2020

@Anonymous wrote:
@GApeachy wrote:
What I find creepy is that several here have reported that right after or shortly after opening the 4506-T email request from EQ the phone rings and it's Discover. {{{{shivers}}}}}
Lol! How do they know?...do they really Know?
I don't think it's that creepy. Most of us have push email so there is likely a rep that has to review them and send the request off manually and when they finish with Equifax they're calling. Sounds plausible to me.

Sounds like they send emails with a tracker ( image/web beacons) that pings them when you open it.....KA-reeeeeee-PEE!

My Take Home Pay Don't Take Me Home