SDFCU Membership Application

[dznen1]

I decided to join SDFCU as Ihave read about how it is.  As others have stated, there is no income verification or credit check, just as it also states on their website.

Well, I applied for membership over the phone and was told that they could not open a membership online nor over the phone because they could not verify my identity!

Mind you, the rep asked me security questions that would have been asked when I applied for my credit reports.  If they don't pull credit reports, why do they know what questions to ask that I would know?  

I am confused.  Is there anyone here who can shed some light on this?  I asked the rep if I would get a letter  of denial and she asked me, " Do you want one"?  She sais she will ask a manager to call me back. 

IF, they do not pull credit reports, what do they pull that verifies who I am.  I am in TX. so going in to the bank isn't possible.

Oh and I asked if I could fax a copy of my ss card and dl?  She said no.

IF you can help me with a possible understanding of how they determine/verify ones ID or if this has happened to you, please let me know.

Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

I have checking and savings with them. I know they run a chexsystems report but I am not sure about anything else. IIRC they did a soft pull to verify my identity but I can't swear to that. I opened my account online. I would definitely call back and speak with a supervisor though. You need to know why they are declining so you can correct the problem. Good luck!

[dznen1]

Thanks.  I will call back, if I don't get a call back.  I so need to clear up my credit!  I was told by the cu I need to establish some good credit to off-set  the bad but it's not very easy to do.

 I was able to get  Credit Rebuilder Loan with my Credit Union, but from what I read here, I need a good mix.  I have Wells Fargo being deleted in November of this year and another collection will be deleted in January and one in March of 2016. The foreclosure will end in 2017 as will about 2 others. 

In the meantime, I just want to start the process so that I will have better credit.  This is not a good feeling, being in this credit crisisI

I do appreciate your help. 

[Anonymous]

Have you gotten any credit cards? Fico likes to see 3 with low utilization. I have a secured and an unsecured through Capital One which gave my scores a good boost and I am saving to open a secured through SDFCU as well.

[dznen1]

This is the email I just received:

Thank you for your interest in SDFCU.  Unfortunately, we are unable to open an account for you using our telephone/online channels.  Our telephone/online application process incorporates both an identity verification and an identity authentication component which results in a numerical score that becomes the basis for the decisioning aspect of the process.  We are unable to open an account for you due to our inability to electronically verify your identity as is required by Bank Secrecy Act regulations.  If we are unable to verify someone’s identity based upon the information provided, we are unable to establish an account for that individual.  

In those instances, whenever it is possible, we recommend that the applicant apply in person at one of our branches.   We do thank you for your interest in State Department Federal Credit Union.

Thank you,

State Department Federal Credit Union

Do you think I should still try to speak with a manager/supervisore? BTW, I tried to get a cc with Capital One and was denied, as well.

[Anonymous]

I would call and get specifics like what did they use to try to verify your identity. And open sky has a secured credit card with no credit check. Do you perhaps have a fraud alert or something on your reports? Or a bad history with chex systems?

ETA ask if you can go into a co op branch local to your area. They are linked to tons of other CU's.

[dznen1]

I had a fraud alert about three years ago because someone, somehow who lived in NJ, (I'm in TX.)  had filed a tax return using my info. I was informed by the IRS to file ID Theft reports with my PD and all of the cra's, which I did. I don't think I filed with Chex Systems but I did order my report to see what is on it.  The only thing is, I have been able to get accounts with two cu's lately.  

I will try Open Sky as you have suggested and will update with the outcome.   I will also try to contact SDFCU for a better explanation.

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

That was a great suggestion from Crazedforcredit about asking to speak with a manager and trying to get them to agree you go into a local CU that is linked to them thru the NCUA.

I'm not in a bank or a CU but I would hope they could work out something that would establish your identity to their satisfaction.  I applied for a job that required a security clearance with finger print ID and I had to go to a local police department office and allow the huge policeman to muscle me around to get my prints onto the card.  I had to pay a fee of 10 bucks and I felt like saying 'hey, I am walking in and out of here by myself and paying for your expertise here, dont shove me around to get my hand at the right angle here'.

Anyway, I would think a statement notarized by a CU employee verifying your identity that is in the same CU network should suffice?

[Anonymous]

I just applied for a checking and savings account. SDFCU pulled my Experian report.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I just applied for a checking and savings account. SDFCU pulled my Experian report.

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Inquiring minds want to know... were you approved?

;-)