The tie-up enables all panel solicitors to initiate an automatic ID check themselves at the point of acceptance of their instruction. The system, it claims, will considerably speed up the conveyancing process for clients, estate agents, intermediaries and solicitors.
With these changes, solicitors who are part of E2M’s panel will themselves perform an automatic identity check and receive the result within seconds of accepting instructions thus helping to prevent fraud and money laundering, as well as to deliver a quicker progression through the chain. This is particularly useful if the instructed solicitor is not in a convenient location for a client to visit in person with their formal ID.
In many cases a client is asked to show formal identification three times to multiple people in the same process – solicitor, mortgage adviser and estate agent. In addition, it can take up to five working days to get copies of ID to solicitors, considerably slowing the process.
Karen Babington, sales and marketing director at Easier2move, commented: "The home buying process is often unnecessarily long and arduous. By introducing ID checks at the very beginning of the process we hope to be able to ensure an efficient and speedy service which will keep clients happy and make sure introducers are paid as promptly as possible."
Keith Marsden, managing director at 192.com Business Services, said: "Performing a quick and accurate ID check is key to preventing identity fraud and money laundering. Given the rapid evolution in fraudulent tactics, the industry needs to stay ahead of the game and do all it can to protect both the business, and its customers."
