RetireJapan

Occasionally when dealing with overseas businesses, especially financial, I've been asked to supply some certified identification to prove my name and address. Totally understandable. In the past I used the UK embassy but they don't offer much these days, and definitely won't do anything with Japanese documents. Later I used a notary who provided exactly what I wanted, top service.

Anyway I just started communication with a potential new business in the UK and had some bizarre replies by email. Initially asked for utility bills which threw up 2 issues. First I don't have paper bills, just online. Secondly anything that arrives here is written in Japanese so completely useless in the UK.

So, I explained how I had previously used a notary service to notarize a document with copies of my passport, and gaijin card with translation of the information. Accepted by my UK bank with no issues.
I received this response: " We are able to accept international IDs as a proof, but they would need to be certified in the UK."

Try as I might I can't figure out who in the UK would be able to carry out this task, and how it could be done considering I don't live there.
The strange thing is the company say they are OK with overseas residents opening accounts. Obviously this guy hasn't had this experience.

Anyway, out of interest, how do you guys deal with this issue? I can recommend a good notary in Tokyo should anyone need one.

Sounds like they don't want non-residents to apply?

Well this is on their webpage:
[Anyone with an existing UK pension can become a customer of ******, regardless of nationality or tax residency.]

They also say:
[There are some providers (usually those with older, paper-based systems) who might require a certified copy of an ID]

Although the person I'm mailing obviously has no idea what form that would take.
That's why I'm trying to be clear before going any further. As you can see it's a pension company.

My intention if I go forward is the notary, just wondered if anyone has had experiences.

Sounds like you're stuck in a bad customer service situation, and need to get your request escalated to somebody who knows what they're talking about.

All sorted, Japanese notary will be enough. Misunderstanding on the guy's part and maybe helped when I cc'd his boss

Jake wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:15 am All sorted, Japanese notary will be enough. Misunderstanding on the guy's part and maybe helped when I cc'd his boss

Ah, the CC the boss move. Your kung fu is strong.

Jake - How was the notary service? I might need to send proof of residence abroad and the office said they need a certified copy of something with my Japanese address on it.

Can you just show up at one of the notary offices with your Japanese driving license for example and get it certified or translated?

Thanks.

Sean.

Nishiki2013 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:59 pm Jake - How was the notary service? I might need to send proof of residence abroad and the office said they need a certified copy of something with my Japanese address on it.

Can you just show up at one of the notary offices with your Japanese driving license for example and get it certified or translated?

Thanks.

Sean.

This is the place I went to https://www.koshonin.com/english.html

Very professional. I had a blank form from my bank, photocopied it with my passport and gaijin card and wrote my address in English below the copy.
The notary checked the details were correct, signed and stamped the form and also added their own forms in Japanese and English. Very good service.
Driving license should be OK, of course it won't harm to have that with the gaijin card and passport at hand.

I have used them twice, once for my bank who wanted proof of who I am after nearly 40 years as a customer and once for an inheritance.
You can probably make your own document, that's what I will do next time. Sign it in front of the notary staff though. I just turned up last time and explained what I wanted.

There are many notary offices, but my local one would notarize anything they couldn't read..... even though the purpose is simply to confirm your ID.

Jake - Thanks for that. There's an office a few kilometres from my home so I'll take my DL there.