Validation process for ensuring ratepayer proof-of-identity

The request was partially successful.

Dear Westminster City Council,

In terms of the Freedom of Information Act of 2000, could you please provide me with information on how you ensure that ratepayers are who they say they are when they contact you to transact on their accounts.

More specifically, please provide the following information on your verification process for securely validating ratepayer identity before they transact on their accounts (where transactions can be anything from updating their bank details, to requesting refunds):

* What information (be it proof of identity, account numbers, specific transaction details) do you require from ratepayers to validate that they are the person they claim to be, and – in the case of commercial ratepayer accounts – authorised to transact on that account?
* Has this verification process been validated by a security professional?
* Has this verification process been approved by your auditors and/or the insurer that covers your fidelity guarantee risk?
* How often is this process re-validated, and when was the last time this was done?
* Could you provide any correspondence, or certification, which proves this validation?

Note that I am not requesting any personally-identifying information, only the process itself.

Yours faithfully,

Gavin Chait

Knowledge Information Management Team, Westminster City Council

Information request
Our reference: 5799941

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Dear Mr Chait
 
Thank you for contacting Westminster City Council's Knowledge &
Information Management Team. 

Your query will be allocated for response, and someone will contact you
within 5 working days to confirm the details of your request and whether
it is subject to a fee. 

Please see the Westminster City Council website for further information on
Data Protection policies
- [1]http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/c...

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Where your request relates to the provision of CCTV Footage with regard to
yourself or your property, you MUST complete a CCTV Subject Access Request
Form (please click on URL above). 

Please note that the Council is not responsible for all cameras operating
in the borough. Nor can it guarantee that any incident(s) requested were
captured by its CCTV operations. Furthermore, in line with its policies
the Council retains footage for no more than 31 calendar days from the
date of recording. 

Please see the Westminster City Council website for further information on
requesting CCTV footage -
[2]www.westminster.gov.uk/cctvrequests 

Kindest regards, 
 
Information Management Team
Westminster City Council
5 Strand
London
WC2N 5HR
[email address]
 
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References

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Westminster City Council

Information request
Our reference: 5799941

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Dear Mr Chait
 
Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Thank you for your request for information that was received on 30 June
2017.
 
Request summary
please provide me with information on how you ensure that ratepayers are
who they say they are when they contact you to transact on their accounts.

More specifically, please provide the following information on your
verification process for securely validating ratepayer identity before
they transact on their accounts (where transactions can be anything from
updating their bank details, to requesting refunds):

* What information (be it proof of identity, account numbers, specific
transaction details) do you require from ratepayers to validate that they
are the person they claim to be, and ' in the case of commercial ratepayer
accounts ' authorised to transact on that account?

* Has this verification process been validated by a security professional?

* Has this verification process been approved by your auditors and/or the
insurer that covers your fidelity guarantee risk?

* How often is this process re-validated, and when was the last time this
was done?

* Could you provide any correspondence, or certification, which proves
this validation?

Note that I am not requesting any personally-identifying information, only
the process itself.
 
We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000and we aim to send a response by 28 July 2017.
 
The Freedom of Information Act 2000may restrict the release of some or all
of the information you have requested. We will carry out an assessment and
if any exemptionsapply to some or all of the information then we might not
provide that information to you. We will inform you if this is the case
and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and to
complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
 
We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information
requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details
of how you may appeal (if appropriate).
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Information Management Team
Westminster City Council
Information Services
Tel: 0207 641 3921
Email: [1][Westminster City Council request email]
Web: [2]www.westminster.gov.uk
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

References

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2. file:///tmp/www.westminster.gov.uk

T Holden, Westminster City Council

Information request
Our reference: 5799941

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Dear Mr Chait‏
 
Re. Freedom of Information Request 5799941
 
Thank you for your recent request to the Council. You asked to be provided
with the following information:

Scheme
Freedom of Information Act

Details
please provide me with information on how you ensure that
ratepayers are who they say they are when they contact you to
transact on their accounts.

More specifically, please provide the following information on
your verification process for securely validating ratepayer
identity before they transact on their accounts (where
transactions can be anything from updating their bank details, to
requesting refunds):

* What information (be it proof of identity, account numbers,
specific transaction details) do you require from ratepayers to
validate that they are the person they claim to be, and ' in the
case of commercial ratepayer accounts ' authorised to transact on
that account?

* Has this verification process been validated by a security
professional?

* Has this verification process been approved by your auditors
and/or the insurer that covers your fidelity guarantee risk?

* How often is this process re-validated, and when was the last
time this was done?

* Could you provide any correspondence, or certification, which
proves this validation?

Note that I am not requesting any personally-identifying
information, only the process itself. 

 
Response – Clarification required
 
I am writing to ask you to clarify your request. This is because we need
further details from you in order to identify and locate the
information.Therefore I should be grateful if you would clarify weather
your request is for the verification process for business rates, council
tax or both.
 
Advice & Assistance
 
Your request will be placed on hold until you provide the clarifications
as set out in the section above, whereupon your request will be allocated
to the relevant department(s) for consideration. You will receive a
response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days (from date of
receipt of the clarification) as defined by Act.
 
For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions, which may
prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then it cannot be
released. You will be informed if any exemptions apply.
 
There may be a fee payable for this information. This will be considered
and you will be informed of the fee payable if this is the case. In this
event the fee must be paid before the information is processed and
released.
 
Advice on the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is available from the
Information Commissioner and I provide his contact details here for your
reference:
 
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745
Fax: 01625 524510
[1]www.ico.gov.uk
  
Yours sincerely
 
 
C Barnard
Westminster City Council
Knowledge & Information Management Team
Tel: 0207 641 3921
Email: [2][Westminster City Council request email]
Web: [3]www.westminster.gov.uk
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

References

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2. mailto:[Westminster City Council request email]
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Dear T Holden,

Thank you for your query.

My preference is for business rates, but I would appreciate both business rates and council tax.

Yours sincerely,

Gavin Chait

Parmeen Sarda, Westminster City Council

1 Attachment

Information request
Our reference: 5799941

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Dear Mr Chait
 
Thank you for your request for information received on 4 July 2017.
 
Please find attached our response to your request.

If you are dissatisfied with your response please send your Internal
Review request to the email address below

[1][Westminster City Council request email]

 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Parmeen Sarda
Westminster City Council
Tel: 0207 641 3921
Email: [email address]
Web: [2]www.westminster.gov.uk
 
NOTE: Please do not reply to this email.

References

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