Understanding UK Know Your Customer (KYC) Requirements
What is Know Your Customer (KYC)?
Know Your Customer (KYC) is a verification process used to confirm the identity of individuals and businesses. Originally developed in the financial sector, KYC helps create a trusted environment for business communications by ensuring that companies are legitimate. This process typically involves collecting and verifying details like names, addresses, and official documentation. Globally, telecommunications regulators and carriers are increasingly adopting KYC requirements to protect consumers from spam, fraud, and other malicious activities by verifying businesses before they can send text messages or make voice calls to customers.
UK KYC Requirements and Timelines
In response to increasing scams, UK regulators have introduced updated KYC guidelines. These rules are designed to enhance consumer protection by mandating that businesses submit and verify their information. The following deadlines apply for using long code phone numbers (including local, national, mobile, and toll-free numbers) to communicate with UK recipients:
- Starting May 27, 2024: All new long code purchases require an approved Regulatory Compliance bundle before they can be bought.
- Starting July 30, 2024: SMS messages sent from international long codes to UK numbers will be blocked.
- Starting September 30, 2024: All new and existing UK long codes must be linked to an approved UK Regulatory Compliance bundle to send messages or make voice calls.
Required KYC Information for UK Businesses
The specific information you need to provide depends on whether you are an individual or a business, and the type of phone number you are registering (local/national or mobile/toll-free).
For Individuals
Local or National Numbers:
- Name: Requires proof of identity, such as a government-issued ID or passport.
- UK Address: Must be a valid United Kingdom address. Requires proof of address, such as a utility bill, tax notice, rent receipt, or title deed.
- UK Emergency Address: Required if different from the primary address; must be a valid UK address (no documentation needed).
- Date of Birth: Required (no documentation needed).
- Phone Number: A valid mobile number where you can be reached; cannot be a number acquired from a CPaaS provider (no documentation needed).
- Email: Required (no documentation needed).
- Comments: Optional (no documentation needed).
Mobile or Toll-Free Numbers:
- Name: Requires proof of identity, such as a government-issued ID or passport.
- Address: Must be a valid address, which can be anywhere in the world (no documentation needed).
- Emergency Address: Required if different from the primary address; must be a valid address anywhere in the world (no documentation needed).
- Date of Birth: Required (no documentation needed).
- Phone Number: A valid mobile number where you can be reached; cannot be a number acquired from a CPaaS provider (no documentation needed).
- Email: Required (no documentation needed).
- Comments: Optional (no documentation needed).
For Businesses
Local or National Numbers:
- Business Name: Proof of identity is required for businesses not using a UK Companies House Registration Number (e.g., an excerpt from a commercial register).
- Registration Authority: Proof of identity is required for businesses not using a UK Companies House Registration Number (e.g., an excerpt from a commercial register).
- Business Registration Number: Proof of identity is required for businesses not using a UK Companies House Registration Number (e.g., an excerpt from a commercial register).
- Website Address: Required (no documentation needed).
- UK Business Address: Must be a valid United Kingdom address (no documentation needed).
- UK Emergency Address: Required if different from the business address; must be a valid UK address (no documentation needed).
- Authorized Representative's Name: Required (no documentation needed). This should be a senior person responsible for the phone numbers.
- Authorized Representative's Work Email: Required (no documentation needed).
- Business Classification: Specify if you are a Direct Customer (using the CRM for internal or customer communication) or an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Reseller/Partner (using the CRM in a product sold to customers).
- ISV Number Assignment: If you are an ISV, you must indicate if you will assign the CRM phone numbers to your end customers (Yes/No).
- Comments: Optional (no documentation needed).
Mobile or Toll-Free Numbers:
- Business Name: Proof of identity is required for businesses not using a UK Companies House Registration Number (e.g., an excerpt from a commercial register).
- Registration Authority: Name of the entity where your business is registered if it is not UK Companies House. Proof of identity is required for businesses not using a UK Companies House Registration Number (e.g., an excerpt from a commercial register).
- Business Registration Number: Proof of identity is required for businesses not using a UK Companies House Registration Number (e.g., an excerpt from a commercial register).
- Website Address: Required (no documentation needed).
- Business Address: Must be a valid address, which can be anywhere in the world (no documentation needed).