Is a bank allowed to make a photocopy of my driver’s license, passport and ATM card during cashing a check as a part of verification?
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Is a bank allowed to make a photocopy of my driver’s license, passport and ATM card during cashing a check as a part of verification?
I was cashing a personal check and as a part of verification they make a photocopy of my drivers license, my foreign passport and my PNC Bank visa card. They told me that they will store it for 90 days. I don’t have account with them so I’m not their customer. They didn’t as for my permission, and they make photocopy in 100% size of original documents. Also, is it true that it is illegal to make photocopy of a foreign passport (my Polish passport)? I have found that they can by photographed only.
Asked on March 23, 2012 under General Practice, New Jersey
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
I believe it may be illegal to make a photocopy of such international documents unless you are an agency handling travel documents. This is not for the bank to do. If they have a strict policy regarding cashing checks for non customers, there are other ways to do it or simply refuse. What you need to do is file a complaint with the bank's regulator and hope that this move will be sufficient to help you get the better result you need and the destruction of those documents.
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