What are KYC checks and how do they protect you?

Know Your Customer, also known as KYC, is an industry standard verification practice. It has been used in telecoms, banking and finance sectors for a number of years, to confirm the identity of businesses and individuals.

Why are KYC checks required?

KYC checks are a way for telecoms providers to ensure we know who we are providing a service to, to prevent misuse and nuisance calls, and to protect the network and your numbers.

We take security and the protection of all users on our network seriously, which is why we request the necessary KYC verification to comply with telecom requirements set out by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator.

These checks are in line with international best practices, and mirror countries such as Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and many others, whose telecom regulators all mandate KYC checks for phone number purchases.

How do KYC checks ensure a better service for you?

Know Your Customer identity verification helps stop spam calls, impersonation, and scams, which in turn helps protect the network, avoids disruption in service, and maintains a high-quality communications experience for all.

We have partnered with Stripe for our KYC checks to ensure a secure, fast and trustworthy digital KYC process. Stripe's platform is trusted around the world and successfully powers the payment and billing experiences for companies such as Amazon, Xero, Shopify, Deliveroo and many more.

What data will I need to provide, and how will it be kept secure?

Via a secure link to Stripe's KYC check platform, the person named as the Yay.com account holder will need to provide:

• A scan of a valid form of photo ID, such as a driving licence, passport or national ID card.
• A quick selfie to ensure that the submitted ID matches the person submitting it.

This is a really quick process and won't take more than a few minutes to complete.

We do not store your ID documents and all data is handled and validated securely by Stripe. They ensure you retain full control over your data, allowing you to give consent before sharing any data, and also allowing control to easily manage, retrieve, and delete your data. Data is retained by Stripe for up to one year, unless otherwise already deleted, upon which point the data will be programatically deleted automatically.

What is the KYC verification process?

• You will receive an email with a KYC verification request from our Accounts Review Team via help@yay.com.
• A link within the email will direct you to our secure KYC partner, Stripe.
• Simply provide a valid copy of photo ID, along with a selfie and Stripe’s intelligent systems alongside our Accounts Review Team will review your details in minutes to ensure successful validation.
• In rare instances where Stripe is unable to independently verify your details, we may request additional documentation in the form of a recent utility bill or alternative proof of address.
• Once successfully verified, you can customise your phone system and continue using our service for your business calling.

Together we can maintain a safer communications ecosystem for the benefit of all users on the network, using leading best practices consistent with other countries around the world.

Got any questions about KYC (Know Your Customer) checks? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team via email or phone. We’re always happy to answer any queries you may have.