Know Your Customer (KYC) in the United Kingdom

This article will guide you through the process of finding and setting up a Regulatory Bundle in Referins.

Please Note: Effective July 30, 2024, SMS Sent from International Long Codes to the UK Will Be Blocked

Complete your UK KYC registration by linking your UK phone numbers to an approved regulatory bundle before the 31st December 2024 deadline.

E-KYC Requirements for UK Phone Numbers

New Regulations

To comply with new regulations, you will need to complete the KYC process to buy new UK-based phone numbers.

Process Overview

1. New UK Numbers: KYC is required for any new UK phone number purchases made after May 27, 2024.
2. Existing UK Numbers: For existing UK phone numbers, KYC must be completed by September 30, 2024.

How to Use

1. Create a Regulatory Bundle:
   • Go to Settings (located on the bottom left) > Phone Numbers > Regulatory Bundle/Address at the top > Create.

• Fill in the required details to create a regulatory bundle.

1. Submit Documents:
   • Follow the prompts to submit the necessary documents.

• The system will show the status of the verification process.

Important Notes:

• If you're an individual (not a registered business), select the user type as “Individual when creating a regulatory bundle and complete your KYC.

•  If you're a business and select UK CRN under the Registration Authority, you only need to submit Proof of Address and Emergency Address. You don't need to submit Proof of Identity anymore.

UK KYC Registration Reminder

To ensure uninterrupted messaging services for UK-based numbers, Referins has introduced a banner alert for sub-accounts with unverified UK phone numbers.

This aims to increase awareness about the UK KYC registration process, helping sub-accounts meet the 31st December 2024 deadline for compliance. The banner will appear on the Phone Numbers page under Sub-Account View > Settings > Phone Numbers > Manage Numbers, guiding users to complete their registration by linking UK phone numbers to an approved regulatory bundle.

FAQs:

Q: Are there any fees for registering UK long codes?
No, there are no fees associated with registering UK long codes.

Q: I'm an individual customer and don’t have the required identity or address documentation. What should I do?
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use Referins’s UK long codes without the necessary documentation.

Q: I'm a business customer but don’t have the required company documents. What should I do?
If your business is registered with the UK House Register, you won’t need to upload additional documentation—just provide the required information for verification. If your business isn’t registered in the UK, please contact us for guidance.

Q: What is meant by an emergency address?
An emergency address is the physical location of the actual user of the Referins phone number, where emergency services can dispatch help if needed.

Q: My business isn’t registered in the UK. Which long codes can I use?
If your business isn’t UK-registered, you should use UK Mobile or UK Toll-Free numbers instead of UK long codes.

Q: What should I do if my business isn't registered?
We recommend registering your business to ensure smooth operation.

Q: I have multiple RC bundles and phone numbers. How should I assign numbers to RC bundles?
Avoid duplicate RC bundles. Each RC bundle should have unique details, and each phone number should be assigned to a bundle that corresponds to its use, such as assigning a London office number to the London-specific RC bundle.

Q: What happens to my messaging or voice solutions if I don’t submit my KYC information?
Starting May 27, 2024, Referins customers will not be able to purchase new UK long codes without an approved UK RC bundle. Existing numbers purchased before May 27, 2024, without a KYC bundle by September 30, 2024, will have all traffic blocked.

Q: Are the Ofcom regulatory guidelines available to the public?
Yes, Ofcom's regulatory guidelines were released to the public on November 15, 2022. You can access them by clicking on this link.