Sounds like a supplier to get rid of - the type who quotes "data protection" or "health and safety" when they're at fault and misinterpreting the rule.

The school will have a bursar - they should be a member of a bursar's user group which should offer more tailored advice to a school - or something like this

anme.co.uk/adme

It might also be worth an email to the FCA and get their advice

www.fca.org.uk/

I also work in schools and some companies have absolutely no idea how to work. I wanted to sign up to a helpdesk for a popular and very expensive CAD program that's cheap for schools. Before they would accept my application they wanted proof of who I was with a copy of my driving licence, and also a photo of me holding my passport and a copy of the school headed notepaper. They also wanted the same from the headmaster!

Edited by Gibbo_Wirral on 26/02/2024 at 13:29

Well, to hopefully feedback a surprisingly long story. Physical passport and driving licence were fine. The second proof of address ended up as a selection of medical letters (thanks for that suggestion, we wouldn't have thought of that), bank and pension statements, and a timely council tax request for payment. The idea was to provide as much as possible and let them decide. Still no idea which it was that was deemed suitable, maybe it was the sheer amount of information provided. Hopefully all sorted. Thanks again for the help.

I'd now turn it round to them and ask what they're doing with your personal data - how its stored, how long its stored and so on.

Trust is a two way street.

I'm afraid anything downloaded and printed is not accepted. It has to be an original document.

How would they know?

I'm afraid anything downloaded and printed is not accepted. It has to be an original document.

How would they know?

Most printers used in homes are single sided - many official documents are printed on both sides.

Just turn the paper round and print on the other side.

Most printers used in homes are single sided - many official documents are printed on both sides.

Both ours are capable of duplex printing as have previous models.

I suspect the failure to accept downloaded/home printed stuff pre dates decent inkjet and laser printers for home use. Unless there are watermarks or something on the paper it's difficult to see how a clerk at a supplier could tell with certainty where something was printed.

As I'm permanent WFH I print letters on a domestic inkjet. Never had a client query it, though print/post is only for those who don't do email.