High Street voucher: 100k people to be asked to verify identity

Data given in the initial application is automatically checked against government databases to verify identities

About 100,000 people will be asked to verify their identity before being issued with a Spend Local voucher, according to the Department for the Economy (DfE).

Emails from '[e-mail]' are being sent to people affected.

The subject line will read "Failed Verification" with applicants urged to check their junk folder for the email.

Recipients are asked to upload documents that verify their age and that they live in Northern Ireland.

The DfE confirmed an issue had been affecting the upload of documents in certain file formats, however it said this has now been resolved.

"If you are continuing to have issues uploading your documents, please try a different file format," the department said in a statement.

The emails state that the receiver's identity has not been verified "through automated checks".

Data given in the initial application is automatically checked against a range of government databases.

It may not have been verified "due to differences in how data was entered on the High Street Scheme application and how it is held on those databases", the email goes on to say.

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons pictured holding a promotional poster for the Spend Local voucher scheme

Documents such as a utility bill or bank statement can be used to to verify the holder is resident in Northern Ireland, a passport or driving licence are among documents that can be used confirm they are over 18.

The email also warns that the evidence must be provided within seven days of the date of the email or "your application may be closed".

More than 1.3m applications have been made to the scheme, with more than 1.2m of those having already been verified, the DfE said.

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In its statement the department urged people not to send the requested information to Spend Local or to DfE email mailboxes or social media accounts as "any documents sent to these mailboxes will not be processed".

The existing deadline for new Spend Local card applications remains midnight on Monday 25 October for online applications and 18:00 BST the same day for telephone applications.

Shoppers can use the vouchers in any shop with a card machine

The PSNI has previously warned of scams relating to the high street voucher scheme, including reports of cold callers arriving at peoples' homes alleging they can help them apply for a voucher.

The £145m scheme opened last month and is designed to boost activity in businesses hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, like non-essential retail and hospitality.

Everyone aged 18 and over is eligible to apply for a card to use in shops before the end of November.

People can apply via the NI Direct website, or over the phone.

The cards are expected to arrive seven to 10 days after application, and can be used in any shop with a card machine.

The cards must be used by 30th November.