Due to recent changes made to the money laundering regulations and legislation, we are now required by law to verify the identity and address of everyone who offers, bids or buys at auction, regardless of any current or past relationship you may have with Bowen.
In light of the above, a registration process will now take place at all auctions and you will be required to produce one item from both List A and List B below, prior to the auction or any purchase. We cannot accept scanned copies and must receive either the original documents, or copies certified by a professionally recognised individual. A list of suitable options is available below.
If you intend to bid by telephone or by proxy bid, we will require this information before the day of the auction.
If we do not receive certified ID, we will be unable to bid on your behalf.
If you plan to bid in the auction room, you must bring both items with you on the day to show our team when you register.
If bidding on behalf of a company, you will also need to show a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, a list of directors and a letter of authority on company letterhead, signed by a company director prior to signing the contract.
You will be able to have your two forms of identification verified using one of the following options:
Option 1 – Register with your original documents at the auction. Please arrive before 1.30pm to allow sufficient time.
Option 2 – Come to any of our offices with your originals documents and we’ll certify them free of charge prior to the auction
Option 3 – Solicitors, banks, accountants or other professional bodies are able to certify ID and forward it to us at info@bowen.uk.com
Option 4 – The post office can verify up to 3 forms of ID for a charge of £10.50
List A – photo ID
Current, signed passport or
Current full UK/EU photo card driving licence or
Valid ID card or
Firearm or shotgun certificate or
Resident permit issued by the Home Office to EU National
List B – proof of address
Current full UK/EU photo card driving licence (if not used to prove identity) or
Utility bill issued in last three months (paper copy) or
Recent bank/building society/mortgage/or credit card statement or
HMRC tax notification or
Recent council tax bill
Please note:
Once we have Certified ID, this will be held on file and it will only need to be updated every three years, or if you change address. Therefore, even if you’re not thinking of bidding in the next auction, it would still be good practice to register now to save time in the future.
