Bitcoin Forum

Starting Jul 29, I've been trying to convert  my BTC to Dwolla. I've already been verified with Dwolla for about 2 months now.

Mtgox requires identity and apparently "residence" verification in the US.

I've provided my TX Driver's License and cellphone bill in my mother's name, as she is the one who pays the bills. The address on both match.

Mtgox denied the application saying the names don't match and asked me to get a notarized and signed document saying I live at the address.

I do not have access to a notary and I cannot wait 3 weeks+ for registered mail to my house so I can get that code.

I uploaded my mom's TX driver's license (which match both my driver's license and the cell phone bill's address).

Mtgox has been unresponsive to emails with this situation and when I try to withdraw the coins back into my own wallet, the coins are frozen because my account is under "review".

How else can I prove in a timely fashion that I live in that address and that I'm not a money-launderer????

Simple solution is don't fucking bother with that shit, and trade the USD mtgox codes with someone else for Dwolla. Only problem is that you might run into liquidity issues there, unless you want to pay a fee.

The coins are frozen, I cannot withdraw them using any method at all. I want mtgox to either release them, or verify my account, and they won't do either.

They have been goxxxed before and they will be goxxxed again.   :P

move out of your mom's basement and get your own mail in your own name.

Wow ... that's interesting.  So was your account just fine until you requested to be verified?

If that is the case, then the recommendation for anyone thinking about verifying should first then withdraw funds from Mt. Gox so that there is a zero balance in both their BTC and USD (or whatever)  accounts and only then go through the verification process.

Thats just trolling

You don't have access to a notary?
If you use dwolla, you use a bank, and most if not all banks have a notary on staff.

Most of them charge $20 for a stamp, too.
What he gave them should have been sufficient.

Thanks for posting this thread. MtGox does not feel like they need to hire more people to deal with their customer service volume. Answer = MOVE TO OTHER EXCHANGES. Enough is enough.

I dont live in the basement thanks. I am doing graduate school work here (with a fellowship) and I pay rent.


Correct. As soon as I started the verification process I could no longer withdraw anything from my account. I would think they would at least have a button to cancel verification and let me get my bitcoins back, but apparently not -_-

 Your advice is exactly what I would do if I had to go through verification procedures with another exchange.


Costs money to get things notarized.

When you submitted id for two different people you raised a redflag in the AML system and they are required to freeze everything until this has been cleared up.
Unfortunately that means requiring documents level "better" than what you initially submitted.

From their point of view this is a question of if this money is yours or your mums  ;) And they're required by law to know exactly whose funds they are  :(

I fail to see why there is a need for residence information in my name as long as the address matches what is on my driver's license.

There are plenty of people in situations where their residence is not in their name.. spouses, siblings, roommates, people whose permanent address is different from their residence... etc.

For example, when I was doing my undergraduate degree, I paid my roommate via my bank account and he wrote out all the checks for the rent.

Rules are rules and if we want to continue to offer Dwolla as a service we have to follow their TOS (related to Merchants).

I am not sure what my colleagues told you but have you considered the following : Ask you mother you write you a letter that state that you are living with her and send us a valid Copy or her ID like you did for your account? I am sure this can be done quickly and will solve your problem in a matter or hours.

Regards

depends on how old he is...

I totally agree and for most domestic transactions it should be ok. However once you start to play internationally it's a whole different ballgame with rules being rules for the sake of rules. And to some extent that is reasonable enough given the current state of terrorism etc atm.

I'd bet you could have fixed it by sending in everything (your drivers license and your mum's) from the word go along with a scan of a letter signed by both you and your mum explaining that you're living with her/ share an address.

It sucks getting caught up in it. I'm British but live in China currently in my eighth year here and trust me that makes for a jungle of shitty paperwork I have 10+ kg of shitty aml and other nonsense paperwork sitting in a safe here curtsey mainly the "war on terror". For paperwork here I have to go to a notary then the foreign ministry for "legalization" and then to the embassy etc to submit documents and from what I hear US citizens here have it even worse.

EDIT Looks like Mt Gox beat me to it  ;D

Have you asked? My bank offers to notarize documents free for account holders. If yours doesn't, ask around, open up a free checking at a bank that does, and voila (assuming MTG Alex's suggestion doesn't work).

They want a notarized copy, which I cannot get without paying money.


Yes, I asked. I use Bank Of America with an eBanking account, and they do not offer teller/notary services for those types of accounts.

I'd rathar not open a bank account and keep a minimum balance and pay monthly fees just so that I can use notary services once every 5 years.

Coins are up ~25% since july 29. If coins are frozen, you have extra $$$ to get proper documents.

They were converted to $$$$$ before they were frozen -_-

Hi

We received your Mother's ID but there is now way we can prove there is any connection with you, also, you did not forward us any letter from us... Please follow the direction that my colleagues sent you in order to remove any doubts.

Regards

a notarized copy of the rental agreemant probably would have worked.

To anyone else. BEFORE you move money to/from Gox, get your account verified!

In Texas, notaries by law can't charge more than $6.

Them asking for your notarized proof of identity to cash out BTC is perfectly reasonable.

After several PMs with mtgox_Alex. I was told my Car Insurance with me listed as one of the drivers was sufficient proof. I have submitted it and await my verification.


However, if I cannot notarize for whatever reason, they refuse to allow me to withdraw my BTC.

BTC is not recognized as money by any country in the world so therefore doesn't fall under the purview of any AML laws I'm aware of.

But IANAL. Any one with legal experience want to comment?


If there was a way to sticky a post...

There's a long list of things which aren't money that are covered by AML legislation.  Money laundering very often involves using illicit money to buy items of value which are later sold to establish a "legitimate" trail for the money.  What the items are is irrelevant to whether or not they're being used as a means of laundering money.  They don't even have to be high value items. 

From an AML compliance point of view, it's even more important to verify for Bitcoin withdrawals.  In the case of withdrawals to bank accounts, at least the bank should have sufficient KYC information about their customer on record for the money trail to be followed if necessary.  There's nothing inherent in a Bitcoin address which identifies it as belonging to a specific person or which easily allows the origin and destination of BTC going to and from that address to be determined.

Could you provide that list?


I'm well aware of what money-laundering is.

The question is whether there are any AML laws giving mtgox the authority to indefinitely hold my coins just because I dont want to/can't pass/don't trust their verification procedures.

Note that in my hypothetical situation (I've finally been verified), I'm not withdrawing to cash anymore. I simply wanted my bitcoins back before I was verified.

I am glad we found a way to solve this matter and this should be a reminder to everyone : There are many ways for you to be verified and many documents that will do just fine. The notarized documents are most of the time (for verified account) used in last resort when no other document can be sent.

So if you ever have problem when trying to be verified, just try to think out of the box and ask what can of document could be OK. Since we are working with many different countries we many not be always aware of what document you may have in your possession.