free citizencard offer to holders of uk national identity cards

27th May 2010

Home Secretary Teresa May has today confirmed that the National Identity Card scheme will be abolished within 100 days with all cards becoming invalid.

By August 15,000 people who obtained a National Identity Card at a cost of at least £30 will no longer be able to use it.

CitizenCard, the voluntary non-profit company operating the UK’s largest identity and proof of age scheme is pleased to offer all 15,000 holders of the National Identity Card a free CitizenCard worth £15.

Bearing the PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) hologram, CitizenCards are recognised as valid ID by the new Government, the police and trading standards. UK retailers, airlines, banks and many other organisations will continue to need to identify their customers, and following the demise of the National Identity Card, CitizenCards will be of even greater benefit to UK residents of any age.

Andrew Chevis, Chief Executive of CitizenCard, said: “We are delighted to offer holders of a National Identity Card the chance to get a free CitizenCard, which will be of far greater benefit to them beyond the summer. We look forward to discussing with the new Government further ways in which we can advance recognition and use of CitizenCards and the PASS hologram.”

National Identity cardholders who wish to take advantage of the free CitizenCard offer should complete the standard application form available at http://www.citizencard.com/ccappform.pdf use the Route 1 verification process and supply a photocopy of their National Identity Card.

They should ignore the payment section of the application form.