Skip to main content

Understanding a "Consider" result in a CDD report

Learn what a Consider result means in your CDD report, why it appears for each check type, and what to do next.

Written by Tess Brown

Overview

When a CDD report shows a "Consider" result for one or more checks, it means something could not be fully verified and needs your review.

A Consider result does not mean the client is fraudulent. It means additional context or documentation may be needed before you can reach a decision.

ℹ️ Important

Legl cannot make compliance decisions on your behalf. Your firm's risk-based approach determines what action to take.


Where you will see this

A Consider result can appear in any of the following check areas within a CDD report:

  • Identity Document Validation

  • Identity Validation

  • Biometrics

  • Identity fraud screening

  • Financial Screening

  • Watchlist Screening

Each section below explains the common causes and recommended next steps where they apply.

ℹ️ Further guidance

For a full overview of what your CDD report contains and what each result status means, see Understanding your CDD report.


Identity Document Validation

Why you may see Consider

  • Poor image quality (blurry, glare, damaged document)

  • Unsupported or invalid documents (expired IDs, temporary passports, non-Roman characters)

  • Mismatch or errors: Client-entered data differs from the ID (name variants, date of birth)

  • Compromised document signals: Flagged on police databases or suspected non-genuine

  • Data validation errors: Missing or incorrect formats (e.g. date of birth)

  • Conflicting documents: Multiple uploaded IDs with inconsistent details

  • Abnormal document features: White patches, mismatched fonts, visible edits, or tampering indicators

  • Conclusive Document Quality: Noticeable anomalies such as white patches around fonts that prevent a definitive fraud assessment.

Recommended next steps

  1. Follow your firm's ID verification procedures.

  2. If the risk is low, you may override with a rationale in line with your firm's internal process (e.g. a minor typo).

  3. Ask the client to resubmit a clearer or different ID (front and back if relevant).

  4. If issues persist, schedule a live video verification.

  5. Document your actions and decisions in the report comments.

ℹ️ Important

Validation results are final for the submitted files. If quality or formatting is the issue, request a new upload. Remind clients to submit via the ID verification flow so evidence lands in the correct section of the report.


Abnormal Document Features

"Abnormal Document Features" is an outcome during report validation that flags potential quality issues or anomalies in documents. These can include: Legl's detection process involves assessing image quality, identifying irregularities such as unusual patches or font structures, and ensuring the document meets verification standards.

  • Detection process: Identifies anomalies such as white patches, blurry edges, or mismatched fonts, often indicating tampering or low image quality

  • Fraud assessment: Flags inconsistencies without conclusively determining fraud, ensuring detailed review before making decisions

If flagged, next steps may include requesting clients to:

  1. Review the feedback provided to understand the specific reason for flagging.

  2. Prepare a new image ensuring it is high-resolution, clear, and free of anomalies.

  3. Re-upload the updated document for validation.

  • Submit higher-quality document scans

  • Address flagged issues through re-upload or clarification


Identity Validation

What is needed for a Clear result

  • Not found on mortality lists AND

  • Match on name and date of birth AND

  • One or more matches on name and current address (across different sources)

If any of these criteria are not met, the result will show as Consider.

Why you may see Consider

  • The client recently changed address

  • Typos in name or address

  • International address with limited data availability

"Unidentified results found"

If you receive a Consider result that reads "unidentified results found", this means that the technology has not been able to confirm that individual's data (e.g. date of birth, name, or address) against any of the databases or records used to perform the Identity Validation check.

This can be a common result for international addresses due to limited datasets outside of the UK. It can also occur for some UK individuals, for example if they recently moved address or their information has not been found on the public data sources checked.

It is up to your firm's risk-based approach whether you are satisfied with the other documents provided in the report, or whether you prefer to ask for additional proof of identity documentation.

Recommended next steps

  • Accept the ID document as proof of identity, depending on your firm's risk-based approach

  • Request additional proof of address

Use the comments section in the report to document any manual verification or override justification.


Biometrics

Why you may see Consider

  • Image integrity: Blurry scans or screenshots; ID photo not suitable for comparison

  • Face detection errors: No face found, too many faces, or poor framing

  • No liveness: Required movements not followed

  • Source integrity: Signs of digital tampering, emulator, or fake webcam

  • Face comparison: Face on ID does not match selfie or video

  • Visual authenticity or spoofing: Indicators of a non-real face (paper, screen, or screenshot)

Recommended next steps

  1. Ask the client to redo the biometric step with clear instructions.

  2. If repeat issues occur, consider live video verification.

  3. Document your review and outcome in the report.


Identity fraud screening

ℹ️ Important

Identity fraud screening only appears in CDD reports for Standard CDD checks run on a DIATF-certified plan. It will not appear on non-DIATF Standard CDD plans.

Why you may see Consider

Identity fraud screening runs five checks. A Consider result on any one of them will show as Consider for this section:

  • NSIRA – Fraud check: Fraud markers were found on the SIRA database

  • NSIRA – Impersonation check: Impersonation markers were found on the SIRA database

  • DDRI (Deceased Identity) check: The identity appears on the deceased persons register

  • Identity document fraud check: The supplied identity documents appear on the police database of lost, stolen, or fraudulent identity documents. This can flag even if the client is genuine, for example if they are unaware their document has been reported as lost or stolen.

  • Synthetic identity check: The identity appears to be synthetic

Recommended next steps

  1. Do not rely on the CDD report alone. Apply your firm's risk-based approach and enhanced due diligence procedures.

  2. Review which specific sub-check returned a Consider result, as each has a different implication for the client's risk profile.

  3. For an Identity document fraud check Consider result, contact the client to confirm whether they are aware their document may have been reported as lost, stolen, or fraudulent.

  4. Request additional evidence or a face-to-face verification if your firm's procedures require it.

  5. Document your review, reasoning, and outcome in the report comments.

  6. Escalate to your MLRO if you are unsure how to proceed.

ℹ️ Further guidance

For a full breakdown of what each sub-check result means and what to do next, see Understanding fraud check results.


Financial Screening

Why you may see Consider

County court judgement (CCJ): The individual has a court order registered against them for failure to repay a debt. The report will detail the date of the order and the amount owed.

Debt collection check: The individual has had credit checks made against them by a debt collection agency in the last 24 months.

No matching record: No record of the individual was found in the credit agency lists.

Recommended next steps

Depending on your internal process, the type of service you are providing, and the risk profile defined within your firm, you may decide to follow extra due diligence steps.

In the instance of "no matching record", you may request additional documents from the client to carry out further credit verification checks.


Watchlist Screening


Higher-risk results

ℹ️ Important

If this contact has had a previous CDD check that returned a Consider result, a fraud flag, or a verification failure within the last 24 months, treat this review as higher-risk and apply enhanced scrutiny. See Identifying and managing higher-risk identities in Legl for guidance.

What happens next

After reviewing each Consider result, document your decision in the report using the comments section. Once the full report has been marked as reviewed, all comments and decisions will be included in the downloadable PDF.

If your firm requires a colleague to review the report, you can assign a new reviewer from the review window by clicking Change and selecting from the dropdown.

In some instances, you may need your client to complete the check again. If this is the case, click Create Engage Request and generate a new link for your client.


Important information

  • A Consider result does not mean a client has failed due diligence. It means manual review is required.

  • Legl cannot provide legal advice on how to interpret or act on CDD results. Your firm is responsible for applying its own risk-based approach and escalation procedures.

  • Financial screening is only available for individuals with a UK address. Clients with a non-UK address will receive an N/A result for this section.

  • Document your reasoning for every decision, especially when overriding a Consider result.

Did this answer your question?