Switching without authority to do so

vikki.t

The other day I had a phonecall from a representative at Scottish Power telling me I was entered into a draw to win £100 off energy, as I was just walking out of the door I told them they would have to contact me at another time as I was busy. Then lo and behold I gets a letter this morning welcoming me to Scottish Power. The scary thing is they have my bank details for a direct debit mandate too. Surely they can not do this? I am quite apprehensive now on who has got my bank details and how they get them!!!!
Any advice would be greatly received.
Thanks

Premier_2

Where did they get your bank details from?

They either stole them, in which case inform the police NOW!, or you provided them with them.

vikki.t

No one gave them our bank details at all. It was a brief conversation which lasted all of two minutes. Will ring the police I think.

Vestra

Have you had an account with them before as they may have your bank details from your old account?

vikki.t

No I've never been with Scottish Power only N-power ( for last 7 years or so) and British Gas previous to them. I have contacted Energy Watch (consumer Direct) and my bank who have advised me to write a strong letter of complaint to them and my bank have halted any proceeding with them...As I said I am more concerned how they got my bank account details because surely under Data protection even if I had been with them before they would surely have to delete my details after so long, I think it's about 2 years but don't quote me !!!
Thanks for all your replies x

Vestra

vikki.t wrote: »

No I've never been with Scottish Power only N-power ( for last 7 years or so) and British Gas previous to them. I have contacted Energy Watch (consumer Direct) and my bank who have advised me to write a strong letter of complaint to them and my bank have halted any proceeding with them...As I said I am more concerned how they got my bank account details because surely under Data protection even if I had been with them before they would surely have to delete my details after so long, I think it's about 2 years but don't quote me !!!
Thanks for all your replies x

Nope at our company records are kept until we get a new computer system. So if you never gave them your bank details how would they have got them???

adprob

vikki.t wrote: »

No one gave them our bank details at all. It was a brief conversation which lasted all of two minutes. Will ring the police I think.

With the greatest of respect if you did not provide them with your bank details the only other way they would get them would be to break into your home and take them (from what you have said), and i assume you would have noticed a broken window or door! :rotfl:

Seriously though. Phone the company and ask for a copy of the contract and recording of any calls made. You possibly provided them and forgot. Reading through the extensive posts on here it has happened before and will more than likely happen again.

vikki.t

Thanks but with the greatest respect I know I have never given Scottish Power my bank details never, And as you said without them breaking into my house it would seem impossible, I can't imagine how they have got them and even when I called them they had no idea how they got them they were very vague. I suppose it will remain a mystery how they got them. I will be writing to them also to see excatly how they came by them even if I have to go to the Directors I won't stop at that and I'll let you all know how I get on!!!!

Thanks for all your advice !!!!!

adprob

you can make a data protection access request from them which will show everything they hold on you including all notes on their system and contracts which should show how them came about.

deanos

Do Scottish Power have any sister companys ?

You could be with one of those ?

adprob

deanos wrote: »

Do Scottish Power have any sister companys ?

You could be with one of those ?

just manweb