Forged Signature

Tazzie

Hi everyone,
I need some advice on behalf of my parents please.
My mum was contacted via telephone about 2 weeks ago by some guy at the bank asking her if she wanted to take out her house insurance policy with them.
My mum explained that her and her husband were more than happy with their current insurers and no thanks.

She told me that the guy just went on and on and on and she was getting slightly fed up with him so she politely told him to send some details through the post so they could compare them and if her and my dad decided to go with the bank then she would contact him back.

Following week, to their amazment, a brand new policy arrived in the post from the bank which they didn't want or agree to.
It transpires that he set up a direct debit in my dad's name and account without even speaking to my dad to confirm his consent. Dad knew nothing about it!

My dad phoned their usual insurers (age concern) and explained what had happened and was told that they had received a letter from my him cancelling the exsisting policy.

Alarm bells were now ringing in my head and I told dad to request a copy of the letter which they provided and to our horror discovered that this guy at the bank had forged my dad's signature.

We have been to the bank and complained about this obvious fraud and the way my mam and dad have been treated. They are still 'looking into it.'

I just want to know if there is anything we can do legal wise to stop this happening to anyone else.
It's been a real headache for us all trying to get this sorted out.
Any help would be most welcome.
Thank you.

Equaliser123

How did they get the bank details to set up a DD?

Alter_ego

Equaliser123 wrote: »

How did they get the bank details to set up a DD?

"Some guy at the bank"

cajef

Equaliser123 wrote: »

How did they get the bank details to set up a DD?

If they were a bank employee wouldn't they have access and details of any accounts held?

DVardysShadow

Take it to the police. This is crime - the guy has claimed a commission off the back of this.

egbert101

That is appalling.

That employee has breached the Data Protection Act in using customer information in an inappropriate manner, and committed impersonation fraud and internal fraud in one go. Don't wait for the bank to 'look into it' in their own time. Ask them for daily updates into this investigation and inform them you are going to report this to the Data Information Commissioners Office.

Optimist

The police are the people to report it to

Equaliser123

cajef wrote: »

If they were a bank employee wouldn't they have access and details of any accounts held?

One hopes not if all they are doing is selling insurance.

unholyangel

Equaliser123 wrote: »

One hopes not if all they are doing is selling insurance.

I took out a policy with my bank and wasnt asked for my bank details.

However the policy wasnt what the guy had claimed (i had asked specific questions) and wasnt the same amount the guy had told me, so i cancelled it.

Tazzie

Thank you all very much for the informative replies.
With regards to the question about 'How did they set up the DD?'...

The guy who phoned my mother said he had all the details in front of him which I presumed was normal for someone who worked at the bank.
However, after reading some of your responses, I'm not so sure now that he had the right to do that.

The bank did ring my parents yesterday and offered them £150 compensation.
Needless to say, my dad told them where to go lol.

We are considering going to the police and most definately a solicitor but we are, at this moment, awaiting another phone call from the bank. I will keep you informed of the outcome of that.
We've told the manager, it's not about the compensation, it's the fact that this guy forged my dad's signature and set up a DD without his knowledge and we want him to get get the sack. At least it will put and end to his devious ways.

Many thanks again for all your advice.

Ldejay

That is wrong! Thank god you guys realised sooner rather than later. I just wander, if he so confidently done this to your parents. How many more has he done it too?

Goodluck with it all!