Bank have given my new address to ex partner

moneypuddle

Hi

As the title suggests my bank, the Halifax have given out details of my new address to an ex partner. I completed a change of address form when I moved and because I used to have a joint account with him they changed the address on his online banking to my new address, thus giving him details of my new home. I found out because I received a bank statement for my ex to my new address that I share with my current partner. I called immediately and was told under no circumstances would my address be given out, but my ex sent a message t m the other day saying 'I take it ****** is your new address then. I can see it on my online banking'

This is surely a case of breaking the data protection act. I have already written them a strongly worded letter of complaint but want to know where I stand on this issue, as clearly the damage is now done.

relic

If you still have a joint account which you can still both access online, then you should have closed it when you broke up, it's hardly the banks fault in not knowing your personal love life?

DVardysShadow

If you want to sever the link with him, the joint account has to go. Although you may have very good reasons to not want contact, when it comes to the joint account, potentially, if you emptied it of shared money, your ex might have grounds to want some of the proceeds - in which case, it would be unfair of the bank not to let him have your address. Get rid of the joint account.

savingmummy

If you changed your address did you cancel the joint account aswell and inform them of the change in circumstances?

There_Goes_Trouble

moneypuddle wrote: »

Hi

and because I used to have a joint account with him they changed the address on his online banking to my new address,

OP clearly stated she USED to have a joint account, indicating she doesn't any more!

OP I too would be furious, Data protection is a minefield, I tried to understanding it to write a policy for a club I used to belong to and just couldn't get to grips with it, but I would definitely be persuing it if I were you.

I also would be closing my account immediately and moving it to another bank so this can't happen again.

rachbc

If you don't get a satisfactory response go to the information comissioner

puddy

we had to complain to the ICO (or whatever they're called) about barclays. we moved in together and about a year later, saw someone had used a 'mortgage current account' which comes automatically with the account and which you have no choice but to have open in your name. neither of us used the account we both have our own accounts as well as a separate joint account.

they told me that it was my card that had been used to withdraw some money, we immediately asked for the cards to be cancelled and i had to fill in a form about my card, where it was, who knew the numbers, blah blah blah

sent it back, they decided that i had given the card and/or number to someone.

we appealed, and then they disclosed it was not my card that was used, it was my partners. but still decided that we were to blame and negligent.

my partner had never received a card for this account, it wasnt an account that we knew of until i received a card and took no notice of whether he had or hadnt been sent one, which was around the time that we moved intogether.

we appealed again to say that he never received the card and they disclosed then, that they had sent HIS card, with pin number to my old address (we were living separately before moving in together and they had his address and had corresponded to him at his address)

by the time they sent his card, i had moved out, so they sent his card to an address that was not his, or mine by then and then STILL decided that it was his negligence!!!

we complained and got compensation. we wrote to the head honcho at barclays too and got some smarmy 'damage limitation bloke' on the phone apologising. too little too late, tough, they had to replace the money in our account and give us compo. part of our complaint was about their sending personal information to the wrong address, an address that had never been his and which he had never lived or claimed to have lived at

puddy

oh, and we were still not allowed to close the account. it is compulsory!!!!

meritaten

I have a found a link for you for the relevant page for complaints - try reading this and the complaints form is downloadable - plus there is a helpline number if you are still uncertain.

http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints/data_protection.aspx

I would certainly be making a complaint in your circumstances - Data Protection is taken very seriously and any breach carries stiff penalties. it may not help YOU much as the damage has been done...........but it would certainly make the bank tighten up its procedure so it doesnt happen again!
Good luck and let us know what happens!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

did you both agree to close the joint account?

Would think that it would take two signatures, same as setting it up.

Don't think a change of address will nullify account.

'I completed a change of address form when I moved and because I used to have a joint account with him they changed the address on his online banking to my new address,'

So what should the bank do, if he hasn't notified them about his change in circumstances?

moneypuddle

Hi everyone

Thanks for the replies. Sorry if I've not been clear. Let me try to explain...

I had to keep my joint account open with my ex partner because we used to own a property together which we owned, and recently sold s we were waiting for various refunds to come back to us from gas, elec, waer, home insurance etc, and they would only return payment via the same account, and would not issue cheques etc. This was a reasonable amount so I wasn't willing to just let it go.

When you download a change of address from Halifax it gives two options, either a) change the address for ALL my accounts or b) change the address for the below accounts and then there is a space to list your accounts tha need the address changing. I ticked the latter and wrote details of MY three accounts in the area provided, so it was very clear my joint account with my ex partner was not to be moved.

Thanks very much for all the advice. Since posting I have received a phone call from the hail fax to say they have received my letter and will call me tomorrow with a response, so will let you know what the say