Co-operative bank leaked my private documents

KJ2009

I applied for a cashminder account with the Co-operative bank in mid July and not only did they refuse my application, but they accidentally sent all my ID (2 bank statements and 2 benefit letters with NI number, full name, address etc) to another customer of the bank (Who they stated was kind enough to send the documents back promptly) the only details they gave me about the person who got my documents was her surname

They said as an aplology they have enclosed a cheque for £50.00 but the cheque was nowhere to be found in the letter, just my ID and a letter admitting what had happened.

I am bloody furious about this, and to be offered a £50.00 cheque which they forgot to include is an insult in my opinion.

Is there any higher authority I can complain to?

bendix

Have you tried God?

sharpy2010

bendix wrote: »

Have you tried God?

hahahahaha!

£50 quid is about right for that sort of thing, anyway. It's a shame they forgot to send it though.

I really do think people are becoming too serious these days... Just laugh it off and get on with life!

bendix

My point exactly. What is the point with going to a higher authority.

It sounds like you were happy to receive the letter and offer of 50 quid. They forgot to include the cheque - wouldn't it be simpler to just call them and tell them that, rather than fret and worry and post on a damn internet forum about it?

Move on. Have a cup of tea. Put your feet up and go outside and smell the roses.

opinions4u

Ok, first of all they've been honest about the mistake regarding your documents. It's careless but they could have simply covered up the fact and you'd probably have never known. So from the point of view of being "bloody furious" what else would you have wanted them to do once the mistake has been made? They employ human beings, human being can and do make errors.

From the point of view of the value of the compensation, if you want more ask for more. From experience of this sort of thing £150 - £250 may be a reasonable amount to ask for.

As for the unenclosed cheque - tell them. If you don't, how are you ever going to get the money?

Higher authority? You have 4 obvious choices:

1) Higher up within the organisation. Go to the top if you wish. Personally I'd expect you to get a similar response to simply picking up the phone to whoever sent you the ID back and requesting more.

2) If you're not happy with the Co-op's response, then escalate to the Ombudsman (FOS). This will take time and I think the most likely outcome will be £150-£250. Hence the figure I suggested earlier.

3) Regardless of (1) and (2) the Information Commissioner is an option. He has no power to order them to give you lots of money but he can tell them off.

4) Take them to court for being naughty. Strikes me as a waste of your time and theirs, but you can do it. A court may rule against them, order them to compensate you (your guess on amount is as good as mine, but don't expect more than £250). If a court considers the action to be a bit of a waste of everybody's time they could leave you to pay your own legal costs. If you lose, they could order you to pay the bank's legal costs.

Ultimately, you need to decide what you want. Money. A slap on the wrist for the bank that really means nothing when their apology letter suggests that they fully understand their responsibilities. A member of staff disciplined for an error that any of us could have made.