Bank sent my info to the wrong address

can6342

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me... I recently opened a current account which involved providing identification. The bank took copies of my passport, driving license and marriage certificate for faxing to their ID department - fine. However, instead of shredding/destroying these photocopies, they then posted them back to a previous address of mine (the resident there had opened the letter, added a note to say "oops, you might need these" and forwarded it on to me). Surely these copies should never have been posted anywhere?! I've made a complaint, and I'm going to phone the actual branch to make sure they do not do this again, but is there anything else I need to do? I'm a bit concerned about ID fraud etc...

Many thanks,
Can6342

Gromitt

Name and shame (Santander?), then ask for appropriate compensation. Although I don't think you'll get much as the documents have been forwarded to you.

ChiefGrasscutter

Well I always insist that my certified ID documents are returned to me. After all it has cost me to get them certified and they are re-used by me for other savings groups who want ID..
So it can damn well cost the savings group to return them to me.

As to why they returned yours to a previous address - yes I agree with you, make a complaint - if only to ensure that they will tightenup their proceedures so it doesn't happen to anyone else.

Chrisblue1962

I would say that sending documents containing personal data to thw wrong address was a breach of the Data protection Act 1998 and I would file a complaint with the Information Commisioners Office - have a look at Information Commisioner's Office on internet - if the bank concerned do not rectify it to your satisfaction.


Keep all documentation including the envelope and letter that the documents were returned to you in.

Hope this helps.

can6342

Thanks for your responses!

It wasn't Santander (for once!) and the bank in question has been really helpful and apologetic and offered a few quid for my troubles. Like you said ChiefGrasscutter I just want to make sure they tighten up their procedures. I'll take a quick look at the Information Commisioners Office too, thanks for that suggestion ChrisBlue1962.

pwuk

Or if you have the documents back you could go into branch and speak to the Manager.

This happened to me when I opened a new account. They sent a letter of apology and flowers to the new owners at my old address and offered me £50 which I accepted.

sweetilemon

This happend to me but not to an old address but to my fiances (boyfriend at the time-stayed at parents) who i'd never lived with although did hold a joint account with. Same thing happend to him - his mail got sent to my parents!!! I complained but didnt get so much as £1!

Mikeyorks

can6342 wrote: »

I recently opened a current account
....................... they then posted them back to a previous address of mine

Presumably you gave them the correct address on account opening? As you wouldn't need the ID if this was a continuity account. So where could they get a 'previous' address from?

Other than your ID documents. So I trust the driving licence / passport had the new address on, otherwise complaining to the Information commissioner isn't going to get far.

stclair

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Presumably you gave them the correct address on account opening? As you wouldn't need the ID if this was a continuity account. So where could they get a 'previous' address from?

Other than your ID documents. So I trust the driving licence / passport had the new address on, otherwise complaining to the Information commissioner isn't going to get far.

When making credit applications if you have lived at your current address less than 3 years they will ask you to enter your previous addresses covering the past 3 years.

can6342

Yes, I've only lived at my current place 2 years so I also had to give a previous one when opening the account. The address is correct on my docs.