Halifax Bank - asked for my brother's information to access my own account!

a&akay

bargainbetty wrote: »

This morning I tried to set up an online payment. It was for over a thousand pounds, so I had a thought that it might be held up by security, and indeed it was. I called the number given, since the last time this happened the payment was actually cancelled without my being advised of it, and I wanted to make sure this one went through OK.

Cue the usual 'security clearance' questions, you would think..... you'd think wrong. Instead of the typical DOB, numbers from PIN, details of two direct debits etc., I was asked to confirm details for my credit report. I have lived at my current address for 16 years, and therefore was most surprised to be asked to confirm my brother as a 'previously linked' person due to our living with our parents (he left 16 years ago too). They then started to ask me his personal details!

I refused to provide information relating to a third party who had not given me his consent to do so (Data Protection and ICO rules), and insisted that they confirmed my ID by another method. They used my Driving Licence number instead, in one step.

Since when did the banks think that asking questions about my brother was a legitimate method of identifying me? Surely that is not appropriate - using information 16 years old or belonging to another individual to confirm matters?

Does anyone know when the credit report method of ID'ing a person came into practice?

I wouldn't worry too much about it. I was asked what year our joint account was opened, which was more than 25 years' ago. I replied I couldn't remember (and I've subsequently checked my documentation to see if I have this info, I haven't, nor is is it available from them online). The operative was adamant I had to reply, so I duly guessed and inevitably got it wrong. This gererated subsequent log in resets to address the problem which failed. I'm currenty £150 up on complaints registered by phone about this problem. The moral is to complain and stick to your guns.

bargainbetty

Why should I not worry when a person with no financial links to me is the source of my security clearance to my own transactions? I would not want my personal details forming the basis of his security clearance. The instant I refused, I was asked to give my driving licence details. That cleared me in one step. My irritation is that I was going through a long list of questions, and it was a waste of time as well as a breach of the DPA.

I've already had nearly £400 in compensation from Halifax for their recent mess-ups. I'm just going to refuse to do it that way in future, and ask for the driving licence or passport option.

epm-84

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Not sure when going through extra security for moving £1,000 came in. Never had a telephone call for moving any sum of money and at least a few times a month I exceed that amount to various parties.

I've had an automated call from Halifax when moving money from my savings account to an account with another provider that I hadn't made a withdrawal to before.

It was basically the same security check a card reader does but they phoned the phone number registered to my account* and asked me to key in the numbers shown on screen.

* Before they did that there was an option saying which phone number can we reach you on currently - home or mobile.

JimmyTheWig

bargainbetty wrote: »

Hi, I had a report within the last month, and he is not a linked person. We've never shared anything except parents. You should have seen us with toys as kids!

Was the report that you got from the same agency that they use?

If so then this is very bizarre.
How do they even know about your brother to be able to validate your answers?

What did they ask, exactly, to get on to this line of questioning? Do you have a brother? Did you ever live with someone 16 years ago? I can't think!

anna42hmr

Hi

I had something similar with lloydstsb after my online banking was stopped for a day by them following a fraud flag after some unusual transactions were done by me (ie not my normal spending pattern) so they could confirm it was me doing the transactions they had to ask a series of questions. I too was surprisedby some of them most notably the following

Which of these people have you lived with in the last x years, there was then a list of 4 christian names, one of whom's was my mums and the other was that you currently reside at the same address as x (my brothers Christian name was then given) what age bracket would they fall into - then gave me 4 age brackets ie 18-25, 39-45 etc.

Apparently they are questions the system prompts them to ask and comes from electroll roll data, rather than credit reports etc. as I was concerned I somehow was linked to my brother financially in error as he had debt problems in the past.

My understanding is that the advisor doesnt know what the correct answer is, or if you fail one, what it's on or who indeed the people are as only Christian names and no surnames etc.

They also asked me a couple about me/my accounts etc