Account Security??? I am worried

Curtis29 · 5 July 2012 at 12:52PM

If you have a Nationwide account - CHECK YOUR STATEMENTS VERY CAREFULLY.
My father checked his and found he had been charged £10 for a copy of a bank statement.

He had NOT requested one, either by phone, post or email.

Not only that, but today he received the copy of the statement he hadn't requested - BUT IT WAS NOT HIS ACCOUNT. The account belongs to a lady in LONDON - he lives in France.

I contacted the Nationwide on his behalf - very unhelpful. I help my father, who is 89 years old, with managing his finance and deal with telephone calls as he is hard of hearing. I do not have power of attorney - it is not necessary - nor do I want it.

Nationwide couldn't or wouldn't do anything to help with this. They have not said they will refund the £10, and have nothing to say on the very serious security issue.They also hung up on me.

So be warned - your statements might go to someone else - and you might be charged for them. KEEP A CLOSE CHECK ON THEM.

thenudeone · 5 July 2012 at 1:10PM

Curtis29 wrote: »

I contacted the Nationwide on his behalf - very unhelpful. I help my father, who is 89 years old, with managing his finance and deal with telephone calls as he is hard of hearing.

How would you like your bank discussing your account details with someone claiming to be a relative but without a power of attorney or any written authority to do so? You would be the first to complain, and rightly so.

Curtis29 wrote: »

I do not have power of attorney - it is not necessary - nor do I want it.

As you have discovered, it IS necessary, because without it (or some other written authority) you have no legal right to do anything or access any information regarding anyone else.

Unfortunately not every relative is as benign as you appear. Some will try to manipulate or steal, even from their own family, and the banks have a duty to protect against that possibility.