SAR: How much info?

Naf

I'm wondering just how much information a company (bank specifically) has to give when you make a SAR to them?
Basically, I have been trying to open a Student (or any, really) account with Barclays, but they wouldn't even let me apply to the point of credit check, and until I made a complaint nobody could tell me why. What makes it stranger is that I already have a Barclaycard, for 9 years now, and they quite happily increased my credit limit just a few months ago, and last month reduced my APR.
The result of my complaint was that I discovered I have a block of some kind (they won't say what) that means I can't even apply until May next year. Apparently this originates from an application I made back in May '11, so despite having this 'block' Barclaycard still give me more.
Anyway, I wonder if a SAR would mean they'd be obliged to hand over details of whatever this block is?

jen245

Sounds like a Cifas marker of some kind, i believe they last a year, so it may be that. Maybe do a SAR to Cifas aswell, just to see if they hold anything on you

Naf

I may do; but I still wonder just what info a company are obliged to give up under a SAR? Would it include warnings/blocks etc. such as this one?

jonesMUFCforever

Sign up for a free Noodle credit search account.
This will tell you if a CIFAS marker is on your address.

Out of curiosity what did you apply for in May 11?

Gromitt

I wouldn't bother with a SAR request to barclays, they'll likely just tell you the same information you already know. A SAR request to CIFAS and N Hunter would be more productive IMO. Or get Noddle to check your CIFAS for free and submit a SAR to just N Hunter.

Naf

It's only Barclays that have thrown up this issue: barclaycard still give me credit limit increases, vanquis and capital one have still accepted me, as did Lloyds for a new account.
But all they say is that there is a block due to 'something' they found on my credit report back in '11. I only applied for a bank account.

Gentoo365

Banks can put markers against people to say that they do not want to do business with them. They do not have to give a reason, but usually it will be either some sort of 'breakdown of trust' or inconsistencies in an application.

You say that it was related to an application you made in the past. I am assuming that this application was turned down.

What was this for?
Why was it turned down?

It could just be that they don't want to give you an overdraft as someone in that company has rejected you for credit in the past.

Yes it is odd that 'Barclaycard' are still increasing your limit. However sometimes credit card divisions tend to work at arms length from the rest of the retail banking business. So it may as well be a different company sometimes.

giblet10

But presumably with a CIFAS marker his Barclays account would have been closed - there was some MP talking about this a few weeks back..so if a CIFAS was on this persons account surely he'd have realised this by his banking being taken away?

jonesMUFCforever

giblet10 wrote: »

But presumably with a CIFAS marker his Barclays account would have been closed - there was some MP talking about this a few weeks back..so if a CIFAS was on this persons account surely he'd have realised this by his banking being taken away?

Not necessarily - but any application for a new account/service would trigger this type of reply.

Buzby

In answer to your query - a SAR is a requirement to provide EVERYTHING that they hold on you as the data subject. Boringly, this may simply be 4-10 screen grabs of your customer record, and a sheet providing the explanations for the cryptic terms you will see from the screen. You then use this as the basis for your investigations, and can revert to them to expand on the matters that interest you most.

YOu do not get copy letters, statements, or call recordings unless you explicitly ask for these at the time of the enquiry, but there are situations where they can refuse to provide these, saying they are linked but not primarily part of your Subject details.