Bank given out personal details - help please

cazthecouponchick

Has anyone else had a problem with their bank giving outpersonal information? My bank have written & called my husbands ex-wife (whohas a different surname & we have never lived at the same address!). Notonly did they give her two of my account numbers, they also told her how much money was in/not inthe account, when last payments were made etc. When the ex-wife realised that the lady on the phone had hermistaken for me she told her to stop immediately. The bank lady sounded verystressed when she was informed that she had given out information wrongly. InSept 12, I wrote to inform the bank of a change of address, as my address hadnot been updated I wrote again in Jan 13 and still haven’t had anything sent tomy new address. I’m really upset about this. Has this happened to anyone else? DoI have a case against the bank for giving out personal information? Thanks inadvance for your help Carolyn

matttye

Yes- write a formal letter of complaint to the bank and you'll get an apology and probably some compensation. Send recorded delivery.

agrinnall

Are you sure this is actually what happened? It sounds very unlikely that a bank would ring someone up, and then without confirming their identity start giving out information on balances and transactions. In fact, I can't see any reason why a bank would do this even if they did know for sure who they were speaking to. It sounds to me more like the ex-wife stirring up trouble.

cazthecouponchick

Thanks for your comments. It definately happened... I have spent two hours on the phone this morning to the bank who said 'its a bit of a balls up'. The acknowledged that it happened and offered me £25 compensation and to refund the cost of the phone call. My husband & his ex-wife are amicable, we have been together for 12yrs so its not a recent split and there is no reason for her to be cause ructions. Quite pleased she called to tell us. So yes the bank called the ex-wife, did not go through any security questions just started discussing my banking details!

gb12345

cazthecouponchick wrote: »

Thanks for your comments. It definately happened... I have spent two hours on the phone this morning to the bank who said 'its a bit of a balls up'. The acknowledged that it happened and offered me £25 compensation and to refund the cost of the phone call. My husband & his ex-wife are amicable, we have been together for 12yrs so its not a recent split and there is no reason for her to be cause ructions. Quite pleased she called to tell us. So yes the bank called the ex-wife, did not go through any security questions just started discussing my banking details!

So how exactly did the bank get a telephone number for the ex, when you have never lived at that address?

cazthecouponchick

that I dont know. Its really strange. I can only presume that someone in the bank looked at my husbands details and made a connection. The bank would not tell me, they just said they need to investigate. They did say that she was on my file as a contact and I know that information did not come from me as although the ex & my husband are amicable, her and I dont talk to each other. I wrote to them in Sept last year & Jan of this year asking for them to amend my address as I had moved house and they did not do this, I have had no correspondence from the bank at all during this time. I am sure it is a bank error. The question is do i accept £25 or do I follow up with a formal complaint letter as it seems they have made several mistakes. thanks for your comments by the way.

innovate

cazthecouponchick wrote: »

that I dont know. Its really strange. I can only presume that someone in the bank looked at my husbands details and made a connection.

Surely your husbands details with the bank don't include the phone number of an ex from the dim and distant past?

I think there's a lot more to it than you are being told

No way would I settle for £25 (or any amount) before I don't know the precise details of what went on.

joolsybools

cazthecouponchick wrote: »

that I dont know. Its really strange. I can only presume that someone in the bank looked at my husbands details and made a connection. The bank would not tell me, they just said they need to investigate. They did say that she was on my file as a contact and I know that information did not come from me as although the ex & my husband are amicable, her and I dont talk to each other. I wrote to them in Sept last year & Jan of this year asking for them to amend my address as I had moved house and they did not do this, I have had no correspondence from the bank at all during this time. I am sure it is a bank error. The question is do i accept £25 or do I follow up with a formal complaint letter as it seems they have made several mistakes. thanks for your comments by the way.

Personally I would follow up with a more formal complaint in writing sent recorded. Even if they have admitted they have screwed up then £25 is poor recompense.

Make sure you are sending things to the correct address, it does sound odd that you wrote to them twice to change address and they didn't do it. You will be able to check your branch address via their website.

meer53

Did your husband have a joint account with his ex wife ? If he did, is it still open ?

What was the reason for the call from the bank ? You also said they had written, what was the letter about ?

chili1496

£25 quid what a joke, you need more to keep quiet

Herbalus

cazthecouponchick wrote: »

The bank would not tell me, they just said they need to investigate.

...The question is do i accept £25 or do I follow up with a formal complaint letter as it seems they have made several mistakes.

You said earlier that the £25 was compensation just for the phone call, so it's extremely likely that it is not all they are offering/will offer if they are still investigating.

A formal complaint will let them know how seriously you view this situation.