SHOCKING! Still shows money owing on old bank accounts! HELP!

perx30

Hello all,

Just received my credit file back from Experian and found that I have THREE current accounts all with default balances!

Natwest Current Account = £837
Santander Current Account = £496
Lloyds TSB Current Account = £1084

All balances were accrued between 2009 and 2010, which matches up to a period of mental health issues I was experiencing. However, to my knowledge, there was no money in any of the accounts and no DD or SO pending to make me overdrawn ... I'm assuming the balances (above) are predominantly bank charges which have escalated!

I have approached my local branches of the banks but they have no details of me holding an account with them. A form has been completed find 'lost accounts' but I fear the balances would have been passed onto 3rd party recovery companies.

I REALLY do not know what to do about this!

meer53

You need to write to the 3 banks concerned to ask them for any information they hold about the accounts. The result of this request will decide what your next action should be, you can't do anything until you've heard from them.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

It's stupid. Why should the person have to go to so much trouble disproving the information posted about them? If the banks have no details then they should then immediately call the person responsible for posting this information to the agencies and that person should immediately instruct that the entries are removed.

This tawdry business of having to disprove information should stop.

Tixy

It is very likely the accounts will have been passed to debt collection agencies. However the bank will be able to provide transaction lists / statements to show how and when the accounts went overdrawn.

A lost account form will probably get you those details if you do not know your account numbers.
An alternative option would be to do a subject access request under the data protection act to each bank, which you don't have to supply an account number for, and they have to provide full details of the accounts within 40days.

Whilst some of the defauled balances may well be charges, charges do not rack up on a dormant account that is not overdrawn and that no payments are going out of.

meer53

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

It's stupid. Why should the person have to go to so much trouble disproving the information posted about them? If the banks have no details then they should then immediately call the person responsible for posting this information to the agencies and that person should immediately instruct that the entries are removed.

This tawdry business of having to disprove information should stop.

It's the banks that send the information to the CRA's ! Hence my suggestion that the OP contact them. Branch staff don't have access to what the OP needs, a written request will provide the information. The information could well be correct.

What would you recommend then ?

perx30

All accounts were not used after 2010. They were all active accounts that I used frequently for various different transactions and account perks etc.

How long does an unused account take to be classified as 'dorment'?

Also, is there any way of finding out which debt collection agencies these account have been deferred to?

Thank you all for your help so far!!

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

meer53 wrote: »

It's the banks that send the information to the CRA's ! Hence my suggestion that the OP contact them. Branch staff don't have access to what the OP needs, a written request will provide the information. The information could well be correct.

What would you recommend then ?

The OP has stated that they have approached the branch. If they can't find an account then it is a pretty poor show. This is how it should work:

Customer: I have a problem with accounts on my credit file
Branch Person: I have just looked but cant find any.
(Branch Person Reached for phone)
Branch Person: I will just call the office that reports this data
Bank CRA Office: Hello can I help?
Branch Person: A customer has information on file but we have no account records.
Bank CRA Office: OK No problem give me the person's name and date of birth and address and I will message the CRA's this afternoon to remove the data
Branch Person: OK Thanks for your help
Branch Person: It's OK sir/madam it is being put right
Customer: Thanks very much for sorting this so quick. The banking industry does seem to have some redeeming features.
Branch Person: That's fine. Glad to have helped. Our customer services team will be in touch to discuss some compensation for your inconvenience too.

There how does that sound?

Incidentally phone any company that reports data to your credit file and ask to speak to the department that report it. You will get one of the following answers:

No department exists
We don't report data
I don't know what you mean
I will transfer you (you then get cut off)
I will transfer you (you then get put through to sales)
I will transfer you (you then get through to retentions)
That department doesn't speak to the public
That department doesn't have any phones (how do they ring in sick then)

Been there done it and got the tee shirt.

meer53

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

The OP has stated that they have approached the branch. If they can't find an account then it is a pretty poor show. This is how it should work:

Customer: I have a problem with accounts on my credit file
Branch Person: I have just looked but cant find any.
(Branch Person Reached for phone)
Branch Person: I will just call the office that reports this data
Bank CRA Office: Hello can I help?
Branch Person: A customer has information on file but we have no account records.
Bank CRA Office: OK No problem give me the person's name and date of birth and address and I will message the CRA's this afternoon to remove the data
Branch Person: OK Thanks for your help
Branch Person: It's OK sir/madam it is being put right
Customer: Thanks very much for sorting this so quick. The banking industry does seem to have some redeeming features.
Branch Person: That's fine. Glad to have helped. Our customer services team will be in touch to discuss some compensation for your inconvenience too.

There how does that sound?

Incidentally phone any company that reports data to your credit file and ask to speak to the department that report it. You will get one of the following answers:

No department exists
We don't report data
I don't know what you mean
I will transfer you (you then get cut off)
I will transfer you (you then get put through to sales)
I will transfer you (you then get through to retentions)
That department doesn't speak to the public
That department doesn't have any phones (how do they ring in sick then)

Been there done it and got the tee shirt.

How does that sound ? Absolutely ridiculous.

The information on a credit file has to be an accurate reflection of how a person manages their finances. How on earth do you expect someone on the counter, in a branch, to have the authority to remove information from credit files ? Banks will remove information IF it has been applied incorrectly.

Why not stop giving ridiculous advice and let the OP follow the correct route to get this sorted ?

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

meer53 wrote: »

How does that sound ? Absolutely ridiculous.

The information on a credit file has to be an accurate reflection of how a person manages their finances. How on earth do you expect someone on the counter, in a branch, to have the authority to remove information from credit files ? Banks will remove information IF it has been applied incorrectly.

Why not stop giving ridiculous advice and let the OP follow the correct route to get this sorted ?

If the account doesn't exist or can't be found then how can it be accurate? The data is at least 50% incorrect if no corresponding account can be found. The data should be at least removed until such point it can be proven to be correct i.e. the bank actually finds the account. And if the branch person can't find the account that should serve as testament enough for the CRA department to at least temporarily remove the data pending an investigation.

So basically with CRA data you are guilty until proven innocent and the onus is on the individual to prove that fact?

The sooner the No Win No Fee Brigade cotton onto the compensation possibilities of incorrect CRA data the better and firms are sued within inches of their lives.

meer53

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

If the account doesn't exist or can't be found then how can it be accurate? The data is at least 50% incorrect if no corresponding account can be found. The data should be at least removed until such point it can be proven to be correct i.e. the bank actually finds the account. And if the branch person can't find the account that should serve as testament enough for the CRA department to at least temporarily remove the data pending an investigation.

So basically with CRA data you are guilty until proven innocent and the onus is on the individual to prove that fact?

The account information will be found, it will still exist. Counter staff won't have access to this information which is why they advised the OP to complete the lost account forms. Back office staff at the banks concerned will be able to find the accounts and let the OP know how the balances have occurred.

There is absolutely no point in removing information temporarily.

If it has been applied incorrectly, it will be removed, permanently.

rizla_king

Whatever section or department or staff that look after the duties of the data controller will be the ones to query. Frontline staff will not have a scooby or the info required.