Bank gave out my debit card details -illegal?

laneycakes

Hi all

Just wondering if this is illegal or not.

I'm in dispute with my bank and a company they work with as business partners. It's all to do with an accidental death policy that was "sold" during a cold call.

Basically my bank gave my details to this insurance company who over the phone said they were part of my bank. After a lot of pressure and hard sell (its free for three months, then you can cancel it blah blah blah) I eventually said ok to the "free trial" some months later I saw an odd, recurring payment coming out of my account, queried with my bank, they denied knowledge and it went on and on like this over a number of years. Eventually I discovered it wasn't actually my bank but a completely separate company got in touch with them and cancelled it.

I've requested various details including SAR to both the insurance company and the bank. I specifically asked how this company got my debit card details (its a continuous payment authority) bearing in mind they are simply a "business partner" not my bank...and it turns out my bank not only gave them my contact details but also supplied them with my debit card details which meant they could set up the CPA.

I feel this is frankly wrong but I'm wondering if there's any legal loopholes allowing them to do this? They gave this company my debit card details without my knowledge or permission and I have a letter from this company saying this is the case. They also allowed this company to continue taking payments even when the initial card expired.

So do they have any rights to do this? I'm thinking of complaining to the ombudsmen and/or information commissioner. Any thoughts? Advice? Thanks!

rb10

I would imagine that your bank acted as an introducer for the insurance company, i.e. the bank doesn't sell its own products but instead sells the products of a third party.

It probably was someone from your bank who made the initial phone call.

When you signed up for the policy, you provided them with your personal details and debit card number - that's how they got it. Part of the T&C that you'd have agreed to was that the insurance company is provided with these details.

grumbler

Whatever they say they cannot take even a single payment, let alone recurring ones, from your card without your explicit authorisation.

Complain, then take it to FOS.

laneycakes

That's the interesting thing, I don't think I did ever give them my details-I never give out the debit card details to someone who calls me for fear of fraud. I never signed anything -it was literally one call with a very pushy person who according to the insurance company was actually their representative...not the banks despite them saying they were from my bank!