Information give to a DCA

scobbieboy

I recently moved abroad and made sure all outstanding bills were cleared before I left the UK.

Of course, as is often the case, it never ends up being straight forward when you close an account with a utility/phone/TV provided, even though you advise them you are moving abroad and not switching to a competitor.

Anyway one provider is being very difficult!

I gave notice within the specified period and paid the final bill.
I was already abroad when I gave notice and because I was outside of Europe I confirmed all through email via the providers website. Eg Logged in through my account.

I received confirmation that they had received my request. A few days later I received an email to advise that they required further security information even though, as mentioned above, the details I submitted came through their secure website.
They requested that I call them!
I emailed back to confirm this was not possible due to my location and if they had security questions they could email.

They emailed again with exactly the same response which I responded with the same response.

I then heard nothing for a couple of months. I thought that everything had been sorted.

I then received information from my wife's parents that a letter had gone to their address from a debt collector advising outstanding monies owed for this provider.

I checked back on my online account and saw that they had not actioned my cancellation request and continued to charge me despite me leaving the property it related to and therefore not using their service.

What I don't understand is how they were able to get my wife's parents address!
My forwarding address is my own parents. I have used this provider in my last three addresses of which none have been my wife's parents.
The only connection I can think is my UK bank account was changed to my wife's parents address, which the provider would have my bank account details for payment.

Can this provider give my bank account details to the debt collecting agency?
Surely this contravenes data protection?
The debt collector have also contacted me by email, which again I can only think comes from the provider!

Any help?

fermi

Yes, the provider can pass those details on. Falls under the "legitimate interests" condition for processing under the DPA.

http://www.ico.org.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/the_guide/conditions_for_processing

Address details may have also been obtained from your updated credit report which would have included the new bank account address when you changed it.

Can debt collection company legally access my credit report?

scobbieboy

Thanks for your help! Very clear!!