First Direct quick Q

innovate

A company is by law entitled to retain data for as long as they need the data in support of their business. If First Direct determine, as they have, that they will never pay a joining bonus to somebody who has ever held an account with them, they have a valid business reason to keep such data for at least the average lifetime of a person.

It is absurd to suggest that companies should be forced to shred data so that consumers can benefit from the company.