Request for 'marital status' to open an ISA

Maid_of_Kent

I applied to open a Sainsbury's ISA. The form asks me for my 'marital status'. I can't see why that's relevant to open a savings account.

I emailed them and they referred me to their 'Privacy Policy'. I read this through, but I still can't see why they need information about marital status to open a savings account. I have emailed back asking which bit of the Privacy Policy refers to my marital status and await their reply with interest.

I can sort-of see the logic in seeking information about your current relationship if you are seeking credit (though even that's frequently a bit tenuous).

FWIW, I have been divorced for over 40 years. What on earth relevance that might be to an application for a savings account I do not know.

Is it just me? I find these sort questions unnecessary and intrusive.

[Deleted User]

I totally agree.

Before opening your account, you should write to the Bank and ask for the date of birth of the chief executive, his tax status, address, how long he has lived there, his marital status and howany dependant children he supports. All questions routinely asked in account application forms.

Dird

I don't see why people be so awkward about ticking a box. It's not like the divorce was recent and you feel shame

I don't see why my ethnicity matters on most things but I tick the relevant box and move on to the next

AnotherJoe

Dird wrote: »

I don't see why people be so awkward about ticking a box. It's not like the divorce was recent and you feel shame

I don't see why my ethnicity matters on most things but I tick the relevant box and move on to the next

You've missed the point entirely. It's about why they gather these details and what business is it of theirs to ask. As it isn't relevant to the product, it's really no different to the checkout assistant at Saisnburys asking you what your marital status is when buying a loaf of bread. If they asked that you'd say none of your business.

System

Perhaps because a married person can inherit a deceased spouse's ISA?

bigadaj

[QUOTE=AnotherJoe;70728126_it's_really_no_different_to_the_checkout_assistant_at_Saisnburys_asking_you_what_your_marital_status_is_when_buying_a_loaf_of_bread._If_they_asked_that_you'd_say_none_of_your_business.[/QUOTE]

Well you might be missing out in that particular case....

eskbanker

I agree about intrusiveness and irrelevance, but from a practical perspective it's just a case of "take it or leave it", i.e. if you don't like Sainsbury's line of questioning then go and put your funds elsewhere (in the same way that if the checkout assistant insisted as a matter of policy that they needed to know status before selling bread you'd have to shop elsewhere or put up with it).

dunstonh

Is it just me? I find these sort questions unnecessary and intrusive.

If you don't like it then take your business elsewhere. However, the bank needs to comply with know your customer guidelines and this is how they interpret it.

Also, in the case of ISAs, it is relevant as the inherited spouse allowance could come into play.

AnotherJoe

dunstonh wrote: »

If you don't like it then take your business elsewhere. However, the bank needs to comply with know your customer guidelines and this is how they interpret it.

Also, in the case of ISAs, it is relevant as the inherited spouse allowance could come into play.

Ah well in that case it is Sainsburys business.

[Deleted User]

The existence of a spouse to "inherit" the ISA wrapper is not relevant at the point of opening the account. The question is: was there a spouse/civil partner at the time of death of the account holder? That's when marriage certs need to be shown.So the question of marital status is irrelevant and intrusive at the time of opening the account. Also, that question is asked routinely when opening any account, not just an ISA. Seeking to justify the question on the spousal inheritance provision is disingenuous.

MadMat

IMHO half the questions on most application forms are more about profiling you for further marketing than the product you are actually applying for.

Mat