Bank claiming account details not found

MollyJ14

Hi,
I'm trying to help my mum look into mis-sold PPI with a several companies.
With one bank they held a joint personal account, joint business account, loan and credit cards for over 30 years. The accounts were only closed when my father passed away, 4 years ago and unfortunately mum has got rid of all paperwork. We sent a template letter, and the bank rang to say they cannot find any of their details. We searched mums credit file and there were no account numbers, although it did show they had closed accounts.
Is our next step to write again to the bank and quite the data protection act (I can't remember the exact process because I've been reading for about 2 hours now) or do we approach the Information Commissioner? Or something else?
Thankyou in advance for any help.

Robin9

Which Bank ?

dunstonh

or do we approach the Information Commissioner?

The data commissioner does not hold any data about you.

Is our next step to write again to the bank and quite the data protection act

If you want to spend £10 doing that, you can.

Maybe there is no PPI to find. Most people did not have it. Most bank accounts didnt have it as an option. So, maybe they cant find anything as there is nothing to find.

Mersey_2

MollyJ14 wrote: »

With one bank they held a joint personal account, joint business account, loan and credit cards for over 30 years. The accounts were only closed when my father passed away, 4 years ago and unfortunately mum has got rid of all paperwork. We sent a template letter, and the bank rang to say they cannot find any of their details.

Is our next step to write again to the bank and quite the data protection act (I can't remember the exact process because I've been reading for about 2 hours now) or do we approach the Information Commissioner?

It's quite normal for banks not to store data for deceased former customers after a number of years (although usually they are still retained for 6 years ie Santander does this).


Equally, several banks have initially failed to locate an account of a recently deceased customer when contacted [this happened with my late Grandad's; but, it was located straightaway after a complaint was sent]


Re the IC - I'm only aware of them becoming involved in a few similar cases recently, such as Charter Savings Bank suffered a burglary earlier in the year, including the theft of customers' data which included former customers. But all customers were written to by the bank and compensated.