Santander - Data Protection

Blue1966

Thanks for the clarification.

Blue1966

Even when Companies House changed the address, Santander still refused to change their records -

'when we are opening an account we would complete the necessary security checks for the address but afterwards it is up to our customers to ensure their details are up to date.' and 'understand you remain unhappy with your address being used by our customer. I've had a look at your complaint and our original decision remains unchanged.'

They stopped using my home address for their customer when it was known the insolvency application was unsuccessful.

They referred me to the FOS, but I am eligible complainant as I am not a customer of Santander.

eskbanker

Blue1966 wrote: »

Yes, I complained by telephone and in writing on a number of occasions. Conversations "don't worry if she goes bust, this won't affect your credit rating" and when I asked to be transferred to their Fraud or Legal Department, he said "if I could, I would but I can't".

Are you under the impression that the activities of a business registered at your address affect your personal credit status?

Blue1966 wrote: »

They stopped using my home address for their customer when it was known the insolvency application was unsuccessful.

So, just to be clear, this situation is now in the past and your address is no longer being used? If so, I'd repeat my earlier question of what is it that you're looking to achieve here? How would accessing correspondence, etc, actually help you if it's a matter of record that the account was set up at your address - are you actively seeking to pursue the business owner in court for something (if so, what)? Or are you perhaps trying to pursue Santander? In either case, what actual loss or damage have you suffered?

Blue1966 wrote: »

They referred me to the FOS, but I am eligible complainant as I am not a customer of Santander.

That sentence should presumably say that you're not an eligible complainant?

BoGoF

I agree with the others, your address is not personal data. As annoying as it is I don't really see the issue here - how does it personally affect you?

colsten

Whilst it might be a nuisance if you receive mail, or callers, for another person that does not live at your address, it does not have any effect at all on your credit file - unless you and the person in question also have a financial connection, in the form of joint accounts, joint mortgage, joint loan etc.

It is not the job of a bank to verify that a person lives at the address that they say they live at, or that a registered company address is indeed the address they are given for the company. Nor is a bank allowed to change a customer's address on the say-so of a third party.

Simply return any mail unopened to the Post Office, with 'not at this address’ on the envelope.

Joe_Bloggs

Surely a bank has a Know your Customer obligation.

To verify that a person lives at the address that they say they live at, or that a registered company address is indeed at the address they gave for the company

J_B.

Blue1966

Thanks for correcting me on the not eligible complainant. I do apologise for length of post and I'd like to add thanks so much to all for your time and comments.

I am not concerned for my credit status and I do believe the debt follows the person and does not attach to the address. However, my car insurance trebled and my neighbour's renewal was declined having renewed the previous 7 years without issue. A finance professional advised that a building can "inherit bad history" - I don't know if this is true.

An indicator that my personal data was compromised with Ltd Co & Business Accounts registered to my address is my employer was required to carry-out mid-employment checks following an acquisition and pre mergers. My colleagues checks took 5-10 days and mine took 6 weeks with the screening company advising they needed to check more information, which is odd as I have passed high level security checks the previous year for my previous job.

I was relieved when Ltd Co insolvency unsuccessful, so public records, Companies House, Ltd Co Social Media, banks and creditors not publicising or recording insolvency, court order, debt/default information on industry databases against my home address.

Then, Ltd Co changed Co name, changed house name and another insolvency unsuccessful with the house name reversed and Santander closing the account. I then received threats, so I quickly moved house and town. That is the past.

Since November last year, all reference to that property has been deleted from my personal data reports; Electoral Roll, previous address and CIFAS Protective Registration. I submitted disputes with official documentation to 2 CRAs and each advised my data was changed on 14 November 2018, they said they cannot correct my data without the permission of the lender and if I want to get the data changed I need to contact Santander and "not to worry that Santander is opening an account for their customer, it won't impact your credit rating."

I telephoned Santander yesterday and spoke with 3 staff members who were kind and apologetic, each checked the system and could not find any record for their ex-customer by any of the Co names, Director name, addresses, house names or post codes. I was transferred to a 4th person who had located the application form, he stated my story was "no concern" and "categorically confirm Santander" has not deleted or changed anything on the databases. There was mention to my relationship with Ltd Co, which scared me - there is no relationship. I am waiting for the 2 CRAs to provide written proof of the changes made to my personal data.

I'm not concerned about credit status for loans/finance, but I am concerned for the integrity of my personal data for employment/screening purposes, which has proven to be an issue. I have suffered inconvenience and disruption the past 21 months; continuously fill-in forms and submit ID verification, long letters, long phone calls, contacted numerous media companies to remove my home address advertised on the internet, spied on by neighbour who intercepted my post, threatened, moved house and town.

So thank you for the clarification on the application form with my address on.

[Deleted User]

Blue1966 wrote: »

T A finance professional advised that a building can "inherit bad history" - I don't know if this is true.

I suspect he was fibbing about being a finance professional, if he said that.

Maybe he's a bookie?

Blue1966

He works at a CRA!

eskbanker

Blue1966 wrote: »

I submitted disputes with official documentation to 2 CRAs and each advised my data was changed on 14 November 2018, they said they cannot correct my data without the permission of the lender and if I want to get the data changed I need to contact Santander

Perhaps it's just me but this sounds contradictory - was the data changed/corrected or are they waiting for you to contact Santander first? Their suggestion that you contact Santander would imply that the CRAs assert that Santander provided them with data about you (personally, not the address) but exactly what data is that?

Blue1966 wrote: »

I telephoned Santander yesterday

[...]

There was mention to my relationship with Ltd Co, which scared me - there is no relationship.

Again this doesn't sound right - have you gone through a Subject Access Request process with Santander yet to ascertain exactly what personal data they hold about you?