Llyyds Bank 'cannot' stop sending mail for someone who no longer lives at my address

Rupert_the_Dog

All,
I'd appreciate the benefit of the collective wisdom to address an issue with Lloyds Bank.

15 years on from moving into my house, I'm still getting post from Lloyds Bank addressed to the son of the previous owner. I've called Lloyds many times, returned the post marked 'no longer at this address', etc. but am told that only the account owner can change the address associated with the account. Even though he no longer lives here, and I suspect is in violation of his bank account terms (e.g. to supply an up to date postal address), they are legally obliged to continue to send his correspondence to my address.

Aside from filling up my recycling bin, I'm both frustrated at their response and concerned that as an apparent a resident of my address, any financial impropriety on his behalf might impact my credit score.

I’ve logged a formal complaint with Lloyds which has been rejected and been told by the Ombudsman service that there is nothing I’m able to do.

Any thoughts on how I might get this cleaned up? Many thanks in advance.
Rupert.

BoGoF

No it won't affect your credit score or history.

Bin them is all you can do. Can't see the fuss tbh.

Filling up your recycling bin......really?

spadoosh

A letter every few weeks/months isnt filling up your recycling bin.

Your credit score will not be impacted by his actions, your credit score applies to you and not an address.

Id just keep putting them in the bin. Got to be easier than complaining to lloyds and the ombudsman.

Robin9

Not your problem - as BoGoOf post just bin it

PRAISETHESUN

Credit files are linked to people, not addresses, so this other person won't be affecting your credit history. Without a forwarding address for the mail however, there isn't really much you can do. Lloyds can't really do anything more than continue to send mail to the address they have on file - imagine the complaints they would get if they did anything other then that. I'd suggest to just keep throwing them in the bin... a few letters every now and then, whilst annoying, isn't going to overflow your bin.

Socajam

Put them in a plastic bag and at the end of every year, drop them off at your Lloyds Bank branch with the words, not known at this address.

Rupert_the_Dog

"Filling up your recycling bin......really?"

No, I was being sarcastic :-)

born_again

Surprising that when you told them that they did not mark the customer as a "Gone away"

While they are correct that only account holder can change the address. Once mail is returned back "No longer at this address" they should stop and attempt to contact the customer by other methods they have on their system.
Might even come down to blocking card/account to force customer to call.

15 years of trying and getting mail returned is just stupid. I guess they are still using the account.

eskbanker

While I agree with previous posters that it's probably not worth getting worked up about, one other avenue you might try is the data protection angle.

Under the Data Protection Act and the wider GDPR, Lloyds are obliged under article 5 to take reasonable steps to keep data accurate:

1. Personal data shall be:

(d) accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that personal data that are inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay (‘accuracy’)

Clearly it would be carnage if anyone could simply claim not to be at the address registered with banks, but I'd argue that if you've provided Lloyds with credible information that the recipient no longer lives at your property, then they have some sort of obligation to act on this. [edit: such as the actions suggested by born again above]

Given it's not actually your personal data that's inaccurate then it may be difficult to enforce this but it seems to me that if you can demonstrate that personal data held by Lloyds is inaccurate then this may be of interest to their data controller and/or the ICO....

born_again

eskbanker wrote: »

t it seems to me that if you can demonstrate that personal data held by Lloyds is inaccurate then this may be of interest to their data controller and/or the ICO....

Falls foul of the whole "Know your customer" :rotfl:

Vegastare

If you want to use your time and effort

How about contacting John Glen MP

Economic Secretary to the Treasury

The Economic Secretary (EST) is the City Minister responsible for financial services, including: banking and financial services reform and regulation

Seems to me there is need for reform and maybe worth a try, as for your concern over credit score - surely it would be against the name and you would certainly have had mail and possible personal contact if that was the case.

Secondly

I do get where you are coming from - for almost 10 years I got debt calls for a woman clearly using my phone number.
The debt would be picked up by new collection companies - some who were verbally challenging, and the calls just kept coming for Laura whoever!

UK law has stopped a lot of unwanted calls and they stopped a couple years back - but it would be every few months - spoke with the IOC who's advice was pitiful - could try them too. While it is rather more about personal data breaches - it's worth a try.

Finally if this is causing you anxiety and distress I would write personally to the head of Lloyds Bank chief executive Ant!nio Horta-Osorio, and highlight the problem and frustration, putting that is impacting on your health and wellbeing!!!