How big a risk is it to divulge a bank accounts sort code and account number

colsten

Even HMRC publish their sort code and account numbers online. 

Armorica

So, basically:
- They are refusing to disclose their sort-code and account number to you, citing security risk. (The real reason may be discomfort with technology, or handing bits of paper can feel easier to reconcile/check what is received. If they are sent faster payments, then there is a reliance on those sending money to put in helpful reference information to identify the sender. Definite risk that wouldn't happen....)
- But they are forcing you to disclose your clubs' sort-code and account number to them by insisting on a cheque (as your details are printed on the cheque)
^^ Yes. This isn't necessarily rational or consistent.

If you wanted to create mischief...if they ever provide you with a cheque...you will have their sort-code and account number. Just pay the money there via faster payments and tell them you have done so....

colsten - HMRC have controls in place to manage the risk of direct debits being set up against their accounts

colsten

Armorica said:

colsten - HMRC have controls in place to manage the risk of direct debits being set up against their accounts

well yes - - so has everybody else who manages their account half properly.

MalMonroe

Neil49 said:

If that is the attitude of the Cricket League then the only thing that will change their minds is when their local bank branch closes and they have to drive 10 miles or more to pay in their cheques.

I think they need to get some young blood in there!

That's a bit rude. I'm not 'young blood' but I'm tech savvy and ditched cheques years ago. My friend from uni, who is 20 years younger than me (because I was a mature student) is scared to death of technology and can't operate a computer to save her life. She doesn't want to either. Age has nothing to do with it and I'm still smarting from that thoughtless comment!     I'm retired and just about to launch my online business, using tech all the way!  Technophobes come in all sizes AND ages.

where_are_we

Thanks for all your comments. I don`t want to be ageist (especially at my age!) but the league committee are elderly. It is a contradiction in the running of the two entities. Our cricket club would find it very onerous if it`s own sort code and account number were "secret" and all payments were by cheque. Even weekly match fees of £10 which must be collected from each player, are now done mostly by FP and not cash.

IvanOpinion

It is easier when you make payments. 
When I ask someone for their bank details to xfer money they often reply with 'can you give me a cheque'  I explain that I don't use cheques any more and don't even have one to give them.  Quite often they then try 'can you not lift it from a cash machine' to which I say 'yea I will try and get down within the next couple of weeks'.  Usually at that point their bank account details are forthcoming and money is transferred within seconds.

nick74

As I've said on here before, I was an accountant for a company who sent out tens of thousands of invoices per year to individuals and business all over the UK and Europe. Every invoice had our bank account number, sort code, bank name and branch address shown clearly at the bottom. In over a decade of doing this there was not (as far as we knew) a single fraud ever attempted using those details.

Eco_Miser

If you're feeling bolshie:

Dear Sirs, thank you for drawing our attention to the security risk of disclosing account number and sort code. To prevent disclosure of our details we will no longer be issuing cheques. Yours, etc.,

cannugec5

I like Armorica’s idea of using their cheque data. 

To do this, send them one final cheque for a figure in excess of the required fee. Request a refund of the ‘accidental’ overpayment by cheque....

MovingForwards

I'm involved in a private member's group, once a year I send out requests to the members for their annual fee and provide them the option of sending a cheque or doing a bank transfer. 99% of members do faster payment and drop me an email to say it's sent. The age range of this group is 40 - 80 years old. The committee are 50's and 70 years old.