Why do the statements contain only the initial of my name?

pieroabcd

Hi,
I'm always been baffled and angry by the lack of my full name from my some of my bank statements. Why is it replaced with the initial?
Without the full name someone could claim that it belongs to someone else with my surname rather than to me.
What about two brothers living at the same address and named John and James?

Is it done intentionally?

Thanks.

RG2015

Which bank(s)?

I have never seen this and I have (or have had) accounts with about 20 banks.

pieroabcd

The bank is Metro

jimjames

RG2015 said:

Which bank(s)?

I have never seen this and I have (or have had) accounts with about 20 banks.

Just checked the first statement on my pile (Barclaycard) and that is addressed to Mr and Initial only. So Jim and son Jon wouldn't know who it was for although the Mr would eliminate daughter Jill.

elsien

Don’t metro do online banking rather than paper statements? So it’d be quite hard for John and James to access each other’s statements without consent. 

pieroabcd

elsien said:

Don’t metro do online banking rather than paper statements? So it’d be quite hard for John and James to access each other’s statements without consent. 

They do both, and in both statements (paper and electronic) the full name is missing.
The problem is not accessing their statements, but proving that your statement actually belongs to you and that it's your proof of address.

RG2015

jimjames said:

RG2015 said:

Which bank(s)?

I have never seen this and I have (or have had) accounts with about 20 banks.

Just checked the first statement on my pile (Barclaycard) and that is addressed to Mr and Initial only. So Jim and son Jon wouldn't know who it was for although the Mr would eliminate daughter Jill.

I stand corrected, as TSB only show initials. Interestingly, HSBC and First Direct have only initials in the address window and my full name further down the statement header.

GaleSF63

They aren't consistent. I have an HSBC visa card. My statement is addressed to Name and  Surname. My card also has my 2 middle initials. A letter sending me a new secure key for online was 3 initials and surname.
Nationwide are also inconsistent. 

mab3000

pieroabcd said:

Hi,
I'm always been baffled and angry by the lack of my full name from my some of my bank statements. Why is it replaced with the initial?
Without the full name someone could claim that it belongs to someone else with my surname rather than to me.
What about two brothers living at the same address and named John and James?

Is it done intentionally?

Thanks.

Have you asked Metro if they can change the statement name on your account? Can be done at other banks. 

pieroabcd

mab3000 said:

pieroabcd said:

Hi,
I'm always been baffled and angry by the lack of my full name from my some of my bank statements. Why is it replaced with the initial?
Without the full name someone could claim that it belongs to someone else with my surname rather than to me.
What about two brothers living at the same address and named John and James?

Is it done intentionally?

Thanks.

Have you asked Metro if they can change the statement name on your account? Can be done at other banks. 

some time ago they said "no". Maybe I have to try with another employee.

wmb194

I prefer it when they use my initials as e.g., random people cannot know my full name by just looking at an envelope. A stockbroker used to send me contract notes showing my full name and that annoyed me no end. If Metro cannot do what you'd like then just use another bank. Metro's rubbish anyway.