Changing bank account number - not type of account

Ponsienella2

My brother found out that his details were hacked from one of his pension companies a year ago. They have just written to him again stating that investigations have now revealed that his bank account number and sort code were also disclosed. Basically, every bit of information required to steal his identity was taken. 

They gave him free access to Experian for 12 months, which has now ended but I am concerned that someone will use his bank details.

He is a technophobe and lacks manual dexterity in his hands, so doesn't use online banking. I think the best way forward is to change his bank account. He just has an account where he pays no charges and receives no interest. Can he just go into his local Lloyds branch and change his account number?

mr_stripey

i don't think bank account number and sort code on their own are much use to anyone, unless they want to pay money into his account?

Ponsienella2

mr_stripey said:

i don't think bank account number and sort code on their own are much use to anyone, unless they want to pay money into his account?

What would be any good? They have:
Name
Address
Date of birth
Telephone contact number
National Insurance number
Pension payroll number
Name of Pension company
Date of retirement
Pension amount
Tax paid
Other Deductions amount
Unique Taxpayer Reference
Tax code
Bank account no.
Sort code
Bank account IBAN

flaneurs_lobster

It's the work of 5 minutes to open a second current account using online banking/app so I can't see why it wouldn't be a simple request in-branch. Just migrate things over to the new account, don't think that changing an account number is possible. 

Does your local Lloyds allow walk-in appointments? They will probably need the usual forms of ID.

PRAISETHESUN

Definately agree they need to be on the lookout for identity theft, but I'm not sure how much benefit there is to changing account details given the other info already compromised.

But if you want to do so, it's probably just easier to open a second account. I've not heard of banks changing account numbers for existing accounts.

PRAISETHESUN

mr_stripey said:

i don't think bank account number and sort code on their own are much use to anyone, unless they want to pay money into his account?

There's the well known incident involving Mr Clarkson where direct debits were set up on his account after he publically published the details, but you're protected under the DD guarantee in that instance if fraudulent payments were set up.

boingy

I'd suggest using the CASS system to move the account to a completely different bank. Different sort code and account number. You can't do anything about most of those other details that are out in the wild.

Ponsienella2

Thanks everyone. I'll talk to him about changing banks. 

eskbanker

Ponsienella2 said:

mr_stripey said:

i don't think bank account number and sort code on their own are much use to anyone, unless they want to pay money into his account?

What would be any good? They have:
Name
Address
Date of birth
Telephone contact number
National Insurance number
Pension payroll number
Name of Pension company
Date of retirement
Pension amount
Tax paid
Other Deductions amount
Unique Taxpayer Reference
Tax code
Bank account no.
Sort code
Bank account IBAN

Realistically it's the five bolded items that create the risk of identity theft, rather than the others, so changing bank or account don't really mitigate that risk to any meaningful extent.  That's not to say not to do it, if he's uncomfortable for whatever reason, but just don't be under the impression that it's a particularly effective defence against ID theft when more valuable data was exposed....

Ponsienella2

mr_stripey said:

i don't think bank account number and sort code on their own are much use to anyone, unless they want to pay money into his account?

What would be any good? They have:
Name
Address
Date of birth
Telephone contact number
National Insurance number
Pension payroll number
Name of Pension company
Date of retirement
Pension amount
Tax paid
Other Deductions amount
Unique Taxpayer Reference
Tax code
Bank account no.
Sort code
Bank account IBAN

Realistically it's the five bolded items that create the risk of identity theft, rather than the others, so changing bank or account don't really mitigate that risk to any meaningful extent.  That's not to say not to do it, if he's uncomfortable for whatever reason, but just don't be under the impression that it's a particularly effective defence against ID theft when more valuable data was exposed....

Thanks. Yes, I am more worried about his NI number being disclosed. I suppose it's good that it wasn't his bank card number and security code. 

eskbanker

He could ask the pension company for an extension to the Experian ID protection subscription, or just buy into one himself, such as:

Protective Registration | Identity Protection Service | Cifas