Changing bank account number - not type of account

Rob5342

Banks will replace debts cards but I've never heard of them changing bank account numbers. I wouldn't have thought that getting a new bank account number would change the overall risk much, but if he's worried he can change it. The easiest way is probably to open an account with a different bank and do a CASS switch.

Ponsienella2

eskbanker said:

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

Thanks for the reply. I was just thinking that may be a good idea.

Ponsienella2

Rob5342 said:

Banks will replace debts cards but I've never heard of them changing bank account numbers. I wouldn't have thought that getting a new bank account number would change the overall risk much, but if he's worried he can change it. The easiest way is probably to open an account with a different bank and do a CASS switch.

Funnily enough he has been to the bank today and explained the situation and they were totally unhelpful and just told him they don't change accounts anymore. 

As he has way too much money in the account anyway, he also asked about an ISA and again they were really unhelpful and just said if he has a smartphone, to do it online. (He does have a smartphone but can barely use it. He only has it to receive texts and emails. He doesn't respond to them by phone or make calls or access the internet as he finds it too difficult).

There must be a bank of building society he can open a current account with, without having to do online banking. 

eskbanker

Ponsienella2 said:
...he has way too much money in the account anyway...

Even after its details were compromised? 😮

Ponsienella2 said:

There must be a bank of building society he can open a current account with, without having to do online banking. 

Any of the high street ones, even though some of their staff are evidently reluctant to support this, and are oblivious to what it means for their jobs if everything is done online 🙄

Ponsienella2

eskbanker said:

Ponsienella2 said:
...he has way too much money in the account anyway...

Even after its details were compromised? 😮

Yes. He's only just been informed his bank account details have been compromised. He was told about the other information being compromised a year ago but they've written this week saying that after an investigation they've determined that in addition all pension holders' bank details were compromised too. I've found out he has over £40k in the current account. 😲

Ponsienella2 said:

There must be a bank of building society he can open a current account with, without having to do online  banking. 

Any of the high street ones, even though some of their staff are evidently reluctant to support this, and are oblivious to what it means for their jobs if everything is done online 

He has a Nationwide Building Society nearby so I'll look into them. He's brassed off with the attitude of Lloyd's bank and wants a British owned bank.

eskbanker

Ponsienella2 said:

eskbanker said:

Ponsienella2 said:
...he has way too much money in the account anyway...

Even after its details were compromised? 😮

Yes. He's only just been informed his bank account details have been compromised. He was told about the other information being compromised a year ago but they've written this week saying that after an investigation they've determined that in addition all pension holders' bank details were compromised too. I've found out he has over £40k in the current account. 😲

Sorry, yes, you did mention at the start that he'd only just been notified about the bank details, over and above the rest of the data breach.  Because of that, it still seems reasonable to me to push the pension company for more protective cover - strictly speaking their late notification hasn't changed the risk, but their failure to advise this doesn't reflect well on them, so I'd have thought that many would be giving them a hard time about it....

Ponsienella2

eskbanker said:

Ponsienella2 said:

eskbanker said:

Ponsienella2 said:
...he has way too much money in the account anyway...

Even after its details were compromised? 😮

Yes. He's only just been informed his bank account details have been compromised. He was told about the other information being compromised a year ago but they've written this week saying that after an investigation they've determined that in addition all pension holders' bank details were compromised too. I've found out he has over £40k in the current account. 😲

Sorry, yes, you did mention at the start that he'd only just been notified about the bank details, over and above the rest of the data breach.  Because of that, it still seems reasonable to me to push the pension company for more protective cover - strictly speaking their late notification hasn't changed the risk, but their failure to advise this doesn't reflect well on them, so I'd have thought that many would be giving them a hard time about it....

Yes, I think we'll try that. Thanks.

Rob5342

Ponsienella2 said:

eskbanker said:

Ponsienella2 said:
...he has way too much money in the account anyway...

Even after its details were compromised? 😮

Yes. He's only just been informed his bank account details have been compromised. He was told about the other information being compromised a year ago but they've written this week saying that after an investigation they've determined that in addition all pension holders' bank details were compromised too. I've found out he has over £40k in the current account. 😲

Ponsienella2 said:

There must be a bank of building society he can open a current account with, without having to do online  banking. 

Any of the high street ones, even though some of their staff are evidently reluctant to support this, and are oblivious to what it means for their jobs if everything is done online 

He has a Nationwide Building Society nearby so I'll look into them. He's brassed off with the attitude of Lloyd's bank and wants a British owned bank.

They have a £175 switching offer at the moment. You have to do it online but could you help him do that and then turn on papet statements? 

Ponsienella2

Rob5342 said:

They have a £175 switching offer at the moment. You have to do it online but could you help him do that and then turn on papet statements? 

Yes, I can do that as I'm fine with online banking but I think he'd prefer to go into the branch to set the account up (even if he misses out on the £175. I know, madness but it makes him feel better).

Section62

flaneurs_lobster said:

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. 

Other than with the smaller building societies, doing anything in-branch these days is a challenge, as the OP has now discovered.

Whether it is because the banks don't want customers to use branches, or if it is genuine additional regulatory burdens for face-to-face contact, either way it seems the staff (prehaps under instruction from head office) are trying their best to do themselves out of a job.

Nationwide isn't much different in that respect - yes, they are keeping the branches open, but when you walk in the door you get directed to a machine/device of some kind, and if you express a wish to make a transaction with a human at the only open counter position you'll be encouraged - again - to use a machine instead.

Face-to-face account opening also tends to be harder when it comes to ID requirements and/or passing security questions, whereas online/app applications are more likely to be verified electronically, with a few notable exceptions.