Dodgy company called "Suits Me" have opened an account without my consent and refusing to close it.

whalemoney

(Second time writing this because this keeps crashing! It took me about half an hour to write it initially so I'm just going to summarise it this time as I really can't write it all out at length again!)

1) A dodgy company called "Suits Me" sent a bank card to my old address.

2) Occupant of my old address forwarded it to me.

3) The card had a generic letter attached to it.  I noted there was a contact email address on it for Suits me so;

4) I emailed Suits Me with photos of the bank card and I made 3 points;
i) Why have they sent a card to me;
ii) Subject Access Request for all the data they hold on me;
iii) Close the account.  I didn't ask for it and dont need it.

5) Suits Me replied refusing all 3 requests.  They are demanding I send my ID to them,

6) I don't know this company.  There is absolutely no way I am sending my ID to this scammer company.  When I get cold calls off scammers I don't give them my personal data so why on earth would I hand over private data to a company I have not asked for it.

7) Exhausted the complaints process.  They refuse to budge.  They want ID.

8) They are not party to the Ombudsman Service (they are not a bank) so I cannot take this route.

9) My credit rating has gone down since this account was opened.

10) I've reported to ICO for refusal to adhere to SAR and GDPR breach posting to my old address.  In the past I've found ICO to be the most incompetent bunch of shills I've ever encountered, so I'm not holding my breath

11) If anybody could advise what the best approach would be legally please let me know.  Thanks

gt94sss2

Haver you followed their complaints process?

https://suitsmecard.com/app/uploads/2024/10/SM-Complaints-Procedure.pdf

whalemoney

gt94sss2 said:

Haver you followed their complaints process?

https://suitsmecard.com/app/uploads/2024/10/SM-Complaints-Procedure.pdf

Thanks for the reply but yes;
7) Exhausted the complaints process.  They refuse to budge.  They want ID.

PRAISETHESUN

A few points:

In regards to your refusal to provide ID - I completely understand your hesitancy, but I suspect any complaint to the ICO will result in them saying that the request for ID is reasonable, as the company needs to correctly establish that you are who you say you are before releasing personal information.

You also mention your credit file being affected. Have you checked the actual data on your files, rather than just seeing your "score/rating" change? (side note - it is not seen by lenders so you really shouldn't be worrying over the score, but you need to focus on the data). Have you checked all 3 CRAs? What data has been actually entered on your files by this company?

born_again

Complain to FOS, given you have exhausted the complaint process.

But I get why they want ID to confirm who you are. Would you want a bank to shut a account on the say so of a random person?

elsien

Especially when the person is asking them to change the address on the account. 

I appreciate your concern about an account. you have no knowledge of, but suits me are a legitimate company.

MattMattMattUK

I think it is situations like this where the rules and regulations fundamentally fail. They as a business are obviously not competent enough to stop fraudsters opening an account in someone else's name, yet they expect legitimate members of the public to hand over government issued ID to close those fraudulent accounts their lacklustre security processes allowed to be opened in the first place. 

Having a read of their website they seem to pride themselves on not doing proper checks. They proudly proclaim "No Credit Checks", so no attempt to verify customers with CRAs, they make clear that they will open accounts for people who have CIFAS fraud markers and their list of secondary ID documents required are things I could knock up in Photoshop in less than ten minutes. 

Eyeful

1. Suits Me Ltd (FRN: 903024)
They are not a bank and your money is not protected by the FSCS.

2. From your post, may be someone has set up an account in your name, using your old address.
I would do what is suggested by the PRAISETHESUN post above.

Section62

whalemoney said:

....

11) If anybody could advise what the best approach would be legally please let me know.  Thanks

Report/complaint to FCA?

But I can understand why the company won't want to engage with you without ID to confirm you are the person whose identity has been used to create the account.

eskbanker

I suspect that their corporate structure may be problematic here - while it's true that Suits Me Limited are a UK company, with limited e-money authorisation from the FCA, the cards are actually issued by a Gibraltar company, which is why the above complaints procedure directs complainants to the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission for escalation.  The footer on the website clarifies:

The Suits Me Mastercard® is issued by IDT Financial Services Limited pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. IDT Financial Services Limited is a regulated bank, licensed by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission. Registered Office: 57 – 63 Line Wall Rd, Gibraltar. Registered No: 95716

Suits Me® Limited is registered in England and Wales, with registration number: 07349753 | Suits Me® is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under registration reference: ZA237140. The Old Shippon, Moseley Hall Farm, Chelford Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8RB. | Suits Me® Card is a TA of Suits Me® Limited.

so I suspect that issues relating to the cards will be outside the jurisdiction of FCA, FOS, ICO, etc.