Recovery Company - Data Protection

FTD02

Not sure if this is the right section but I'm sure someone can help me. I had a credit card, about 2k, that got taken up by a recovery company.

They were a little pushy at first but for the last year/year and a half I've been paying 25 pounds per month. Occasionally the operator has given me "pressure" to clear but I've stood firm and, honestly, I'm paying what I can afford anyway.

Not often but a few times they've asked if they can keep my debit card details on their files and they would take the amount from this automatically. I've always flat refused (been quite adamant about this) and offered to set up a direct debit, which they've always refused.

I phone up this morning, as normal, to make my 25 pounds payment and the operator says "It's it from the usual card, your [Bank name] card". Alarm bells rang and I said you shouldn't have these details, she tried to back track saying she only had the account number and only managers had access to the expiry date, issue number etc. I said nobody, manager or otherwise, should have any details and she just flustered a bit, took my payment and that was it.

They're obviously breaking the Data Protection Act but what should I do? What would a complaint acheive other than getting my details removed, which they'll only have next month again anyway. Does the company get fined or anything? Also are they likely to make the recovery of the remaining debt a hassle?

Any advice would be more than appreciated, thanks.

mattp_3

certainly sounds like they have tripped up - they should not store the details of your card without your expressed permission, they will be obliged to hold onto details of your previous transaction, in case there were any errors processing the payment but there is no way they could debit money from your account each month without your permission.

Try speaking to your local Trading Standards, the collection agency could have their credit consumer licence revoked if they are found to be breaching data protection.

You are better to send them payment by cheque in the future (sent recorded delivery) if you are worried they will try to take payment without your knowledge?

Which company is it?