Banks giving out address info - breach of the DPA?
Discussion
This cropped up a month or so ago and I keep forgetting to ask about it.
Before I left the country for 8 months, I made a bit of a cockup with regards to clearing one particular credit card - I totally forgot about it. It's only about 300 quid and, just to forestall the inevitable, yes I know it was my fault and yes I will be sorting it out. Anyway, now that's out the way...
I'd closed down my current account before I left and opened a new one at a different bank entirely when I got back (First Direct and Nationwide respectively). This opening was done while I was staying at my mum's for three weeks before finding my own place - I mention this as there is absolutely nothing previous on my record (financial, utility or otherwise) with that address connected to me. She's moved twice since I left home 13 years ago, and I hadn't had any connection with any UK address for 3 quarters of the year.
Within a fortnight of opening this new account, I got a letter at my mum's address from the card company about the outstanding balance. Once the "oh buggeration, I forgot all about that" moment had passed, it occurred to me - Nationwide had to have given out that address. Doesn't that contravene the Data Protection Act?
As I said, it's not a problem for the card company to have got in touch, I wasn't trying to dodge anything, this is more idle curiousity than anything else.
Before I left the country for 8 months, I made a bit of a cockup with regards to clearing one particular credit card - I totally forgot about it. It's only about 300 quid and, just to forestall the inevitable, yes I know it was my fault and yes I will be sorting it out. Anyway, now that's out the way...
I'd closed down my current account before I left and opened a new one at a different bank entirely when I got back (First Direct and Nationwide respectively). This opening was done while I was staying at my mum's for three weeks before finding my own place - I mention this as there is absolutely nothing previous on my record (financial, utility or otherwise) with that address connected to me. She's moved twice since I left home 13 years ago, and I hadn't had any connection with any UK address for 3 quarters of the year.
Within a fortnight of opening this new account, I got a letter at my mum's address from the card company about the outstanding balance. Once the "oh buggeration, I forgot all about that" moment had passed, it occurred to me - Nationwide had to have given out that address. Doesn't that contravene the Data Protection Act?
As I said, it's not a problem for the card company to have got in touch, I wasn't trying to dodge anything, this is more idle curiousity than anything else.
Edited by Famous Graham on Thursday 11th December 14:44
Howdy FG 
In relation to the DPA information regarding bad debt is not covered as it is not sensitive personal information and can be searched when doing a credit check for example.
They must really want their money back if they have traced you through your mum! First time i've ever heard of that.
But in relation to the DPA of 1998 then no, it's fair game.
HTH
In relation to the DPA information regarding bad debt is not covered as it is not sensitive personal information and can be searched when doing a credit check for example.
They must really want their money back if they have traced you through your mum! First time i've ever heard of that.
But in relation to the DPA of 1998 then no, it's fair game.
HTH
Edited by LHDisbest on Thursday 11th December 14:52
Famous Graham said:
Well, they didn't trace me through my mum as such, I opened my new bank account in my name but at her address as I needed somewhere for the card to be sent to.
You've been credit checked, and you've gone 'live' so to speak back in the UK, that's how they found you. 
The terms of the DPA exclude any information regarding bad debt, so short of changing your name to Julio Valdez your knackered.
Big Brother (or Experian) is watching!
LHDisbest said:
Howdy FG
In relation to the DPA information regarding bad debt is not covered as it is not sensitive personal information and can be searched when doing a credit check for example.
They must really want their money back if they have traced you through your mum! First time i've ever heard of that.
But in relation to the DPA of 1998 then no, it's fair game.
HTH
Completely wrong!In relation to the DPA information regarding bad debt is not covered as it is not sensitive personal information and can be searched when doing a credit check for example.
They must really want their money back if they have traced you through your mum! First time i've ever heard of that.
But in relation to the DPA of 1998 then no, it's fair game.
HTH
Edited by LHDisbest on Thursday 11th December 14:52
Bad debt or not this is personal data and governed by the DPA 1998. All Credit Reference Agencies (CRA's) are specifically mentioned in the DPA.
I've successfully sued 2 x CRA's under section 13 of the aforementioned act.
forza whites said:
LHDisbest said:
Howdy FG
In relation to the DPA information regarding bad debt is not covered as it is not sensitive personal information and can be searched when doing a credit check for example.
They must really want their money back if they have traced you through your mum! First time i've ever heard of that.
But in relation to the DPA of 1998 then no, it's fair game.
HTH
Completely wrong!In relation to the DPA information regarding bad debt is not covered as it is not sensitive personal information and can be searched when doing a credit check for example.
They must really want their money back if they have traced you through your mum! First time i've ever heard of that.
But in relation to the DPA of 1998 then no, it's fair game.
HTH
Edited by LHDisbest on Thursday 11th December 14:52
Bad debt or not this is personal data and governed by the DPA 1998. All Credit Reference Agencies (CRA's) are specifically mentioned in the DPA.
I've successfully sued 2 x CRA's under section 13 of the aforementioned act.
forza whites said:
Bad debt or not this is personal data and governed by the DPA 1998. All Credit Reference Agencies (CRA's) are specifically mentioned in the DPA.
Well they get a mention in section 9 about how they have to respond to a request for access to data but is that relevant to this?There's a lot of guff talked about the DPA. In principle it says that if you are going to process data about people you need to be registered and your registration needs to say what you are going to do. It gives you the right to find out what people are holding about you and the right to get it corrected if it's wrong. But it doesn't do a lot to stop people doing things with the data so long as their registration allows it.
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