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AIBU?

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Original poster

to ask what to do now? The bank have given my details to abusive ex...

423 replies

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 14/03/2019 11:25

I made a complaint to the bank a few months ago that they had allowed an abusive ex-partner to open an account in my name and run up debt. Three weeks later, they were still allowing him to use the account (according to my credit file) and I complained again.

Today I messaged them to ask what was taking so long. They've just called and confirmed that they sent a letter, including all the allegations, to his address. An address that I have never lived at. The letter contains my new mobile number, at least, and possibly my new address.

He was very violent. He hit me when we broke up. I had to get the police involved and be escorted to work and home again for a while, had to work odd hours, he waited for me outside anywhere he thought I might be. I had to go into a refuge for a while and get a new number. It took months for me to feel calm that he didn't know where I was. I was treated for intense PTSD, and situational anxiety.

They knew this. I was explicit about this, and they knew it, and have detailed in the letter that they know they can only use certain contact details for me...

The bank complaints handler has apologised and said they will call back today as soon as possible. He shut down and wouldn't tell me any more.

What do I do now? I don't want to keep running, to live in fear again. It cost a lot to deal with it last time, there's a lot of inconvenience... I can't believe they've messed it up. I'm so scared he'll turn up here.

OP posts:
proseccoandbooks · 14/03/2019 12:36

Go EVERYWHERE. CEO, TWITTER, FACEBOOK. This is absolutely OUTRAGEOUS

proseccoandbooks · 14/03/2019 12:37

And speak to a solicitor ASAP. And threaten them to sie

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 14/03/2019 12:41

OP I am so sorry to hear this. I could have written this a few year's ago when something very similar happened to me with another high street bank.
I would also complain higher to the CEO and the ICO. I also found, I only actually got results when I went into the branch and spoke to someone face to face and refused to budge until the did something. But I appreciate that's not always possible.

I had yet another issue with the same bank trying to be removed from our joint account. They wanted him (my highly abusive ex), to be there in person, to give "permission" for me to be removed from the joint account. Thankfully, sanity prevailed and one of the managers realized I could actually just close the account without his "permission", so we did. But OMG it was ridiculous.

nause · 14/03/2019 12:42

OP that's terrible. I'm so sorry. This shouldn't be possible.

Have you got children? Sorry if I missed that part.

I'm glad the police are coming out.

Good luck with all of this and definitely definitely complain.

GirlcalledJack · 14/03/2019 12:43

Absolutely outrageous behaviour from Barclays!

You could tweet, FB and maybe a Reddit post as well?

FFSFFSFFS · 14/03/2019 12:45

call the financial ombudsman and say it is a priority case.

and then go to your mp and tell him to tell the ombudsman that it is a priority case.

and then they should priorities it and take necessary steps and give you (a decent amount) of compensation - i.e. in the thousands of pounds.

Do not let this go - the Financial Ombudsman would classify this as i the very serious category of failures.

Please

DarlingNikita · 14/03/2019 12:52

Good God.

There's good advice on here (solicitor, police advice etc), which I can't add anything to, but I would say you must raise absolute merry hell.

Yes to going on social media with it. Yes to the ombudsman and the information commissioner and your MP.

They have to be MUCH more contrite about this and they have to be seen to be busting a gut to fix it for you, and to make sure they don't do it to anyone else.

Shamoo · 14/03/2019 12:54

Worked on a case with similar facts - but it was a doctors and not a bank. They were fined around 50k by the ICO, and that was pre-GDPR. You should absolutely report them as it’s the only way to get them to take it all more seriously!

JonestheMail · 14/03/2019 12:58

A similar thing happened to me though not with such serious repercussions. I closed my bank account so that ex would not have access to my details.

It was not a joint account, but before we divorced they operated a pooling scheme where we both had the ability to see the transactions on our joint account and the individual account balances (but not transactions) on our individual accounts.

I told them when I closed my account that I was doing so because exH and I were divorced and I wanted complete financial separation. They had changed my address and had written to me several times at my new address.

I then asked for closing bank statements so I could do my tax return and they sent the lot to exH. To compound the problem they did not send me anything. To say I was furious is an understatement.

It really is time that banks acted to impose complete information barriers once notified that a relationship has ended.

downcasteyes · 14/03/2019 12:59

Something similar happened to me when I was selling the house I owned with exP. The solicitors were under strict instructions not to send details of my current address (different to the address of the house being sold) to my exP. They went ahead and did it anyway. I was too exhausted at the time to do much about it, but I really, really wish I'd taken a complaint to the ICO and maybe to a lawyer too. They surely owe you something for putting you at risk like this, but perhaps someone with actual legal expertise could advise?

MIA12 · 14/03/2019 13:01

This is outrageous. I won’t repeat the excellent advice you’ve already had but please escalate this as high as you can and I hope you are safe Flowers

Missingstreetlife · 14/03/2019 13:03

Banks are so useless, they are used to dealing with fraud, never mind, we'll pay it back (at our expense!) don't even report it.
Data protection is (ab)used all the time to stop you having perfectly reasonable info and then they do something like this. It's outrageous and unacceptable.
I dealt with a relatives estate, using a specially created account. A relative was idly chatting to bank staff and mentioned they didn't know what was going on. The bank stopped the account, I couldn't pay bills or sort anything out. It didn't take 3days to rectify, and to get an apology for breach of confidentiality. Hope it works out op and no lasting damage.

Actuariesrus · 14/03/2019 13:04

Are you okay with people tweeting this thread? Definitely a good way to get an organisation's attention.

ItsAllGone19 · 14/03/2019 13:07

The bank have broken the law. Specifically the Data Protection Act and subsequent amendments with the General Data Protection Regulations.

Contact them once more, make clear their response is neither adequate nor appropriate in the circumstances and that they have 24 hours to respond appropriately before you make a formal complaint to the Information Commissioner.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, I hope the police can offer some support and reassurance.

Topseyt · 14/03/2019 13:10

That is utter incompetence by the bank, and is disgraceful.

Complain long and loud as per the advice you have been given on this thread - the ICO, the Financial Ombudsman, your MP etc.

I am glad you have informed the police. I hope they can advise you further too. If Barclays realise that the police are involved it might just shock them into actually taking immediate action.

AnyWalls · 14/03/2019 13:11

They probably can't actually send you a copy of a letter sent to him, as that would also be a data breach I think.

How exactly did he manage to open an a/c in your name?

Kennehora · 14/03/2019 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

boringlyboring · 14/03/2019 13:16

Oh my God this is shocking. I keep typing and deleting because I can’t think of what to say except how shocking this is.

MulticolourMophead · 14/03/2019 13:16

AnyWalls Depends if the letter was actually addressed to ex or if it's the OP's name at the old address.

Mummyoflittledragon · 14/03/2019 13:18

Wow! You’ve had great advice. I hope you get answers soon. Keep safe. X

MulticolourMophead · 14/03/2019 13:18

If OP has to move as a result of this breach, would she be able to sue for the costs of moving? Given that she wouldn't have had to move otherwise?

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 14/03/2019 13:18

Barclays are shit. Take your complaint as far as you can and switch banks.

Fiftysix · 14/03/2019 13:20

This is awful, I hope you get the help you need. The least I can do is talk to my relatives who bank with them. A poor reputation and customers leaving them might be the incentive the bank needs, behaving professionally is obviously beyond them.

Hubblebubbletripletrouble · 14/03/2019 13:21

This is fucking disgraceful.

Definitely write to your MP - you can find them here www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

Let us know if you need any help drafting anything, we can help Flowers

DoctorDread · 14/03/2019 13:23

Surely this is a breach of gdpr? I hope you make headway op. I totally understand how triggering this must be. Thanks