Being Harassed by Santander Bank - Absolutely Disgusted

[NameChanger22]

A few weeks ago I started a thread on here about how Santander Bank kept repeatedly sending the mail of an ex-boyfriend to my address, even though we split up and he moved out 12 years ago, died 2 years ago and I have repeatedly sent mail back to them for 12 years and I have phoned them and made complaints about it twice. He owed them £1,200. He owed everyone money, he owed me a lot more than £1,200.

In the end I went into to my local branch and showed them my council tax bills for the last 6 years proving he hadn’t been living at my address for a long time as all the bills were addressed to me alone and I have the 25% single person discount.

A week ago I got a letter from Santander (addressed to me) saying I was wrong to complain but that they weren’t going to send anymore mail to my address.

Today I got a letter from Santander (addressed to The Personal Representative of the Late [ex boyfriend’s name]). First of all I’m not his representative, so that annoyed me. The letter went on to read:

“At this difficult time, customer care is obviously the main priority and I therefore wanted to advise you that we have referred the above mentioned account to our specialist probate partner, Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) Ltd.

Until further notice, Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) Ltd will be responsible for managing this account on our behalf, and where appropriate will take steps to come to an amicable arrangement for the repayment of the outstanding balance from any existing estate.
All future communications should be directed to Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) Ltd in the first instance ….”

I cannot believe a bank can do this. They said a week ago they would stop sending post to my address and then this. I am extremely worried about this. Can they really get another company to come after me for the debt of a dead ex-boyfriend who hasn’t lived at my address for 12 years. I just don’t understand this at all. Please help and stop me from panicking, especially advise me if you have any real understanding of the law.

Thanks so much.

[Viobihi]

I’d absolutely take this to the financial ombudsman. Take them the whole road. They cannot pursue you for this debt - you were never married to the guy - it’s disgusting behaviour of n their part.

I bloody bank with them as well 🤦🏽‍♀️

[OldAndWornOut]

Surely data protection still applies?
It's still someone's personal info they're passing on.

[NameChanger22]

I don't know if it is a debt or overdraft. I haven't been reading the mail, just sending it back to the bank or putting it straight in the bin for 12 years. What is an unsecured loan? I don't know what that means.

[NameChanger22]

He was alive for 10 years when they continued to send me his post. So yes, they have broken the law.

[Choccymmm]

Do NOT worry abput this, there's no way in hell you're liable - i would be suing them for harassment tbh!!

[YouWereRight]

An unsecured debt is a debt that isn't secured on a property, so not a mortgage.

[OldAndWornOut]

I'm with Santander, and this has made me all the more determined to change.
I may even actually do it, one day.

[NameChanger22]

Good OldAndWornOut. I would never have anything to do with this bank. They are abusive crooks.

[NameChanger22]

The email I sent to Nathan Bostock (CEO) has come back with a failure message. So I'm am assuming you can't just email the CEO of a bank.

[GPatz]

@OldAndWornOut Given another thread on here, if you do jump ship, also avoid Barclays!

[NameChanger22]

My hopes are now pinned on the Financial Ombudsman. If that doesn't work I will contact Citizen's Advice and maybe this third party they've got involved. If that doesn't work, I'll just go to the press.

[driftingcloud]

This is outrageous. He could have been anyone that you didn't even know who just happened to have lived at your address eg an ex tenant. You weren't married so they should not be harassing you. Do you have any details of his family/next of kin so you can pass this on to them?

[NameChanger22]

Which banks are still decent??? That is the question I'd like to know.

[NameChanger22]

I don't have addresses for his family. I can contact his sister and last girlfriend via Facebook, but I very much doubt they would appreciate me contacting them with this problem.

[TheCraicDealer]

This is the kind of consumer story that the Daily Mail loves- I know you've gone with the ombudsman but personally I'd want to shame them a bit as well. Although having said that the firm they've sold the loan on to are probably canny over what they chase and what they know is a waste of time and resources. Which this clearly is!

[JonestheMail]

Philips & Cohen are debt collectors so I'd treat them with caution. I would send them one letter registered mail so they have to sign for it (keep the slip of paper the post office will give you) stating that you have had no contact with the deceased for 10 years, have never shared finances and are not his personal representative.

Point out that any further contact is harassment and that they are damaging your mental health and state no further correspondence will be entered into.

I agree with a prior PP to search your Experian file though just to make sure Santander have not placed anything on your credit file.

[NameChanger22]

I wouldn't ever want any dealings with the Daily Mail. Sorry, I can't stoop that low. I will contact this new third party. I can't believe it has come to this.

[PauciloquentBumfuzzle]

I'm happy to put your complaint message on facebook/twitter as an 'asking for a friend' comment with no identifying data if that may help?

[NameChanger22]

Hi, yes please put it on Twitter. I'm not on Twitter.

[VanGoghsDog]

I don't understand why you opened the letter, it wasn't for you, you should have just sent it to whoever his next of kin is, or if you don't know, return to sender 'not at this address'.

Had you done that, you'd not have been worrying about the contents.

They have every right to try to reclaim their debt from the estate, but not from you. I assume your address is the last address they have for him, that's not their fault I'm afraid, it's his and his family's.

Just forward the letter to whoever it is for (who is dealing with the estate) or return it saying you do not know who his representative is but they do not live at your address.

[NameChanger22]

I have been sending Santander post back 'Not at this Address' for years, or been putting the post in the bin. It didn't come that often. None of it did any good. I feel like I need to keep all correspondence from them now as evidence. The bank kept one of the letters that I took into the bank a few weeks ago. I wish I had that letter still. I haven't known what the right thing is to make this go away. I have had quite a bit of conflicting advice. I didn't know it would become a big problem.

[VanGoghsDog]

Loads of misinformation on here. No, data protection actually does not apply to dead people, only living people.

Noone is being harassed by having letters for another person sent to them. If the letters were addressed to the op demanding repayment of a debt then yes, that would be harassment, but they are not.

Santander are really bad at admin, it's true. Really bad. But for a bank to send letters to someone's last known address is normal I'm afraid. What else can they do?

Nathan's email is [email protected]

But there is probably a 'CEO office' email address too which would work better.

[Candleglow7475]

Data protection is not relevant with this, it only applies to living individuals. FOS & CEO is definitely the way to go, they should write you a grovelling apology and pay you some compensation for your distress. This situation is outrageously bad from Santander.

[VanGoghsDog]

Oh, and yes, they will probably write off the debt once they know the customer is deceased but they need to see a death certificate for that.

[NameChanger22]

I tried that email address, it didn't work. Thanks VanGogh. I will try and get a correct one.