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Original poster

Redacting personal information on bank statements

67 replies

Mylifenotscrutiny · 07/03/2021 18:46

So, have been told we have to submit bank statements to LA (assessment for housing reasons)
They said need to see the income-fair enough so I sent them in but redacted every other transaction. They can see all the income but have said they want them sent without blacked areas ? Can they do this ?
If they can see the income why does it matter ?

OP posts:
DorisLessingsCat · 07/03/2021 19:17

What exactly is "private" about your bank transactions? You know the bank employees can see them?

Original poster
Mylifenotscrutiny · 07/03/2021 19:17

@ArosGartref

Have you asked them why they need the other information? If you don't think it's legitimately needed, ask for the contact details of the data protection officer at the LA.
Yes I will do this I’ve asked and not had a good reason . This is a 15 year old secure lifetime tenancy with all rent paid no issues at all they asked for income and I showed them it with proof but now they want all my outgoings too??
OP posts:
Original poster
Mylifenotscrutiny · 07/03/2021 19:19

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

I mean flip this to another scenario.

Separated Dad goes to rent a flat. He might be earning a good wage but he's probably also got a hefty chunk of child maintenance to pay every month, so can afford less on that wage than someone with no kids.

Eg imagine two people with identical incomes but one has kids one doesn't, if they each apply for a mortgage the one without children will likely be offered far more, as they dont have the costs of children they can afford a bigger mortgage.

I’m not applying for anything though !
OP posts:
MuddleMoo · 07/03/2021 19:19

They need to be able to see that you can spend wisely and keep up with your outgoings. If you've been asking friends for help with rent all the time or you've been really lucky and won the lottery once that isn't a reliable sustainable income. Everyone who gets a mortgage has to do the same thing.

Original poster
Mylifenotscrutiny · 07/03/2021 19:20

Well I think as suggested I will take this further and try to get an answer as to why this is needed as it seems strange to me. Plus it feels intrusive

OP posts:
Original poster
Mylifenotscrutiny · 07/03/2021 19:21

@MuddleMoo

They need to be able to see that you can spend wisely and keep up with your outgoings. If you've been asking friends for help with rent all the time or you've been really lucky and won the lottery once that isn't a reliable sustainable income. Everyone who gets a mortgage has to do the same thing.
I understand that but this is a LA secure tenancy that I have had for just over 15 years
OP posts:
MuddleMoo · 07/03/2021 19:21

Are you not applying for anything? Sorry I got confused then. Yeah I'd just ask them.

Kgrzghtechh · 07/03/2021 19:21

@VladmirsPoutine

I understand your hesitation OP. It really is rather terrifying that people have adopted a sort of "If you have nothing to hide, then you've nothing to fear" approach when it comes to privacy.
Agree. It's troubling.
StatisticallyChallenged · 07/03/2021 19:22

I have a feeling there may be a confusion in some of the posts here

Who do you mean by LA? That can be used for two different things on here and either could apply

What is the assessment that's being performed and why

VladmirsPoutine · 07/03/2021 19:22

Write to the Data controller/protection person and state your case vis a vis your privacy concerns given you've already proven a substantial amount. I really wish more people would be more concerned about these things. It's the incremental erasure of privacy - whether or not you have anything to hide is moot.

Original poster
Mylifenotscrutiny · 07/03/2021 19:22

@MuddleMoo

Are you not applying for anything? Sorry I got confused then. Yeah I'd just ask them.
No !! I got this property 15 years ago heard nothing really except yearly gas check and I’ve paid all my rent !
OP posts:
ArosGartref · 07/03/2021 19:22

Do you understand why they're asking for income? If this has come out of the blue it sounds like fraud investigation? Do you claim any council tax relief as a single person or anything like that?

Original poster
Mylifenotscrutiny · 07/03/2021 19:22

@StatisticallyChallenged

I have a feeling there may be a confusion in some of the posts here

Who do you mean by LA? That can be used for two different things on here and either could apply

What is the assessment that's being performed and why

Local authority It is a council house
OP posts:
Original poster
Mylifenotscrutiny · 07/03/2021 19:23

@ArosGartref

Do you understand why they're asking for income? If this has come out of the blue it sounds like fraud investigation? Do you claim any council tax relief as a single person or anything like that?
No we get child benefit and both of our wages
OP posts:
Original poster
Mylifenotscrutiny · 07/03/2021 19:26

I’ll call the information person advised by a poster and try to get answers I think.
I don’t have anything to hide but I value my privacy

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 07/03/2021 19:29

OK so I think a few posters were thinking letting agency - i.e. thinking you were applying to rent somewhere

If you have a lifetime tenancy and you aren't claiming housing allowance then surely they have explained why they want this?

cortex10 · 07/03/2021 19:41

There may be an allegation of tenancy fraud that the council is investigating.

gobbynorthernbird · 07/03/2021 19:43

OP, do you know what is being assessed and why? Have you put in for a transfer or something?

TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe · 07/03/2021 19:47

If you want social housing, it's not too much of a hardship is it? Lots of people are on the waiting list for years, so it's no surprise they want to verify that the people who do have social housing are suitable.

If you've nothing to hide, show them. You say it's an invasion of privacy, but what are you embarrassed about? The person assessing you probably doesn't care that you've got a recurring order for Tena pads direct from the supplier.

The majority of the time, applicants who don't want to give this information will have something to hide - regular gambling losses, unexplained large cash withdrawals. They are not interested in routine transactions like your weekly Tesco trip and £25 a month for broadband.

LunaHeather · 07/03/2021 19:48

@Mylifenotscrutiny

I’ll call the information person advised by a poster and try to get answers I think. I don’t have anything to hide but I value my privacy
I understand

If they can see the income is fine, it's none of their business if you spend lots on a sex toy website or music lessons. Your expenditure is not their business and they don't need that information.

LunaHeather · 07/03/2021 19:50

Take "unexplained large cash withdrawals"

Cash is legal tender. Why does it matter if OP uses a lot of cash?

Chloemol · 07/03/2021 20:03

FFS. Just send the statements in un redacted . When I and all my friends and family who have mortgages applied, we had to show full statements. When friends applied to the LA they had to send in full statements

What do you think they are going to do? Go on local FB pages and say hey did you know Mylifenotscrutiny spends her money on xyz?

Ok you may have a lifetime tenancy, ok you may be current with rent, but they have a process to follow to make sure you are not in financial difficulty which may end up impacting on them

Chloemol · 07/03/2021 20:05

@LunaHeather

The6 need to check something like that because of money laundering

Sorka · 07/03/2021 20:09

I’m with you OP. I hate having to share bank statements etc. and find it very intrusive. I get having to do it for a mortgage but having to send over bank statements when you have a lifetime tenancy and aren’t even applying for anything is bizarre. I’d do the same as you. People give away their privacy too easily. The council haven’t even said why they want to nose through your finances!

LunaHeather · 07/03/2021 20:21

[quote Chloemol]@LunaHeather

The6 need to check something like that because of money laundering[/quote]
Yes, I know that's their excuse

And what amount are you talking about, just out of interest?

I was lucky, I got my mortgage in the days before they were this intrusive, but the anti money laundering stuff I signed was about money going into the account and checking my credit etc from before.

It looks like OP isn't applying for anything she doesn't already have so why do they needs know how she spends her money? So many excuses to find out what is not their business.