This missing child benefit disc-is anybody bothering to change their bank account?

[MilaMae]

I wasn't as the letter says we don't need to, then the Guardian said on Saturday people were advised to. My father is a financial advisor and is urging me to so now a tad confused. Is anybody bothering? Just thinking of the hassle involved is stress enough let alone actually doing it!!!!!

No but, then it is only my bank account, so the only thing that goes into it, is the tax credits.

no

nope, but then I don't think they are actually lost, but that's maybe just me...

why would you need t change your bank account? having your sort code/account number isn't going to enable someone to access your account, the only thing you should change is potentially your password, but then only if your password is the name/date of birth of any of your children.

no, did not read the guardian on saturday, yet, oh dear

No you can get most details easily enouugh anyway. I am sure the spotty little assistant in Blockbusters could order loads of stuff on the net with my details they have if he wanted too.

i havent as they have said the disc has all the account details that the child benefit has ever been in if thats the case they have details for dp's account both joint accounts and the basic account!
i dont fancy the hassel of changing all those accounts and it currently goes into my basic account and i can only take cash out of atm or in po or at a&l they have the password for my cb but all my passwords are different so that not a prob for me!

No - god if everyone changed it would be madness!!!!

no

Ours was the account everything goes into. Dp says they could take a credit card out in our name but that wouldn't affect the bank account would it.

I'm suspecting the Guardian was sensationalising a bit as the letter we got definately said not to bother. However dad says this is just in order to keep the banks happy as it would be chaos if we all did it.

I really need to find out why he's getting his knickers in a twist(could just be a fussy dad thing)but not sure I want to know really. Soooo not got the time to be reasearching banks at the moment!!!!! Reassuring to see nobody else is bothering.

The thing I heard that did bother me is that older children, who will be reaching 18 in the next 1-5 years, will be opening bank accounts for themselves; and their birthdates, mother's name etc might well be of use to an identity thief - so that's when we need to look out.

Your account number and sort code is on every cheque you write. You would need far more information than this to get into someone's bank account and changing banks can affect your credit score, so I'm not going to personally. I've never seen anyone seriously suggest that it would be worthwhile.