SHOCKING! Still shows money owing on old bank accounts! HELP!

[Perks30]

Hello all,

 

Just received my credit file back from Experian and found that I have THREE current accounts all with default balances!

 

Natwest Current Account = £837

Santander Current Account = £496

Lloyds TSB Current Account = £1084

 

All balances were accrued between 2009 and 2010, which matches up to a period of mental health issues I was experiencing. However, to my knowledge, there was no money in any of the accounts and no DD or SO pending to make me overdrawn ... I'm assuming the balances (above) are predominantly bank charges which have escalated!

 

I have approached my local branches of the banks but they have no details of me holding an account with them. A form has been completed find 'lost accounts' but I fear the balances would have been passed onto 3rd party recovery companies.

 

I REALLY do not know what to do about this!

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Hi Perks,

 

I think you will have to make Subject Access Requests to all 3 banks to get data to challenge this, if the accounts have been sold on they would no longer bear the name of the original bank.

 

The Information Commissioners Office Technical Guidance on Defaults is clear that 'If a default sum is made up of charges without which the account would not have been defaulted, NO default should be placed.

 

So you need the SAR to get the statements, because if as you say there were little or no funds and no payments to go out of the accounts, the default sums are as you say charges.

 

If we can prove this and given your mental health issues there could well be grounds for a good challenge to the balances and the defaults.

 

There is a template in the Cag Library for the SAR, there is a £10 statutory fee for each one, the banks have 40 days to come up with all the data.

[Perks30]

Thank you so much for your advice, I will get on it right away!

 

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Thank you so much for your advice, I will get on it right away!

 

 

Please us informed of the results.

[Perks30]

UPDATE:

 

The BBA form that I filled in to find dormant bank accounts has not found any details from Natwest, so have I just wasted the best part of £12 (£10 fee enclosed + recorded delivery charge) sending them a SAR?

 

"We regret to advise you that, NatWest Bank plc have not found a dormant account in the name of ******* plus any other names (maiden name etc) which you have quoted.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the way the bank has dealt with your claim you have the right to appeal through the bank's internal complaints procedure (leaflets are available from the bank's branches). If your appeal is unsuccessful you have the right to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall London E14 9SR telephone 0845 080 1800 website http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

 

British Bankers' Association

The Voice of Banking and Financial Services"

[Perks30]

On the recommendation that I should contact the CRA and ask for the removal of the Natwest Bank information from my file, I have drafted a letter ... is there anything else I need to include???

 

 

Dear Experian,

 

REF: ***********

I have recently received a copy of my Experian Credit Report and I am writing to inform you of a discrepancy in the information you have provided.

 

With reference to my Credit Account Information, there is a Natwest current account which shows a current balance of £833.00 which I can confirm to be incorrect.

 

I have written confirmation from the British Bankers’ Association who have written to confirm that no accounts affiliated with my name have been found at Natwest Bank. Therefore I am formally requesting that Experian remove and delete the information being held on section C6 of my credit file with immediate effect.

 

Please find a copy of the BBA’s written confirmation attached with this letter as certified proof that the information you are holding is inaccurate.

 

Yours faithfully,

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

You should address the letter to the data controller and send a copy to the data controller at NatWest Head Office.

[Paul01207]

"We regret to advise you that, NatWest Bank plc have not found a dormant account in the name of ******* plus any other names (maiden name etc) which you have quoted.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the way the bank has dealt with your claim you have the right to appeal through the bank's internal complaints procedure (leaflets are available from the bank's branches). If your appeal is unsuccessful you have the right to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall London E14 9SR telephone 0845 080 1800 website www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

 

British Bankers' Association

The Voice of Banking and Financial Services"

 

Hello, I had a similar situation awhile back when searching for dormant accounts, that letter seems somewhat genetic, funney enough if there is no dorment accounts. What they fail to tell you is that the account is likely to be active, "so not dorment", I had a pass book for the account I was searching and knew there was account in existance, I contacted the bank and they confirmed this account was active, even after 20 years.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

A SAR may be the answer to queries such as this.