Strange letter from Santander.

[MIKE770]

Bank account closures 'unjust' - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18540832

[MIKE770]

Closing accounts | Banking Ombudsman Scheme

https://bankomb.org.nz/guides-and-cases/quick.../bank-accounts/closing-accounts/ might give various ideas why???? seems they can di what they like (Not business like) thugs!

[Rachelle123]

DO you think they’re aiming at closing he account then?

[MIKE770]

well hard to say but see what they have to say!

[Nal]

Hello, I’ve received the same letter and have been conversation with them for some months to challenge and also complained to the ombudsman. FOS took a very long time and eventually told me it’s outside their scope. Santander have also frozen access to my accounts. I’m stuck so have had to complete the form? It also prys into all your incomes and other bank accounts. This cannot be legal but in the face of huge legal expenses to challenge, funds I do not have and my accounts are not large at all. I have also been a customer for 20 odd years with mortgage, credit cards and 123 current ac with Santander.

[aralexiao]

Hello everything, just want to find out whether there is any updates on the issue. I have received a letter from Santander today

[Amethyst]

The same letter with the form asking for your inside leg measurements? I'm going to tag in Debt Camel as she generally knows a bit more about these kind of letters. If it's outside the FOS's scope I wonder if it might be in the ICO's scope - as to me it doesn't seem to be necessary information but gathering info for potential marketing purposes without disclosing such.

[aralexiao]

I am on call with ICO at the moment, the lady i spoke with haven't heard this before and feel this is a lot of information to ask for

[Amethyst]

It is indeed. In the privacy policy attached to the form it details quite a lot of entities they want to share the information with.

They still don't say what legal and regulatory rules/laws they are trying to comply with by threatening to remove access from your account if you don't tell them the ins and outs of past investments and inheritances etc. Be interesting to hear what the ICO have to say once they've seen the letter.

[aralexiao]

The same letter with the form asking for your inside leg measurements? I'm going to tag in Debt Camel as she generally knows a bit more about these kind of letters. If it's outside the FOS's scope I wonder if it might be in the ICO's scope - as to me it doesn't seem to be necessary information but gathering info for potential marketing purposes without disclosing such.

Yes, that's right. the letter with the same form. the only difference, they didn't say they will close the account after 30 days not receiving the reply

[aralexiao]

The ICO ask me to write to Santander to get more information, eg which rules and regulations.

[Amethyst]

Sounds like a sensible first step.

If their letter doesn't threaten to restrict access to your account if you don't reply - does it give any other consequence of your not completing the form / providing the information requested ? ( just wonder if they have already had a slap on the wrist for it)

[aralexiao]

I think they might get compliant about it. But when i call Santander they did say they will restrict the accounts if no reply

[Pearsos99]

Hi. I have also received this letter from Santander yesterday. I have my business account with them so am not in a position to wait it out and have the account restricted.

But am also very reluctant to give all the info they want as it is extremely intrusive.

Many updates would be most welcome.
Thanks

[Amethyst]

Does the letter threaten account restriction? Presumably you have personal accounts with them as well as your business account ( else all that info on the forms would be absolutely irrelevant) Worth giving them a call and asking their reasoning - and what the law and regulation is that requires them to know quite so much.

Could just be they fancy a clear out of older customers... bizarre way to do it though.