(Personal) information held by financial/other companies

May 17, 2005 7 Replies

Given the widespread (or at least fear of it) concern over ID theft, shouldn't companies make it clear as to what (type of)information they hold on you? (Yes I know that I can obtain that for £10, under the DPA). I am really talking about the physical information (as opposed to 'arbitary' information gleaned from CRA) that you supply to them upon application.



For example, although you supply employers name, address, telephone no. employment status, length of time with employer etc for a credit card application, this may well change over time and if this information is held with the provider it may well be out of date. This leads me to assume that it is not stored since there is only opportunity for one to change your name (possibly not online), address, phone no etc.



Not to mention the fact that I have been asked for my employers name as part of the security procedure when telephoning my bank and have had to think quickly as to what infomation they hold. (since again that is not updateable online, and I have neither the time nor inclination to go into a branch or telephone them to be harranged into any sales pitches. (I have also been asked to name the last three transactions on my account for security!!! and failed, but that's another story).



I suppose what I am really asking for is a way of tracking all the information organisations hold on me or list of information something like this.



Name: Address: DOB: (Will be asked as security information) phone no: . . . Employer . . Mother's maiden name (Will be asked as security information) . . etc etc



All fairly simplistic you may say, but given the number of accounts etc people have now and the different (security) questions you could be asked, could be quite useful?



I have often answered this type of question honestly, to be told I have failed to clear security.

Yesterday Barclaycard asked me what I think is the most stupid question of all - what star sign I am. I really don't know or care. How can that really be considered a security question?

It is a security question... sort of.... since it is a round about way of asking your date of birth, ie I guess you should know it, however it is silly since there are only 12 possible combinations as opposed to the 365 x years over the age of 18 you could possibly be (not forgetting leap years as well!).

Barclaycard have asked me that question too! and they have asked me my age. I get the feeling that with the age and star sign questions they are timing your response. ie you should be able to ask them quickly!

Turns out that being born on the 21st makes me one of two possibilities depending upon which paper I pick up.

Asking the age of someone over 30 is interesting - they should fail the test if you answer promptly - I really do have to stop and think of my age these days.

Hmm its even more fun when you get it wrong.. Not as nice as when someone else does though ;-)

That is a new one on me. What is a star sign and how would I find mine.?

Capricorn, Aries, Cancer etc. Look in a daily paper for your horoscope!

Had a call from Barclaycard yesterday trying to sell me their credit card insurance and they wanted me to tell them my postcode to verify MY identity! If they called me, surely they should be confirming their identity somehow. Then I can confirm my identity to them.

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