data protection act

[diberry]

There's steam coming out of my ears at the moment so I need a quick

if nobody minds!!!
The Data Protection Act really gets up my nose. It means that if I need to contact our bank or building society I am unable to do so, even though we have a joint account, because only one of us can be the "named person". As DH filled in the forms his name is on the documents. It always infuriates me when I try to get something sorted out but they refuse to let me have any information and DH has to sort it when he gets home from work.
Today the Security Division of our bank have just rung up and want DH to ring them as soon as possible but won't tell me what it's about. This makes me suspect someone has cloned our credit card or something similar, as happened once before, but I now have to wait until DH gets home before we can do anything about it. I just find it so humiliating, as if I'm not capable of dealing with it or not trustworthy enough. I know we could have all the documents etc changed into my name but it just strikes me as ridiculous.
I'm old enough to remember when I had to get my father or brother (or any man!!) to sign an H.P. agreement when I wanted to buy a tv even though I was 23 and a qualified teacher so this just sends my blood pressure sky high.
Is there any way we could put pressure on the powers that be to rethink this? I suppose I could write to my MP but I have no faith that it would make any difference.
Any ideas anyone???

 

[Deedee]

Allthough my DH works in securities at his bank this infuriates him as well if someone calls to speak to him and won't speak to me about it he tells them not to phone our home again and disturb me. i suppose it is a good thing in some cases but when every thing is in joint names as ours are some thing should be done. They also phone during the day where do they expect most men to be at that time AT WORK. Another thing that anoys us is automated services all we want to do is talk to a human being not a machine There that feels better

 

[wils]

I can understand your frustration! (I love your smiley!) I was data protection co-ordinator as part of my last job but it was more backend stuff like excluding people from mailings.

DH tried to ask the maker of our computer a question the other day and they told him that it had been registered in another name and he'd need to provide proof that he'd bought it from the original owner before they'd help. Of course I am the 'original owner' (with the same surname at the same address.) Luckily we worked the answer out ourselves!

Hope it's nothing serious and that they just want to sell your DH another product

 

[diberry]

Allthough my DH works in securities at his bank this infuriates him as well if someone calls to speak to him and won't speak to me about it he tells them not to phone our home again and disturb me. i suppose it is a good thing in some cases but when every thing is in joint names as ours are some thing should be done. They also phone during the day where do they expect most men to be at that time AT WORK. Another thing that anoys us is automated services all we want to do is talk to a human being not a machine There that feels better

Thanks Deedee - it feels better to get it off your chest doesn't it??? I absolutely agree with what you say!

 

[diberry]

I can understand your frustration! (I love your smiley!) I was data protection co-ordinator as part of my last job but it was more backend stuff like excluding people from mailings.

DH tried to ask the maker of our computer a question the other day and they told him that it had been registered in another name and he'd need to provide proof that he'd bought it from the original owner before they'd help. Of course I am the 'original owner' (with the same surname at the same address.) Luckily we worked the answer out ourselves!

Just ridiculous, isn't it? Whoever invented political correctness should be shot!!! Common sense seems to have gone out the window these days!!! I can definitely feel a "grumpy old woman" moment coming on!!

Hope it's nothing serious and that they just want to sell your DH another product

So do I Jo but I tried to use my Mastercard this morning and it was refused and there's no reason it should have not been accepted so I fear something has gone awry!! They did say he should contact them as soon as possible!

 

[Miffy2003]

Di, I understand your frustrations completely and have to deal with the annoyance of DPA at work!

Can you not get yourself added to the accounts as a "named authority" or whatever it is they call it.

From the other side, if I had a CC that for some reason I did not want DH to know about I would be very very unhappy if they discussed the details with him

Let's hope he isn't reading over my shoulder

 

[diberry]

Di, I understand your frustrations completely and have to deal with the annoyance of DPA at work!

Can you not get yourself added to the accounts as a "named authority" or whatever it is they call it.

From the other side, if I had a CC that for some reason I did not want DH to know about I would be very very unhappy if they discussed the details with him

Let's hope he isn't reading over my shoulder

I do see the point of it but when it's a joint account then both parties should really be accountable and equally "in charge" IMHO. Never mind - it's sorted now so I'll stop ranting!!!

 

[Cyrano]

I do see the point of it but when it's a joint account then both parties should really be accountable and equally "in charge" IMHO. Never mind - it's sorted now so I'll stop ranting!!!

I agree Di so much for equality.

 

[Miffy2003]

Di - OMG sorry, I had missed the fact it was a joint account!!

In that case that is appalling.

 

[florida sun]

Di

This reminds me of a time a couple of months ago when I phoned up one of my credit card accounts that I had when I was married but gave my single name, they told me they could not discuss my account with me as I had given a different name, I explained that I now went under my single name, but they were having none of it, even though I had all my security details, so I had to leave it a while and phone them back using my married name.


Sue

 

[diberry]

Di

This reminds me of a time a couple of months ago when I phoned up one of my credit card accounts that I had when I was married but gave my single name, they told me they could not discuss my account with me as I had given a different name, I explained that I now went under my single name, but they were having none of it, even though I had all my security details, so I had to leave it a while and phone them back using my married name.


Sue

And this is supposed to be progress!!!

 

[Cyrano]

Di

This reminds me of a time a couple of months ago when I phoned up one of my credit card accounts that I had when I was married but gave my single name, they told me they could not discuss my account with me as I had given a different name, I explained that I now went under my single name, but they were having none of it, even though I had all my security details, so I had to leave it a while and phone them back using my married name.


Sue

 

[wilma-bride]

I can beat that! Last year, DH served 4 months in Iraq. A month previously, we had moved house and changed our address with the bank before he went away. Meanwhile, the Credit Card statements were still going to our old address and, during DH's time away, the Royal Mail forwarding was expiring. I phoned the Credit Card people to enquire why they hadn't changed the address, only to find they wouldn't speak to me because the main card holder was DH. When I explained that he couldn't phone because he was in Iraq for 4 months, she asked me for a phone number so she could phone him When I finally got it through to her that he was in a war zone and therefore was not contactable by phone, she still refused to change the address. In the end, I told her that the bill wouldn't get paid as I refused to renew the forwarding just for them. The upshot of it all was that they agreed to credit £25 to the card account to cover the cost of the forwarding. As the balance was £0 on the account (you would have thought she'd know that), I just made sure I didn't use the credit card and, as soon as DH came home, we cancelled the credit card and got the £25 refunded to our joint account. Bargain! Two can play their game

 

[diberry]

Well done Joh!!! What these people forget is that all this legislation is there to protect us and make life easier whereas it so often has the opposite effect. I'm glad you got the better of them!!!

 

[Madjock]

Common sense seems to have gone out the window these days!!!!

Diana, personally I have found these days that common sense is not so ‘common’

We had a problem with our phone the other week so I called up our supplier only to be told that as the contract was in DH’s name they could only deal with him, it didn’t matter that I was calling from our home number, that I had our account number and could provide our security number! Oh no! sorry they would only speak to him. I didn’t even want any information I only wanted to report the fault :

Sometimes it’s enough to try the patience of a saint

 

[vicky1bfc]

This thread reminds me....A couple of month's ago i called our bank regarding one of our daughters account.Me and DH set the account up including password when they were born ,so are in all our joint names.I told the lady on the other end of the phone what i wanted and she said
"i'm sorry i can't speak to you about it i can only talk to your daughter as it's her account,can you put her on so i can ask her some security questions and to see if she mind's us discussing it with you."

Me- "She's 7(flabbergasted by this)The account's in my name as well."

Her-"right,i still need to ask her if she mind's us talking to you and ask her what her date of birth and password is."

Me-"SHE'S 7,I opened the account for her,she wouldn't know her password or the answers to your security questions."

Her- "Ok,can you answer some questions for us."

Me- Banging head against phone