I RECENTLY SERVED A SUBJECT ACCESS RIGHTS ON A LENDER TO SEE WHAT INFO THEY HELD ON ME, THEY SENT ME A LETTER BACK ASKING FOR MY DATE OF BIRTH, ACCOUNT NUMBERS THAT I HELD WITH THEM & A LETTER TO PROVE WHO I AM, THEY SAID THAT THEY NEED THESE BEFORE THEY CAN GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION. IS IT USUAL PRACTICE FOR THEM TO DO THIS?

-- David Johnson (8108@freezone.co.uk), May 03, 2000

Answers

This is normal procedure.

The 1998 Data Protection Act gives them the right to properly identify you first, before they supply any information. This is to prevent other people pretending to be you and finding out enough about you to use your details to get credit, goods and services in your name.

But they have to be reasonable - demanding your passport and driving licence would be over the top.

-- James Simons (james_2999@hotmail.com), May 03, 2000.