Any Data Protection Savants Around?

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ThundyUK
ThundyUK Online Community Member Posts: 25 Connected
in Everyday life
Hi there,

I'm not sure if this is the place or even appropriate but I thought I'd ask.

My son has recently started to receive PIP payments and recently had an issue with his bank (unrelated to PIP) which lead to him making contact with them via letter.

Anyway, they responded to the issue at hand (poorly, but that's a whole other story) but in the letter went on to mention his PIP payments and disability. 
Now, this absolutely shocked him and quite upset him as (rightly) he said his disability is his business alone, and only those who he chooses to share it with or genuinely need to know should raise it at any point - such as his employer.

He absolutely has never given them permission to discuss it, and yeah they can see the PIP payment on his account, but surely it's a private matter that they shouldn't be discussing at all.

Do you think this is a data or some form of privacy breach? He's totally mortified by the experience and frankly, I'm angry :-|

Appreciate any help, expert views, opinions etc!

Thanks so much

Comments

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 10,436 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    It's a tricky one, as the bank may have seen the PIP payments and assumed disability.  Or did they go into any detail about it?  Again, as Woodbine has said, context is key.  I don't see any data breeches here as the bank would be able to see what payments are going in and would see the PIP payments.
  • bionictadpole
    bionictadpole Online Community Member Posts: 12 Contributor
    It could be they want to offer services from a specialised team, I would contact them to discuss and see what they are offering.  
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Without knowing exactly what they asked him, it wouldn't be possible to comment. I agree with bionictadpole, they may have been wanting to offer some services. 

    If they haven't disclosed anything to anyone else then there's no issues with date protection. 

    Banks are often very helpful, at least that's the experience I had with mine and my daughter's bank just a few weeks ago. My daughter claims PIP and Universal Credit and I'm her appointee. Her money is paid into my bank and I transfer it to her, minus her bills. 

    We moved house last month and needed to change address with our bank. She didn't want to go with me that day so I went alone. While I was there I asked if there was any way to change the address on the banking app. She said they were currently looking at ways to add that in the future.

    I went on to explain about my daughter being Autistic, with a learning disability and didn't want to come with me that day. She could clearly see the regular transfer transactions between myself and her and said to me, I could write a letter for my daughter to sign and then go into the branch with her bank details and they will happily change her address. I really couldn't have asked for anyone more helpful. I thanked her saying I very much appreciated that. The following week I did just that, with no issues. So yes, they may just have wanted to offer some support. 


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