SME ALLIANCE LTD
  • Home
  • About
  • 2023 Campaigns
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Members Area
  • Join Us
  • APPG Banking
  • NAB Customer Support Group

Ombudsmen forced to disclose rbs documents with 'confidentiality stamp' in landmark case

3/14/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is being forced to disclose how widely bankers from RBS used a “confidentiality stamp” to try to prevent disclosure of sensitive documents to its own customers, after a landmark case.

SME Alliance member David Howells appealed to the Information Commissioner (ICO) over the FOS’ refusal of a Freedom of Information Act request to disclose how widely a “confidentiality stamp” had been used by RBS to prevent sensitive documents about customers being shared with the customers after they had made complaints to the FOS.

A complaint had been made by Mr Howells over the handling of a complaint he’d made after RBS subsidiary NatWest stopped his debit card while he was attending a family event in Brazil, despite being told in person by Mr Howells that he was travelling to Brazil.

Mr Howells appealed to the ICO after finding that documents in his case had been stamped; “This information contains CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION relating to RBSG's commercial business activities which if disclosed by FOS to the complainant or to any third party would be likely to adversely affect our legitimate business interests.”

The FOS said that the demand for disclosure was “vexatious” and would create an undue administrative burden.

However, the Information Rights Tribunal rejected the FOS’ argument, and the
ombudsman has agreed to conduct a review of 600 cases spreading over three years–2012-2014– to reveal how widespread the use of this confidentiality stamp was. It will report back by 30 April.

Mr Howells was supported in his action by the SME Alliance.

Andy Keats, director of the SME Alliance, said: “This is a landmark case showing how the banks and regulators appeared to conspire to hide information from customers. This ruling will put the banks and regulators on notice that transparency is key if they want to treat customers fairly.”

The SME Alliance was formed in September 2014 to support SMEs“ battling against fraud, corruption and mis conduct in the financial sector” and to lobby for the fair treatment of businesses by their banks and advisors.

For further information contact Jason Nisse on 07769 688618 jason@nisse.uk
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    November 2021
    January 2021
    April 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    RSS Feed

Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
Web Design By: Laura Maria Photography & Design
  • Home
  • About
  • 2023 Campaigns
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Members Area
  • Join Us
  • APPG Banking
  • NAB Customer Support Group