A BANK was accused of a gross breach of security today after it sent three debit cards and three top secret PIN numbers to a complete stranger.

Lee Wilson told how the Abbey kept sending him the cards and letters over a three-month period, even though he kept phoning the bank to say it was posting them to the wrong address.

Mr Wilson, 37, said they were addressed to the previous owner of his home at Full Sutton, near York - who moved out more than six years ago. He said she had moved to Hull Road, York, but had subsequently moved again, and he had no idea where she now lived.

"It's a gross breach of security," he said. "I'm wondering whether the woman who was meant to get the cards and PIN numbers is wondering why they never turned up."

He said he didn't bank with the Abbey and had not received anything from it until last October, when the first debit card arrived in the post, addressed to his house's previous owner.

"I just thought it had been sent accidentally so I rang up the Abbey and they said Thank you very much, it shouldn't have happened and it won't happen again,' and I destroyed the card.

"Then I got letter containing a PIN number for the account holder and I rang them again. They said thank you and assured me it wouldn't happen again."

The letter, from Cathy Robertson, head of banking customer service, said of the PIN number: "It's secret, so you're the only one who knows it. Memorise it, then destroy this letter so no one else can use your PIN. Don't write it down. Don't tell anyone this number - not even a member of Abbey staff."

Mr Wilson said that in November, another debit card arrived and he phoned the bank up again and had the same conversation. But then another PIN number turned up, and he phoned the bank again.

"Someone said it was just as well I was a trustworthy person. Then in December another card arrived, and this time I said that if any more turned up, I would contact the press.

"Then another PIN number arrived in January."

He added that he had run up a phone bill of several pounds ringing up the bank to sort its problems out, and had been promised reimbursement.


* If you are the woman who was meant to receive the bank cards and PIN numbers which were sent to Lee Wilson's home, and would like to comment on what has happened, please email mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk, or phone Mike on 01904 567132.