Taxi Driver Online

The Express

March 26, 2007 Monday

HEADLINE: My bank got it dead wrong thinking I had passed away

BYLINE: By Patrick Barnham

FURIOUS David Bremner has vowed to sue his bank after they "killed him off".

The 48-year-old taxi driver from Aberdeen knew there was something up when GBP 1,300 of direct debits were not paid by the Clydesdale Bank.

And the bungling bankers even sent a letter of sympathy to his home.

"It's not often you get letters addressed to your executor, " said fuming David yesterday.

"I was absolutely horrified. I was shaking when I opened the letter saying I was dead and offering sympathy to my wife."

The father-of-two and wife Frances had their mobile phones cut off last Friday and missed mortgage, insurance and power bill payments.

Mr Bremner is set to take the bank to court.

"It's been really distressing for me and my family, " he said.

"I used the cash machine at the Bucksburn branch of the Clydesdale Bank last week and noticed that my life insurance payment had been returned.

"I went into the bank to find out what the problem was and they informed me that all my direct debits had been cancelled.

"My mortgage was due last Friday and didn't get paid either.

"I'm still getting letters from companies saying: 'I would like to offer my deepest sympathies.' It's going to take a while to get everything back to normal.

"It's ridiculous, I lost four days' work because of this, whoever heard of a taxi driver without a mobile phone? I will not let this lie, they have caused so much stress and upset, it is just disgusting.

"My wife is really upset about this and so is my daughter.

"Word got around that I was dead and pals rang the house to find out what had happened.

"I am taking them to court over this. Someone is responsible and I won't give up until that person is held accountable for what they've done.

"It's not really about money, it's the principle of the thing. If you misuse your bank account in any way they are down on you like a ton of bricks but when they are in the wrong they try to sweep it under the carpet.

"It is total hypocrisy - and I am not going to take it. I don't care how long it takes, I am determined to drag them through the courts until they pay for what they have done."

David said staff at his bank apologised for the blunder but he has not received a phone call from Clydesdale's head office in Glasgow.

"I want to hear an apology from them and I will be looking for substantial compensation for the trouble they have caused.

"They haven't been in touch at all, they just put 150 quid into my bank - is that all I was worth?"

A spokesman for the Clydesdale Bank said: "A customer with similar details died and an error led to the cancellation of Mr Bremner's bills instead.

"We apologise for any distress caused and will credit Mr Bremner's account with GBP 150."
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