BBC
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 

An Aberdeen woman who asked for her bank statement was sent details of 75,000 other customers.

Stephanie McLaughlan, 22, was shocked when Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) sent her the unexpected financial details by mistake.

She received five packages each containing 500 sheets of 30 customers' names, sort codes and account details.

HBOS apologised and said it was carrying out an investigation into the "serious" but "isolated" incident.

'Concern caused'

Ms McLaughlan said: "These packages were just dumped on my doorstep one day and I was really shocked because it was obvious the bank did not have a clue they had left them in my house or their contents.

"It was really shocking they made that mistake."

She added: "I think I'll probably be changing to another bank pretty soon because it is terrible negligence on their part."

HBOS said in a statement: "We are treating this matter very seriously and are investigating in full.

"This is a very specific, isolated incident and we will take steps to ensure there is no security issue for customers as a result of this matter.

"We apologise for any concern this has caused customers."

HBOS was formed in 2001 with the merger of the Halifax and Bank of Scotland and has millions of customers.