Bank fined for pushing credit cards
In a victory against pushy banks, the Hellenic Data Protection Authority (APPD) slapped a 100,000-euro fine yesterday on Alpha Bank, one of the country’s largest lenders, for infringing personal data laws when it issued credit cards that had not been requested. According to the APPD, Alpha Bank sent to seven people, most of whom were not its customers, application forms that contained all their personal information, and in some cases included their tax file numbers. The potential customers were then informed that their credit card had been approved and all that was needed was their signature on the form they received by courier. None of the seven people, however, had requested a credit card from Alpha Bank nor had they filled in any similar documents. The application form referred to Alpha Bank’s Olympic Games-related credit card. Alpha was one of the Games’ main sponsors. The bank made no comment yesterday.
