Sort Codes and DD Fraud

[BenDToy]

Many of the phishing emails I see are looking for details such as Direct Debit information. As I understand it, this would be your name and account number, the bank's address and their sort code. (I can't think of anything else that you have to provide to set up a DD). Armed with this information, they can then get money from your account.
If you give someone a cheque, they then have all of that information, except the bank name and address. In the light of this, I am of the opinion that the frequent questions being posted here asking for bank information from sort codes should not be answered. Does this stack up with other people's perception, or am I being unduly suspicious?

[Oneeyedvic]

You can phone up any busines you want, tell them you are a finance institute and you are transferring some money into their account. Every business will happily give you their details.

I work for a finance company, and our invoices (as well as a lot of other companies) have our bank details on them.

Personally, I see no reason in giving sort code info out - most people are asking as they have it on a bank statement.

[BenDToy]

Your company put the name & address of their bank on invoices? Why?

[Didwot]

Every cheque has the bank's name and address on it, or at least every cheque that I have ever seen. A cheque is a bill of exchange addressed to a bank, and I can not imagine how it can be a cheque without the bank's details being included. To operate a direct debit you need a direct debit instruction signed by the account holder lodged with their bank. The only exception to this are very large (and theoretically trustworthy) businesses such as the electricity or gas companies who the banks will let operate DDs without the paperwork.

[Oneeyedvic]

For Bacs / TT's & CHAPS payments - why not - what is someone going to be able to do with the details?

[BenDToy]

Thanks for all the answers, but I should point out that you don't need a bank's address for a BACS transfer. I do them all the time, and you only need the sort code and account number. Also I have just looked at my cheque book, and I am happy to confirm that Didwot is correct - it has the name and address printed on it. Oneeyedvic - thanks for the advice, but your final question is roughly what I am trying to establish. I also accept that I am possibly being over suspicious, but I still wonder why they want the information.

[Sasha13]

I have to admit BenDToy, I've seen all these requests for bank addresses from sort codes and it's got me wondering too. If you can do it by calling various businesses, then why don't the people wanting the info do that, rather than going through a website where you can remain anonymous (and not worry about giving out reasons as to why you want the information). I don't think you're being overly suspicious. Having said that, if anyone who has make this request in the past (with genuine reasons for doing so) wants to share those reasons with us to alay our fears...

[Uzoma]

I am fairly suspicious of those kind of questions as well. However, I'm sure that I've seen a sort code directory in a library listing all of the the sort codes & addresses of all UK banks.