HSBC has outsourced its car insurance to a company called BISL. I renewed mine through a call centre reading a credit card over the phone. A few days letter instead of getting the renewal policy, a letter arrived declaring that  BISL will keep my card number on file and ‘any future payments’ will be deducted it.

I have now told BISL to delete my card record.  They thought the system was just fine and that I was an awkward customer.  It is little wonder that the financial system collapsed when basic checks, balances and corroborations are not used as standard practice. And, it seems, there’s no plan to.