MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
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Hi
Just I thought I would point out someting I noticed for all those sending off their full membership application form to the Membership Support Team.
Please be aware that on the'checklist' on the back of the envelope, it states that inside could be your credit/debit card details and Direct Debit (Bank Account) details.
I feel this could be a major risk of identity theft, if that the envelope should 'fall into the wrong hands' as they would have all your personal information inc name, address, email etc all in one envelope. I have emailed the AAT regarding this and simply received the response 'we will look into it the next time we order printed stationery'.
Below is a copy of the email I sent to AAT, perhaps if all of us sent somethin along these lines, they might do something about it! Doesn't look very good that they 'advertise' identity theft is it!
E Mail:
Good Morning
I have just completed my full membership application and posted it off to you, however I feel I need to bring something to your attention, which you may wish to address.
Whilst reading through 'your checklist' on the back of the envelope before sealing it, the section entitled 'Payment Form' scared me a little. It clearly reads that inside could be 'your credit/debit card details' and 'Direct Debit' instruction.
I do not think it is right that this sort of information should be displayed on the outer envelope, as should/if the envelope falls into the wrong hands or is lost, a person would know these details could be inside and open up the envelope and have access to members credit/debit cards details and bank account details. This would be a major identity theft risk, which is becoming an all too often occurrence.
A more sensible approach would perhaps maybe to enclose a small leaflet or print the checklist on the inside flap of the envelope?
Sorry I have had to bring this to you attention, but I feel it is in the interest of all members that you should be notified of this.
I would appreciate hearing your views regarding this.
Kind Regards
Just I thought I would point out someting I noticed for all those sending off their full membership application form to the Membership Support Team.
Please be aware that on the'checklist' on the back of the envelope, it states that inside could be your credit/debit card details and Direct Debit (Bank Account) details.
I feel this could be a major risk of identity theft, if that the envelope should 'fall into the wrong hands' as they would have all your personal information inc name, address, email etc all in one envelope. I have emailed the AAT regarding this and simply received the response 'we will look into it the next time we order printed stationery'.
Below is a copy of the email I sent to AAT, perhaps if all of us sent somethin along these lines, they might do something about it! Doesn't look very good that they 'advertise' identity theft is it!
E Mail:
Good Morning
I have just completed my full membership application and posted it off to you, however I feel I need to bring something to your attention, which you may wish to address.
Whilst reading through 'your checklist' on the back of the envelope before sealing it, the section entitled 'Payment Form' scared me a little. It clearly reads that inside could be 'your credit/debit card details' and 'Direct Debit' instruction.
I do not think it is right that this sort of information should be displayed on the outer envelope, as should/if the envelope falls into the wrong hands or is lost, a person would know these details could be inside and open up the envelope and have access to members credit/debit cards details and bank account details. This would be a major identity theft risk, which is becoming an all too often occurrence.
A more sensible approach would perhaps maybe to enclose a small leaflet or print the checklist on the inside flap of the envelope?
Sorry I have had to bring this to you attention, but I feel it is in the interest of all members that you should be notified of this.
I would appreciate hearing your views regarding this.
Kind Regards
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Comments
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Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
Great spot Evem.
Every student who has received their membership pack should take note of what Evem has highlighted here.
This is a cock-up on the aat's part. They have indicated on the reverse side of their pre-paid envelope everything that it should contain: that being all the sender's confidential personal information.
My suggestion would be: do not use this envelope, use the address and send your own.
Thank you Evem for bringing this to everyones' attention. I hope the aat thanked you as well.
numbernumb.
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Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
The AAT didn't seem very intereted, I emailed membership support and got the response ' we will look into it next time we order printed stationary' and I aslo emailed student support, and as of yet have still not received a reply. Thats why I thought the more of us that do it, the more notice they [/i]might take!0 -
Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
Has anybody else emailed AAT? What response did you get?0 -
Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
So much of what we do - be it studying or applying knowledge in the workplace - is based on commonsense.
Seems a shame that this isn't reflected in the AAT itself.
Identity fraud is big news, we're all aware of it. How many stages did these envelopes go through before ultimately being signed off?
We all need to email the AAT about this.0 -
Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
Just received an automated response:
Thank you for your email.
We value your enquiry and will respond as quickly as possible. At present this may take up to five working days. If your enquiry requires an answer before this time, please contact the Membership Support team on +44(0)20 7415 7600. Our normal office hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
If you need an application form for full membership, please visit the AAT website where you will be able to download one, together with accessing general information about the membership requirements
If you register online at MyAAT you can also manage your AAT account by:
amending personal and employment details
paying any outstanding fees to renew your membership
accessing your online CPD planner
Thank you for taking the time to contact us and we will be in touch shortly.
Yours sincerely
Membership Support Team
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Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
Thank you Evem for pointing this out. You are quite right to highlight this and we have to hold up our hands and acknowledge this was a mistake on our part.
Our immediate suggestion is – as numbernumb has said above – to please use your own envelope if you are willing to do so.
We will reprint the envelopes without this information and send a new one out to everyone who received the invitation to apply for full membership. We are talking to our suppliers now but this will take a few weeks.
Our initial response (to your email, Evem) wasn’t strong enough and I’m sorry.
Thank you again not only for spotting this in the first place and letting us know but also in posting here to make as many people as possible aware of it quickly.
I do apologise for the error. We will get new envelopes out to everyone as quickly as possible.
Ian Matthews
Deputy Membership Support Manager
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Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
Thank you for your response Tony, at least something is being done about it now.
I am sure every member will appreciate you taking these steps being taken to safeguard their personal details and although was initially very
at the initial response from AAT, I am glad that the situation is now being dealt with.
Thanks for your response.
Kind Regards
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Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
Did you ever receive a reply Baggybooks? Was it similar to mine?0 -
Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
It was a more general kind of reply - not as specific as yours.0 -
Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
Oh well, at least they are doing something about it now!0 -
Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
Shame that they had to act upon your original email - and not pick up the problem in development.
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Re:MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ENVELOPE - BEWARE!
I had an envelope from the Membership team today - with nothing printed on the back! Success!!!!!0