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Metro Bank broke data laws by refusing man who suffered 'Nigel Farage account closure' his personal data until we intervened
- By JON AUSTIN
- Oct 14
- 3 min read
A BANK broke data protection laws by refusing to respond to a request for personal information, from a man who faced a "Nigel Farage closure" after it shut down his account without explanation, until UK News and Investigations became involved.
Julian Wright, 59, from Ilford, east London, made a subject access request (SAR) to Metro Bank last December asking it to release his personal file, including why it shut down his account in June 2024.
Wright, a convicted cannabis supplier who is trying to appeal his conviction, suspects it was closed by Metro because the Met Police was secretly making enquiries into his account.
He wants the confirmation of why the Metro account was closed as part of his appeals against the conviction and an ongoing Proceeds of Crime Act case.
Private companies and public organisations have a legal duty under data protection laws to respond to a SAR within a calendar month, but they can extend this by two further months if they inform the applicant in writing.
Wright made his SAR request on December 20 2024, which was acknowledged the same day saying that the bank aimed to respond within a calendar month.
It then never ever responded any further despite him sending chaser emails in January and August this year.
It is the honestly held opinion of UK News and Investigations, based on years of involvement in complaints and requests for information to public and private bodies, that it is an unofficial tactic to not reply to members of the public in the hope they simply go away.
This is likely to work in many cases.
It means they only respond to those who show persistence and understanding of laws.
UK News and Investigations contacted Metro Bank's press office on September 3 this year.
We wrote: "Mr Wright made a SAR request for all his personal data on December 20 2024, which was acknowledged the same day saying that the bank aimed to respond within a calendar month.
"Since then there has been no response, despite him sending chase emails in January and August.
"As you will be aware all businesses have a legal duty to respond to a SAR request.
"Metro Bank has failed to do this.
"I am writing an article to expose that Metro bank has failed in its duty to comply with this SAR.
"Could you please issue any response to this with reasons why you refuse to deal with the SAR on this occasion by 10/9/25.
"Mr Wright (copied in) will forward a copy of this email to you giving his consent for you to respond to me."
The Metro Bank press office responded on September 10.
It said: "Thank you for raising this and we apologise for the delay. I can confirm Mr. Wright’s Subject Access Request has now been completed."
There you go - UK News and Investigations gets things done, but it should not have taken our intervention for Metro Bank to fulfil its legal duties.
It is also our honestly held belief that had we not intervened, the SAR would still be outstanding.
Metro's response refused to confirm the reason for the closure of his account, citing unspecified exemptions under the Data Protection Act 2018.
We responded asking for an explanation as to why it took the media to intervene for him to get a response and to specify which exemption it was relying on to withhold the reason for the closure, but Metro then took the Fifth (Amendment).
Its press office added: "Following the email confirming the Subject Access Request has been completed, we don’t have any further comment."
Wright has asked for an internal review of the refusal seeking clarification on which exemption it relies upon.
Nigel Farage had his bank closed by Coutts in 2023, which initially gave him a false reason for the closure, but after he submitted a SAR, the real reason was revealed in an internal document it released.
Will Wright ever find out the reason for his closure? In his own words: "watch this space!"
Read about Julian Wright's case here:
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