The banking app feature allows victims of economic abuse to mute malicious messages
Tarling Bank has introduced a feature on its app that allows customers to hide payment references, which could help survivors of economic abuse.
The Hide References feature is designed to help people suppress unwanted or offensive references that may accompany bank transfers.
Payment references should generally only describe the nature of a payment, such as “rent”, “birthday gift for mom” or “dinner”.
However, in the case of economic abuse, they can be misused with the aim of angering or manipulating the recipient.
For example, an abusive ex-partner who has been denied other forms of contact may send messages claiming that they miss their ex, or even send insults or threats, Starling Bank said.
Using online bank payment references to send intimidating or malicious messages is just one of the ways a perpetrator can remotely maintain control, leaving victims feeling helpless and extremely vulnerable
These references can serve as a way for an ex-partner to maintain some control and have a triggering effect on the recipient.
The bank said payments of as little as 1p could even send multiple messages.
It has partnered with the charity Surviving Economic Abuse to launch the feature.
Economic abuse, which often accompanies other forms of abuse, can involve someone stealing another person’s wages, keeping them from working, or intentionally putting them in debt.
While such abuse can occur within couples, it can sometimes occur in other types of relationships as well; For example, an adult child may abuse a frail and elderly parent, or a parent may abuse a child.
According to Starling Bank, fraudulent payment references represent a key obstacle that survivors of economic abuse must overcome.
Starling Personal Checking Account holders can access the feature by swiping up from the app’s home screen to view their transaction fee, tapping a payment received with an unwanted reference, and tapping the hide icon.
This will hide references to past or future payments from that account.
Starling said the new feature won’t prevent money from ending up in a customer’s account — the recipient simply won’t see payment references originating from the sending account.
Customers have the option of displaying payment references in the app at any time.
Starling said one person told the bank, “The ability to hide those credentials with a simple tap makes all the difference and I’m so glad Starling listened to my experience.”
This feature shows how powerful technology can make people’s lives easier
Lauren Garrett, financial services manager at Surviving Economic Abuse, said, “Economic abuse can continue, increase or even begin long after a victim/survivor has separated from a perpetrator.”
“Using online bank payment references to send intimidating or malicious messages is just one of the ways a remote perpetrator can maintain control, leaving victims feeling helpless and extremely vulnerable.
“We’re excited to be working with Starling on this new feature and commend them for sharing with us what they’re doing to allow survivors to choose which payment references they see without reliving traumatizing customer service experiences.” to have to.”
“This small in-app feature will vastly improve survivors’ ability to securely bank, and we’re proud to partner with financial services providers who are listening to the voices of victim survivors and encouraging companies to continue to close product gaps.” ‘ and services used to encourage unintended abuse.’
Starling is one of the founding signatories to the UK Finance Code on Financial Abuse.
The reference hiding feature is part of the Bank’s existing work in support of survivors of economic abuse, which includes a dedicated support team for vulnerable people.
Charity Wood, Head of Customer Experience at Starling Bank, said: “Anyone can experience economic abuse; They may not realize this is happening to them or how their bank can support them.
“This feature demonstrates the power of technology to make people’s lives easier and is a testament to Starling’s belief in doing the right thing.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/business/money/banking-app-feature-allows-economic-abuse-survivors-to-mute-malicious-messages-b1085788.html The banking app feature allows victims of economic abuse to mute malicious messages
