Argos - Account Fraud

LeeBee666_2

Argos - Account Fraud
Good evening all! I'm hoping that you good people out there can give me some advice

Basically my fiance and I tried to purchase a fridge-freezer at the local Iceland store and it was refused . . . being an ex student I was used to this, however, my partner has a perfect credit score (according to Equifax) so we were a bit puzzled.

To cut a long story short we ordered her credit file from Experian and noticed some details we were not sure of. . . being 'Linked Addresses'.

After doing far too much reasearch we have discovered the following:

• An account has been setup using just her name / VERY old address / D.O.B
• An individual has managed to both order, and obtain, items from Argos Direct and THEN get a store card racking up a total debt of nearly £800
• No money has ever been paid to Argos and the debt has now been passed over to Carbot Financial Ltd

We asked for the original application form to be sent to us so we could look over the details and half the form is empty . . . . when the account was created no contact numbers were taken, the employment details were empty, the bank section clear and . . . the best part . . . the signature spelt totally wrong!!!

We've contacted the police . . . who are of little help! We've contacted Trading Standards . . . who are of little help! . . . so I'm turning this over to you lot for some ideas

Oh . . . I forgot to mention, using the previous address details on the application we KNOW the individual who set up the account . . . its someone my fiance used to go to school with MANY MANY years ago!

We feel discusted that we have to spend the next few weeks / months correcting credit files, and yes she walks away free. We also really want to complain to Argos and make them aware how discusted we are, how much work / stress / loss this has caused . . . and would we be due any form of compensation.

The latest I have got with this is to send a 'statement of request' to get EVERYTHING they have regarding both my fiance, and the account in question.

... I look forward to all your replies

Thanking you

Lee

horse76

Hi, I do sympathise with you. I was in the same situation a few years ago, someone at my partner's old flat used my details from an old Studio account I'd forgotton I'd had. They only racked up £200 worth of stuff, but the first I'd known about it was when I got a letter from a debt collection agency at our new address. I was in such a state, so I called the police, who came out to see us and suggested I went into the local station, to check it out further. I did, and they phoned both Studio and the debt agency to explained the situation. Eventually the police said there was nothing they could do, unless Studio made a complaint about me not paying up. The police did contact the council and let slip to me that the current occupier's name matched the name of some personalised items that were ordered, so they knew that the current tennant ordered the goods, but again couldn't pursue. The police were very helpful in my case.

I eventually got a solicitor (family friend so it never cost me) and they sent letters on my behalf saying I wasn't due the debt, never ordered the goods etc. Eventually they backed down and luckily wrote the debt off.

It is a horrible situation to be in, I'd never been in debt before, and my credit rating was excellent. Luckily this never affected it.

Good luck

Colliefrog

When someone applies for an Argos card they are required to show 2 forms of ID, something with a signature on such as a debit/credit card and something with the address on such as a driving licence or utility bill. On the application there should be a box on the left hand side with the employee number of the member of staff who did the application, the store number, the reference numbers of the ID shown and details of the amount of credit applied for. If this is not filled in correctly then I presume (not entirely sure) that the store where the credit was obtained could be held liable.

As for only half the form being filled in, if the customer is applying for less than £195 on credit then they don't have to give their employment or bank details.

I know I haven't been much help here, but it does annoy me when staff don't follow the rules. I have refused applicants due to lack of ID but then my supervisor has done the application anyway just to hit the Argos Card target for that week.

shere1

Send them a complaint letter and ask for the matter to be dealt with in accordance with FSA guidelines. If they do nothing take the matter to the Financial Services Ombudsman (it will not cost you anything).