Help Needed with Identity Theft By a Family Member

ChrisMc90_2

Hi. I have registered here to seek advice on what to do about my mum and her financial situation, and how it is affecting me. Basically around 18 months ago when I turned 18, she convinced me to take an overdraft on my student account at the RBS as she said she needed help with money.

I was reluctant but after she got really upset I agreed, and took the overdraft. She said initially that she only needed £500, but instead she took the whole overdraft of £1250, then proceeded to take a £2500 loan in my name from the RBS. From then till August of last year she would empty my account whenever money was paid in till the overdraft was maxed out. I am pretty sure this story of needing money was all cooked up to fund her obsession with online bingo, as I have went through account statements online and most of the payments in that time period go to "Aquapay London", which may be something to do with the banking side of the sites or something. I stopped all of this by downgrading my account so that debit capability was disabled in August of last year.

I am still in the overdraft and am currently seeking a part time job in order for me to get out of it by the time I start my 3rd year of University. She does give me money monthly in order to cover the loan expenses though. This is not the worst problem though.

In the last few weeks I have learned that she has at least 1 other loan out in my name, and has applied for at least 1 more. I intervened with the one she applied for by way of an email to the company she tried to borrow from, so that is ok. However, the loan that I know she has taken has not been paid back yet, and a letter came through a few weeks ago demanding payment or threatening legal action. This was from a company called 1st Credit. I confronted her after I read this letter, and she said she would get in touch with them ad arrange a payment plan. I accepted this as fact, wrongly.

Yesterday I opened a letter addressed to me stating that 1st Credit are intending to take legal action against me, as no payment for this loan of £262 has been received. The consequences could lead to me being blacklisted and not being able to receive credit in future, as well as the sum of money I have to pay shooting up.

I am intending to make an appointment with the Citizens Advice to see what my options are, but I was wondering if anyone here has any useful input? It would be greatly appreciated.

angelicmary85

Hi Chris,

How did your mum manage to get the loans in your name?

RobertoMoir

You won't like this, but its customary to report identity theft and fraud to the police.

You won't be able to claim to the people asking you to repay the loan that it was fraud, if you then don't follow that through. Of course, given that the person doing it is your mother, this puts you in a delicate position.

At the very least, I'd start by looking at your credit file to see if anything else unexpected is on it, and I'd see if you can do anything to change the information she already has and uses (credit card/bank card details? Can you have bank correspondence sent to another address?)

myothercarisaferrari

Chris that't terrible. regardless of whether its your mum or not, she has committed fraud. You need to call the police.

If not, get a job and start paying them back or your credit file will be screwed.

What a terrible shame, I cant believe your own mother would do that to you.

ChrisMc90_2

I don't know how she managed to use my details, but she threatened to kick me out if I don't give her money. I don't know what to do

Kavanne

You need to go to the police. Your mother has a problem and needs help. Find somewhere else to live.

If you don't go to the police you will have to pay the loan if you don't want to ruin your credit record.

You need to get a new bank account that she DOESN'T have access too, ie: at a totally different bank and DON'T TELL HER ABOUT IT. You need to have your student loans, wages and any other credits paid here.

never-in-doubt

I can't believe you guys shouting 'go to the police and report it'..... you know that time as a kid when you fell over and started crying, who would come and rub you better? Or the time you needed new shoes or jacket just to fit in with your mates?

I'm sorry but as it is your mother of all people, i'd be looking to protective register myself via cifas and also have a very stern chat with my mother about repayments being made direct to me to repay the loans etc and the promise she seeks professional help - I would NOT go to the police - disgraceful.

Going to the police should never be an option. If the mother refuses or carries on then you simply cut all ties with her. Go to the cops and you've esentially cut all ties anyway.

We have all made mistakes and done things we shouldn't have and I bet most of our mums would never send us to prison - they would protect us and I think we should do the same and protect them, even if they have done wrong.

Your mum is an addict, she needs help - like an alcoholic or druggie..... give her a chance (or even 100 chances)

I think its disgraceful to snitch on the woman who gave birth to you - FAMILY LOYALTIES!

Kavanne

clearly the mother is not repaying the debt, hence the demand for £262 off the OP. I would agree with the above if she could repay but she has made it clear she now has no intention and has threatened her own son. I think she has set the precedent, loyalty clearly means nothing to her. She's an addict.

view

Aqua Pay is definitely for gambling sites.

never-in-doubt

GoldenJill wrote: »

Aqua Pay is definitely for gambling sites.

and how do you know this exactly.....

(lol just kidding - i'm implying you;re an addict! lol) :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

ChrisMc90_2

never-in-doubt wrote: »

I can't believe you guys shouting 'go to the police and report it'..... you know that time as a kid when you fell over and started crying, who would come and rub you better? Or the time you needed new shoes or jacket just to fit in with your mates?

I'm sorry but as it is your mother of all people, i'd be looking to protective register myself via cifas and also have a very stern chat with my mother about repayments being made direct to me to repay the loans etc and the promise she seeks professional help - I would NOT go to the police - disgraceful.

Going to the police should never be an option. If the mother refuses or carries on then you simply cut all ties with her. Go to the cops and you've esentially cut all ties anyway.

We have all made mistakes and done things we shouldn't have and I bet most of our mums would never send us to prison - they would protect us and I think we should do the same and protect them, even if they have done wrong.

Your mum is an addict, she needs help - like an alcoholic or druggie..... give her a chance (or even 100 chances)

I think its disgraceful to snitch on the woman who gave birth to you - FAMILY LOYALTIES!

I would rather handle this without going to the police if it is at all possible. I confronted her about this letter earlier, and she has said she will contact 1st Credit tomorrow. To make sure this actually happens I'm insisting that I am present when she does it, and that she has the loudspeaker on whilst on the phone, so I know exactly what is being said.

Regardless of whether this particular loan gets sorted out, I am definately going to citizens advice this week, and am also going to run an online credit check on myself, to see if she has anything else out in my name.

Also, Never-In-Doubt, what exactly is this protective registering you mentioned in your post? Is there a way of making it so that loans cannot be taken out in my name, if i am not there in person to consent?