Bank accounts being opened without my knowledge!

emmas42

I'm hoping there might be someone here that can give me a little bit of advice regarding this.
I rented a flat for 9 years and finally managed to get on the housing ladder in September :j
I set up a mail re-direction, changed over all of my bills and settled in.
However, I have just got home from work to find a re-directed letter asking for a signature for an account in my name at my old address. I did a bit of digging on my credit report online and have found two searches regarding bank accounts I didn't request. Both searches have mistakes on them. One my marital status and one my date of birth.

I have called the police station and the fraud dept. are getting back to me. The fraud departments at the two banks are closed until tomorrow. I am planning to get those accounts (Or attempted accounts) blocked before I call the credit record people to ask what to do next.

I seem to remember reading that I might be able to get a password put on my credit report so that any searches are referred back to me. Is this true?

I was also wondering how likely it is that the police will investigate my old address. It was in a nasty tower block and is most likely being rented out. It was sold around a month after I moved out. I suspect some of my mail has slipped through the re-direction as I have had letters arrive at my new home for the previous owner even though she also has re-direction set up.

I already have a note on my bank account regarding online betting as last year someone tried to use my details in Vienna.

I wish these fraudsters would just crawl back under whatever rock they came from.

gemmabe

You have been a victim of identity theft and it's a horrible feeling so I sympathise.

Re. what is on your credit report I know that you can dispute items on it as I once checked mine and saw my Dad's mortgage on there, when I didn't even live with him! That got removed with no problem.

You can setup checks where they notify you if there has been a credit search on you, etc. immediately so you can then act upon it if you think there has been a mistake or fraud involved.

You are right to contact the police and the fraud depts and I am sure they will be able to advise you more. Thankfully, that redirected letter got through and will be able to stop them in their tracks!

TheEffect

Contact Equifax and Experian and ask for a Notice Of Correction to be placed onto your account stating that you're investigating identity theft and any applications should be confirmed via telephone/letter before a decision is made.

emmas42

Thanks for your kind replies

TheEffect, I'll ask about the Notice of correction tomorrow and also contact Equifax.

gemmabe I have had a bit more of a poke around on the credit report and I can set up text alerts! Looks good, so I'm going to go for that.

Thankyou!

emmas42

Quick update!
Called Experian who where great, they are putting their fraud team in touch with me and will be keeping an eye on things
Nationwide were outstanding! The nice chap said they already thought it was fraudulent so they refused it and had prepared a recorded delivery letter to my new address to make me aware of it. He gave me helpful advice and told me that the ISP address the online application was made from is having an eye kept on it.
A&L were no help whatsoever. All she did was kept repeating over and over that I need to send her a copy of my report. All I asked was that they pop a note on saying it was possibly fraudulent whilst i got things sorted out. She refused and got really quite narky with me. I tried to give her my crime ref number and she wasn't interested. I have tried to call them back today to get them to Liase with Nationwide regarding it but got cut off twice. Experian are dealing with them for me now.
I also checked Equifax and callcheck. I found another search from yet another bank!
So back on the phone tomorrow to get that one looked into by equifax.

Ho Hum... and there was me hoping to get the last two Christmas pressies bought after my nice early finish at work today, instead I was on the phone. I'm not looking forward to the Christmas eve shopping I'll have to do now. :-)

olly300

There are complaints all over this board about the Santander Group's attitude to fraud. I suggest you inform them in writing and escalate to the appropriate regulator as required.

You need to get yourself put on the CIFAS protective register - http://www.cifas.org.uk/default.asp?edit_id=565-85

emmas42

Thanks for the link. I am definitely going to be doing that!