ID Theft

youngcardinals

Okay so im having trouble with a major high street bank. In Feb 2009 I was made aware of several account opened up in my name which are not mine, which are all fraudulent. A Current account, bank loan, credit card. I made the bank aware of this and they informed the retail fraud department. After several conversations with credit card services fraud they wrote off the credit card. Now for the interesting part...now for the current account and loan they have turned to me and told me that these account are not fraudulent even though ive been told that not data apart from my name and date of birth match on the account. Ive been all the way to the Financial Ombudsman Service, who say they cannot look into this because the account were not opened by myself and for some reason the bank are holding me fully responsible for the account.

What to do? Any ideas, help advice?

This would be very helpful.

DarkConvict

You will probably want to goto the FSA rather than the FOS. (Apologies, FSA regulate the industry and does not handle individual complaints but they do cover serious breaches so still worth ringing them) FOS resolve complaints on your accounts, but these are obviously not yours. The ICO may also help, as may trading standards.
So right now i would give consumer direct a call just to get some basic advise that trading standards would give, next phone national debtline as they can help with issue regarding your liability to debts, then move into the citizens advice bureau and finally the actual complaint to the FSA.

Consumer Direct - http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/about/how-we-help/
National Debtline - http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
CAB - http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
FSA - http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/consumerinformation/if_things_go_wrong/index.shtml and also http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/consumerinformation/consumer_contact/index.shtml

ICO information on ID theft - http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/html_personaltoolkit/html/avoid.html

If these are not your accounts you are not liable, you are back up by the fact that they have already accepted one of them as fraud. Do you have a police crime reference number yet, if not report it to the police and get one asap.

I would also recommend you get a CIFAS flag on your credit file to reduce future ID fraud.

youngcardinals

Ive already been to the FSA who advised me to write a formal complaint letter which I did and the bank disregarded. In regards to the other listed website i will look at. And the police well they told me to got to FOS. Strange i know when its a crime...

Jinx

Hi Youngcardinals

When I fell foul of ID theft, the police would not help me as I was not the one who had suffered apparently!!!!!!!! The companies involved suffer the loss so the police aren't interested....


Basically I contacted the companies involved as soon as I found out (and I hope you have carefully checked your credit report for other unexpected accounts such as catalogues and mobiles), had to sign official statements and speak to the fraud departments a number of times. Oh and I had to prove when I moved house as it was someone who moved into my previous house, but I guess thats not the same situation with you.

If the bank are saying these accounts are not fraudulent and they belong to you, then surely they have your proof of id and signature from opening them... I hope someone with more expertise will come along and help.

Hugs
Jinx

RAS

Start by contacting the credit reference agencies and disputing the fact that these accounts are listed against your name. Then do them via the Information Commisioner for recording false information against your name.

Where they may be coming from though is that although they accept that you did not take out the account, they believe that the person who did was able to do so because you did not keep some information secure?