Recieved a letter from Halifax addressed to ex who has never lived here?

vixxxen

Hi, wasn't sure where to post this, but seeing as it's to do with a bank - I decided on this forum :rotfl:

The reason I'm posting this is on Thursday last week I got a letter in the post - well I say letter, it was a card with the Halifax logo and address (looked genuine) saying that a represenative will 'call at your home' on 9/11/2010.
I bank with Halifax; but the card was addressed to my ex, who hasn't lived with me in this house.
Someone had hand-written his name and (my) address on the front of the envelope, which I thought was strange for a bank?
Oh - also, the postcode was sw15 2ju - which seems like a cross between my current address, and our shared previous address postcodes....strange??

The next day, I got another letter addressed to my ex; again from Halifax, and this time it read "Dear (my ex), thank you for letting us know you've changed your address. For most of our products you do no need to do anything else, however"...and then something about if he has insurance products from them, he'll need to change his address for that seperately.
It said at the bottom someone's name, head of current account services or something like that; my ex has a current account, mine's only a basic account so I know it's definitely meant for him and not me. This time, the postcode was correct.

Now, I've phoned my ex and he has flatly denied ever changing his address.
He says that he hasn't spoken to halifax in "ages" and would never have used my address. Hmm.

I'm worried, because AFAIK you can't change your address without going into the bank in person, and maybe providing ID or at least your bank card? I'm fairly sure you can't do it over the phone or online, so ID fraud isn't really very likely, I don't think.

Also the mix-up with the postcode on the first letter; my ex and I shared a house last year, he left in the Feb and I moved out in the September, the postcode there started with WS and ended in JU (similar to the postcode used on the envelope when this card was sent to my ex at this address).

My ex's bank statements were still going to our old address when I left, so could it be that the LL or even new tenants have somehow got hold of my address, and informed the bank? Unlikely I know, but exploring all possibilities

I know my ex is well over his overdraft with the Halifax, and I recently found out he's got a new account with another bank - something he'd been denying until recently - so it could be that he's given halifax my address to throw them off the scent, if they're chasing him for payment.

What do I do about this? Should I ring the halifax and find out what's going on, should I look into possible ID fraud or just leave it?
Confused as to what's going on, and how it could maybe affect me

dazza.mk

Mark any future mail as 'Return to sender - not resident at this address' and don't worry about it.

Only other thing to do, if you've previously held joint financial (credit) products would be to file a notice of disassociation if these are on your credit report.

"If you are not financially connected to other people shown on your report you can ask us to remove their information from your report. This is called a financial disassociation. We cannot do this if you still live at the same address and share a financial link e.g. joint account. If your credit report shows a financial connection that is no longer correct, you can ask us to remove it in the following ways. "

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/faq/AR3.html#q518

Link to Experian shown, but I'd do it with the other Credit Reference Agencies as well.

Note this is only applicable if you held joint credit products ie: current accounts, loans etc.

vixxxen

I'll be returning the letters but kind of want to know for sure whether my ex changed his address, or if there's some other reason his bank now think he's living at my address.

He just seems so adamant that he hasn't changed his address...is there any way to find out?

Mikeyorks

He can change his address with Halifax simply by printing off a 'change of address' form and signing it :

http://www.halifax.co.uk/HelpCentre/changeofaddress.asp

.......... but unlikely they'll confirm or deny that to you. But perhaps worth a try - as I'd be a bit peeved if someone decided to use my address as a diversion.

vixxxen

I'm trying to prove my ex as a liar, more than anything.

I did look on the halifax website and saw that change of address form; as you say he'd have to sign it and take ID, so it'd be a deliberate thing on my ex's part - just want to check there's no way that anyone could pretend to be him either on the phone, online or similar.

I still think it's strange that they had the wrong postcode on the first letter that arrived, and that it was scarily similar to our previous address..

jambosans

vixxxen wrote: »

I did look on the halifax website and saw that change of address form; as you say he'd have to sign it and take ID, so it'd be a deliberate thing on my ex's part - just want to check there's no way that anyone could pretend to be him either on the phone, online or similar.

You can change your address via Telephone Banking. As another poster has suggested I would return the post marked "RTS" or drop it in to a Halifax branch. If you make Telephone Banking aware they may mark his account as having returned post - although they will not confirm this to you. This will suspend further correspondence being sent out until he contacts Halifax himself.

FYI regardless of the mail going to your address, Halifax are not going to divulge any information to a 3rd party (i.e. you). There are mechanisms in place to stop the mail going to your address, however it is your ex partners sole responsibility to resolve this matter.

On a side note, did you ever hold a joint account with your partner? When you update your address on a joint account you can request the other parties address updated to match (only applicable to any accounts held jointly). Perhaps it got muddled up, and Halifax have your address on record as an alternative to your ex's main address.

Also, the letter you've received notifying of a change of address does not necessarily indicate your address is his most up to date. Two copies of that letter are sent out to the old and new address, and as far as I'm aware the letters are identical - so he may have changed to a different address.

It's a difficult one, but there's little you can do, as your ex would have to be honest and co-operative. At the very least you should be letting Halifax know, and advising your ex to contact them ASAP.

vixxxen

Well even if he has changed his address to his new residence; he's NEVER lived here, and I have lived here for just over a year - this is the first time any letters have arrived with his name on.

We've never held a joint account; we both have accounts with Halifax but mine is a basic one and his is a current account, so there's no reason for the bank to get us mixed up.

I reckon he's done it to get them off his back; maybe they'd started chasing him up to pay off his massive overdraft, and he thought this would buy him a bit of time.

I just don't want it affecting my credit rating.

olly300

vixxxen wrote: »

I just don't want it affecting my credit rating.

His letters getting sent to your address won't. Just keep returning them as stated.

What will is if he linked himself to you financially so have a look at your credit records and check that you aren't linked to him.

onlypaddy

sounds to me as if he's trying to pull a fast one on the bank, and land you in it should the debt collectors come calling. cry fraud and scare him off

pqrdef

It all looks just as it might look if he's done a quick change-of-address precisely because the bank was threatening to send a "representative" to his house to "have a word" about his debts.

Gloves-off time I'd think. Write to the address on the card, not any other address in the Halifax conglomerate, and make it clear that your ex doesn't live at your address, never has, doesn't own anything at that address, and you aren't financially associated with him or responsible for him in any way. Recorded delivery and keep a copy.

MrsManda

vixxxen wrote: »

I did look on the halifax website and saw that change of address form; as you say he'd have to sign it and take ID, so it'd be a deliberate thing on my ex's part - just want to check there's no way that anyone could pretend to be him either on the phone, online or similar.

Just a quick note. To change your address with your bank you don't need to provide ID. You just fill out a form and post it to the bank/drop it into a branch. A letter goes to your old address and another to your new address informing of the change of address.
- I've moved house a lot over the last few years and have always changed my address with my banks this way.