ID Theft - confused

emsiep1982

Hi,

I have recently applied for a mortage and have been declined due to my credit score, I have now checked my score (and yes as an avod Martin Lewis website reader I know I should have done it before I applied), and there are several accounts that are on my credit profile that arent my name! I thought ID theft was where they used your real name! I got the report of equifax and I know that different companies use different credit places so I have also applied for the experian credit report and am waiting for them to tell me it is ready to view.

The strange thing is, they have opened bank accounts, phone accounts and card accounts and yet the balance is £0 and from what I can see has always been £0.

I am confused now with what to do as it is on my file and a different name also from what I can see from the one report (guess I will know more when I can see the other) they have only opened accounts in my name and not actually used them.

Anyone else had this problem or any advice on what to do know?

Thanks

frustratedatconartists

Whatever you do, don't ask Equifax to let you know what's on your credit report and what isn't. I just had a 10mins argument with them over the phone as they told me that the alert they sent me to tell me my credit agreement with my back had been removed was correct, and the fact the bank said it hadn't been (and that I was using that card consistently over the last two months, including earlier today!) was incorrect.

Then they told me to discuss it further I had to buy a credit report, which they told me would tell me the same thing as the alert.

It's just a con - alerting you to incorrect changes on your report in order to get you to buy a report which is wrong (as both the bank and I pointed out).

Stay away from them if you want any accurate information.

olly300

They have made a mistake and linked you to someone with a different name. (I'm sure it's happened to someone else on these forums.)

You can disassociate yourself from that other person by writing a letter.

If the account is in your actual real name then you should get in touch with the finanical institutions concerned to find out more information about your accounts and to get them closed down as you can easily prove who you are. You will probably have to close the accounts in writing once you get your account details.

You can also apply for protective registration via cifas - http://www.cifas.org.uk/default.asp?edit_id=808-85

As far as the credit agencies go they are always right so don't bother arguing with them it's better going to the organisations who have the accounts opened with your details to sort it out.

emsiep1982

Hi
Thanks for your help, do I write a letter to the companies the accounts are held with or do I write it as a letter of correction on my credit file? I have checked with Callcredit and they have nothing on my file under that name which is a relief, so at the moment its just Equifax which holds incorrect information. Still waiting to get password of Experian. It is so annoying as have been turned down for a mortgage on a beautiful house because of it all! Grrrrr!
x

olly300

emsiep1982 wrote: »

Hi
Thanks for your help, do I write a letter to the companies the accounts are held with or do I write it as a letter of correction on my credit file? I have checked with Callcredit and they have nothing on my file under that name which is a relief, so at the moment its just Equifax which holds incorrect information. Still waiting to get password of Experian. It is so annoying as have been turned down for a mortgage on a beautiful house because of it all! Grrrrr!
x

I'm sure I read on here and heard it elsewhere that letters of correction are a waste of time.

You need to get yourself financially unlinked from the person if they have a different name.

http://www.thecreditagency.co.uk/equifax/equifax-notice-of-disassociation.pdf

boo_star

emsiep1982 wrote: »

Hi
Thanks for your help, do I write a letter to the companies the accounts are held with or do I write it as a letter of correction on my credit file? I have checked with Callcredit and they have nothing on my file under that name which is a relief, so at the moment its just Equifax which holds incorrect information. Still waiting to get password of Experian. It is so annoying as have been turned down for a mortgage on a beautiful house because of it all! Grrrrr!
x

I'm not surprised it's Equifax to be honest. I checked mine a few years back and all was fine except for a credit card (I forget who with) with a £50,000 limit on it. Status for the card was "deceased" and it was opened when I was about 10! Turns out they had linked one of my fathers accounts to my file even though we only share a middle name (and surname obviously)

It didn't affect my ability to open a CC or any of the current accounts so I am assuming this anomaly was ignored. I left it and after checking recently it has been removed but nevertheless, I apparently managed to open a CC at 10 years old and was both dead and alive at the same time (a zombie maybe.). Maybe their should flag up obvious contradictions so lenders can check their entries I guess.

wkdb1tch

I have a similar issue with equifax in that I am still 'linked' to my ex husband??? (Divorced in 2004) and there are 2 names linked to me that I'm finding confusing, my forename, different surnames. One is a misspelling of my maiden name, one my mothers remarried surname! Neither of which I have ever used.
Does anyone know if there is anything I can do about either of these?

James

The best way to deter 'others' applying for Credit Cards, Loans or opening Bank Accounts using your good name, and if they do 'hold the lender or financial institution to account- (boot on the other foot) is to consider this system. (Click here)


Read the Pros & Cons, Media Links etc and judge for yourself.

ID Protection is in your own hands.

emsiep1982

To be honest the whole thing is a nightmare, work full time and no where near a bank to pop out to at lunch and trying to actually speak to someone and speak to someone in the right department over the phone is like a black hole!

olly300

emsiep1982 wrote: »

To be honest the whole thing is a nightmare, work full time and no where near a bank to pop out to at lunch and trying to actually speak to someone and speak to someone in the right department over the phone is like a black hole!

I find with financial institutions it's a waste of time speaking to them.

Writing a letter to their complaints department with the title "Formal Complaint" sent by recorded delivery normally works best as they can't deny what you said. Plus you can always threatened to complain to their regulator (FOS) at the end of the letter if they refuse to comply as it could cost them lots of money if you do. However I don't bank with Santander.

BTW I did have two companies put rubbish on my credit file in the past. I just wrote to the Data Registrar of the companies concerned via recorded delivery and demanded they corrected it. I just mentioned that under the Data Protection Act they had to keep accurate records. They weren't banks though.

emsiep1982

Thanks for your advice. Will write letters and send them tomorrow. Absolute nightmare but glad I have spotted it, guess I should have checked my credit files sooner!