ID Fraud by a family member - what do I do?

tazdevil01985

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

You'd had good advice so far. Let's say you chose to bail her out this time and to just pay for the contracts.

What happens next time? Next time she orders something using your details and snorts or injects the proceeds - what will you do then? You do know that there will be a next time don't you?

There is a very clear line and she she has crossed it, I know she's your sister but you are NOT at this moment responsible for her conduct. If you cover for her on this one and she does it again your position is not this clear.

Report her. For her sake and for yours.

Think you raise a valid point there will be a next time ! You just have to forget that shes your sister. Very Very hard thing to do. You have got think what if a stranger did this to you, what would you do then ? As this is how your sister has treated you with no regards to the predicument it puts you in.

jayme1

if you put up with this (eg pay off the contracts and not report it) then she has then broken you, and a bar will be set and she will know how to bend you into submission, what if in 3 months time you get made redundant and you default on the 3 contracts that will only affect you not her.

even if you could afford to pay for the contracts you shouldn't you should report her and then use that money for rehab. (that's prob what will happen when you report her she'll get put in rehab)

robt_2

As hard as it will be, you absolutely must nip this in the bud and get the police involved.

If you let her get away with it she knows she can do it again. And she won't get the help she needs.

Remember if you don't pay the bills, it is YOUR credit record that is being trashed for six years.

MrsE_2

onriebaby wrote: »

I havent told my parents as my dad in his 70s and they both live on his pension... i dont want to put any pressure on tem especially with it being Christmas in a minute. I'm scared to phone to the phone companies as I know they will involve the police.. and yes I know that needs to be done but its just so hard. Either way as said , I know that when the DD bounces I wil be getting extra charges and letters to my door. I havent thought about that Tazdevil.. that could be a solution, but I doubt she will, leaving it to me.

Maybe you should just react as if you didn't know it was her & report it to the shops, let them involve the police & let them sort it out.

If it was my sister who had done that to me, I would at least do this.

If it was my DD, I'm not sure what I would do.....

DON'T get involved in it, selling phones on ebay or anything.

ETA don't let her stay anymore & you better warn your mum & dad, a junkie will rob anyone to feed their habit - as you just found out.

onriebaby

Thanks all, but I decided that I had to put my foot down ... at very least to save myself from going under financially. I just called the phone companies and explained and they said I will have to go to the police station tomorrow and call them back. Im hoping I will feel this brave tomorrow. Thanks again all x

in_the_Cotswolds

I hope this helps. I know O2 allow a 14 day return both over the internet and in the shops. If time is running out I would suggest going into the shop asking to return the phone and then explain the reasons.

I hope you get things sorted.

tazdevil01985

onriebaby wrote: »

Thanks all, but I decided that I had to put my foot down ... at very least to save myself from going under financially. I just called the phone companies and explained and they said I will have to go to the police station tomorrow and call them back. Im hoping I will feel this brave tomorrow. Thanks again all x

Good thats Step 1 now there is no real going back as both accounts will be note padded with what you have told them ! Good luck with the police tomorrow hope that they dont give you a rough time ! The phone companies will need a crime ref no from you which the police will give you. What happens after that is out of your hands ! I hope that your sister gets the sharp shock she needs and the rehad to get her clean and become your sister again

McKneff

Keep up your resolve tomorrow, think about further down the line.

People OD and how would you feel if something like that happened in the future and you had the chance to stop it now.

She would be dead and you would be racked with guilt for the rest of your life for not doing anything.

Tough love is tough issn't it.

diable

You need to harden up, I know she is your sister but if you go under who will look after her then?

Hotspur

onriebaby,

Well done, a difficult decision to make but the correct one for all concerned IMO. As the phones/contracts have been obtained by fraudulent means I doubt that you could be held liable unless you are deemed to be negligent. However, if the fraud wasn't reported you may find that you would have to pay and/or have your credit rating affected.

Hope everything works out for you and sister.

H