Fraudulent Next Account In My Name

PJB

Hi All

I have just found out that a Next Directory account was opened mid 2010 with my old address, we moved out in late 2009 and informed experian and credit expert.

I spoke to Next who said they only check my credit history and if there is no adverse credit they will open the account, i confirmed that they did not even check the address. Is this correct, surely not?

Although no goods were taken this would have an adverse affect on my credit score due to available credit and no of creditors and searches.

I had to spend over an hour on the phone and then write them a Data Protection letter as they refused to furnish me with the details from the account (they have a tel no and email address).

Any advice on where i stand and wht i should expect gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

PJB

Edit: Hope this is the correct place to post, sorry mods if not and please move if so!

fluffnutter

I'm not sure what you want to happen...? I assume you've closed the account. Are you worried about further repercussions from what would appear to be identity theft? What specifically do you want Next to do?

vuvuzela

PJB wrote: »

Although no goods were taken this would have an adverse affect on my credit score due to available credit and no of creditors and searches.

Not necessarily. Unless you apply a lot for credit products yourself, a single extra search will have little or no bearing. The available credit is also likely to be quite low, so again shouldnt matter in the grand scheme of things, unless you don't have a great credit history disregarding the Next account. Personally, I wouldn't worry at all about that, but would be furious with Next and their lax procedures and get the account closed quicksharp.

PJB

vuvuzela wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't worry at all about that, but would be furious with Next and their lax procedures and get the account closed quicksharp.

Thank you vuvuzela for your understanding and sympathei=tically put comments, unlike some!

fluffnutter wrote: »

I'm not sure what you want to happen...? I assume you've closed the account. Are you worried about further repercussions from what would appear to be identity theft? What specifically do you want Next to do?

As for your comments fluffnutter, Firstly i don't expect to have to pay £10 for a DPA subject request as they refused to give me the details on the account. The account is frozen but not closed as i have to write to them to close the account, more time and effort.

Of course i am worried about further fraud which is why i want the details used to open the account.

A :mad: apology would be nice at least!

You seem to be suggesting that by asking what if any rights i might be entitled to is wrong, i am only asking and after all i have suffered the shock and worry of this due to Nexts useless practices. Me thinks you should be giving advice on a site that gives corporate revenge as opposed to 'consumer revenge'! If i knew my rights, entitlements etc i wouldn't ask would i?

Specifically i want Next to . . . . . . better not say but after the way i have been spoken to and treated by them a gesture of goodwill would be the very least if they ever expect me to shop with them again!

I am sorry if the above seems harsh but i am stresseds over this and come here and ask perfectly reasonable questions in the circs and get questioned like i am in the wrong!

BlueAngelCV

I don't think they've been unreasonable. I've previously had accounts set up with different address to the one where I am on the electoral role with no problem and I wouldn't expect it to be an issue.
Wouldn't the old address be showing up as linked to your name anyway? So it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to assume all was ok.

As for not giving you info that seems fairly sensible given the issues already on the account. You say you want them to make more checks to stop whoever it was opening account but you're basically a random person calling up saying give me your customer's contact details!

I don't think you can (or should) really go any further with next.

However, I would report the issue to the police. Did no goods ever get purchased on the account? It seems a bit strange.

stockport_hatter

My partner had a similar problem with Simply Be, we sold our old house in 2008 and then an account was opened in my partners name the following year and goods obtained. We're not sure what credit checks Simply Be carried out before opening the account, as an incorrect DOB was given for my partner, her name was spelt wrong (could have been an admin error) and the address wouldn't have matched the info on the electoral register.

As goods had been ordered and not paid for we were being chased for the debt by a debt collection so it was something of a surprise when we first received a letter threatening legal action. As well as contacting Simply Be and the DCA, we reported the matter to the police as we thought my partner had been the victim of identity theft although they said they couldn't do anything as Simply Be had been the victims of fraud and not my partner.

We kept receiving letters from the DCA despite sending them proof that we didn't live at the address the time the account was opened / goods ordered. Eventually they realised that it couldn't have been our debt and stopped chasing for payment although we never received an apology from the DCA or Simply Be.

Our main gripe following the matter was the fact that the account had been successfully opened using personal information which didn't match. Surely they should have done proper checks? Certainly would have saved us a lot of time and effort if they had!

PJB

hattersmatters wrote: »

My partner had a similar problem with Simply Be, we sold our old house in 2008 and then an account was opened in my partners name the following year and goods obtained. We're not sure what credit checks Simply Be carried out before opening the account, as an incorrect DOB was given for my partner, her name was spelt wrong (could have been an admin error) and the address wouldn't have matched the info on the electoral register.

As goods had been ordered and not paid for we were being chased for the debt by a debt collection so it was something of a surprise when we first received a letter threatening legal action. As well as contacting Simply Be and the DCA, we reported the matter to the police as we thought my partner had been the victim of identity theft although they said they couldn't do anything as Simply Be had been the victims of fraud and not my partner.

We kept receiving letters from the DCA despite sending them proof that we didn't live at the address the time the account was opened / goods ordered. Eventually they realised that it couldn't have been our debt and stopped chasing for payment although we never received an apology from the DCA or Simply Be.

Our main gripe following the matter was the fact that the account had been successfully opened using personal information which didn't match. Surely they should have done proper checks? Certainly would have saved us a lot of time and effort if they had!

Very interesting that police would not take report from you, i will look into that.

Thanks for your detailed reply

WhiteHorse

PJB wrote: »

... i don't expect to have to pay £10 for a DPA subject request as they refused to give me the details on the account.

You don't have to go that far.

You already know that their database is incorrect. All you have to do is write to them advising them of that fact and they are obliged to correct it.

If they refuse to correct their database (ie delete the incorrect entry), then you can complain to ICO.

unholyangel

I can sort of understand where the OP is coming from. I had an instance with the Bank Of Scotland where my card was used fraudulently in person in England while i was 400 miles away.

The bank refused to even disclose what was purchased or where it was purchased. According to them, the person using my card fraudulently has "rights" under the DPA even though the account is in my name!

But the previous poster has a good point i think.The data controller has a duty to ensure the information they keep is correct, up to date and relevant.

PJB

WhiteHorse wrote: »

You don't have to go that far.

You already know that their database is incorrect. All you have to do is write to them advising them of that fact and they are obliged to correct it.

If they refuse to correct their database (ie delete the incorrect entry), then you can complain to ICO.

I want the info as they gave my correct DOB and also they gave an email address and phone no both of which are not mine, i gave them the last 3 digits of my tel no and all my email accounts are with 1 provider at it wasn't them.

I suspect it is the people that have moved into our old address as it is a catalogue and anything ordered would be delivered there, although they could of changed the address but that might of scuppered things!