Vanquis Credit Card Fraud

cobra44

Hi Everyone, I'm a bit of a newbie here and can't find the recent thread I posted.

I have recently received a Vanquis credit card which I did not apply for.
I immediately rang Vanquis and they put a block on the card which I obviously hadn't signed or authorised. They told me to take it to the police and get a crime number. This I duly did, and it now been investigated by the police and apparently Vanquis' security dept. Although, I'm not too convinced about the latter.

What Vanquis didn't tell me was that someone had already drawn £200 cash against the card on Jan 7th. The statement arrived today. I immediately rang them and explained the whole sorry saga. However, according to the person I spoke to, I am liable until the whole business is sorted out by the police and their security team. I informed them that I didn't intend to pay a penny as I hadn't applied for the card, but I'm a bit concerned about my crerdit rating which is 100% at the moment.

Can anyone tell me where I stand on this and what my next move should be. Thanks very much in advance.

PNPSUKNET

no matter what they do to your credit file, can be corrected but keep on at complaints

izools

I think it would be best to send a letter to them.

You aren't liable. Not for one second.

Quote the crime number again in your letter to them and just remind them that they have all of the information they need to close the account and investigate the fraud on their own volition.

Also state in your letter that if they have not removed all trace of the account and associated credit search(es) from your credit files within 30 days you will report them to the ICO and FOS.

And do just that.

Vanquis are dire when it comes to actual customer service so make sure to correspond only in writing, and send recorded. Keep proof of posting.

Sorry to say, but you'll likely need to refer this to the ICO and FOS, so your proof of posting of letters to them will come in handy.

Sorry to hear this has happened to you and good luck dealing with Vanquis. AKA "Chatham Chavs" (thats where they're based).'

:beer:

James

I know it won't help you now with Vanquis but the following may help you and other readers prevent what has happened to you in future.

If you want to use the best proactive FREE application fraud (ID Theft) deterrent, and being able to hold any lender to account if your ID is nicked, then check out www.freeidprotection.co.uk (Read the media comments (including Radio 4) bottom right hand side of the home page).

Hope this helps.

Hax

I'm a little confused as to how you have just received the credit card and yet £200 has already been drawn on it. I thought the card was needed to withdraw cash.

Dr_Cuckoo3

Hax wrote: »

I'm a little confused as to how you have just received the credit card and yet £200 has already been drawn on it. I thought the card was needed to withdraw cash.

Vanquis offer an "immediate cash advance" when they phone the applicant to confirm the details on the application

They require phone contact with all applicants before sending the card

So they know the phone number of the person who applied for the card and the sort code A/C number that they sent the "immediate cash advance" to

If I was the OP , I would pay the minimum amount "without prejudice" because they will record late payments with the CRA and the damage will have already been done

Best to pay now and sort it out later with the FOS ,ICO if necessary

kiora wrote: »

I recently applied for and was accepted for a Vanquis Card(Trying to rebuild credit history), was surprised to say the least when I got a phone call yesterday to say I had been accepted, no mention of credit limit although she did say I could get an immediate cash advance of £200, so I am thinking that I have been given a low limit(all the beter not to lead me into temptation), has anyone anyhting positive to say about Vanquis as all the BB's I have read slag them off.

Hax

Dr_Cuckoo3 wrote: »

Vanquis offer an "immediate cash advance" when they phone the applicant to confirm the details on the application

They require phone contact with all applicants before sending the card

Things have changed since I got my card a few years ago then!

Dr_Cuckoo3 wrote: »

If I was the OP , I would pay the minimum amount "without prejudice" because they will record late payments with the CRA and the damage will have already been done

I agree (somewhat) in that getting the money back will be a battle that should be relatively easy to win. Getting them to correct credit records would be another battle that I'd rather not have to take on.

That said, if the OP has a crime reference, then there's no reason why the account can't just be suspended/closed and for Vanquis to then carry out their investigation without the OP having any further involvement. Traces of the credit account will still need to be removed from the OPs credit files.

cobra44

izools wrote: »

I think it would be best to send a letter to them.

You aren't liable. Not for one second.

Quote the crime number again in your letter to them and just remind them that they have all of the information they need to close the account and investigate the fraud on their own volition.

Also state in your letter that if they have not removed all trace of the account and associated credit search(es) from your credit files within 30 days you will report them to the ICO and FOS.

And do just that.

Vanquis are dire when it comes to actual customer service so make sure to correspond only in writing, and send recorded. Keep proof of posting.

Sorry to say, but you'll likely need to refer this to the ICO and FOS, so your proof of posting of letters to them will come in handy.

Sorry to hear this has happened to you and good luck dealing with Vanquis. AKA "Chatham Chavs" (thats where they're based).'

:beer:

Thanks izools, sorry for delayed reply, been away this weekend. I'm about to write the letter now and will document everything from now on. I just hope it can be resolved quickley.

cobra44

Yes, although I have told Vanquis that I don't intend to make any monthly payments on this account, I am slightly concerned about the effect this may ahve on my credit rating.

I have emailed Experian though and brought them up to speed with recent events. Waiting for a reply.

Thanks for your help everyone.

cobra.

cobra44

It seems they steal your identity including DOB and then obviously give a phone number for contacting them along with passwords which makes it all too easy when Vanquis contact them. Personally, I think Vanquis are partly responsible, as it is all too easy to get £200 advance over the phone. Any cash advance should only be available by using the card.

Dr_Cuckoo3

cobra44 wrote: »

It seems they steal your identity including DOB and then obviously give a phone number for contacting them along with passwords which makes it all too easy when Vanquis contact them. Personally, I think Vanquis are partly responsible, as it is all too easy to get £200 advance over the phone. Any cash advance should only be available by using the card.

I take it you have looked at the Vanquis application form - they require very little information , not even your bank details or employer details for some of the drop down box choices



https://www.vanquis.co.uk/apply


and an easy £25 from a cashback site



Yes - the money's gone before the victim even knows that the account has been applied for (unless they have a CRA subscription) as they do not write to applicants until they have made phone contact to the number provided on the fraudulent application

This could be avoided by requiring the applicant to wait for the card to arrive and provide the CVV before making the transfer

At least they know the phone number and bank account details of the fraudster - you could ask them what phone number /email address / sort code & A/C number they hold

My last Vanquis CRA update was 02/01/2011 , so the next will be early next month assuming they are all done on the same day


http://www.vanquis.co.uk/about/careers/departments/departments-chatham/


The Fraud and Disputes team is divided into 5 distinct sections:

Fraud Prevention

Responsible for reviewing and investigating applications received by the Bank that meet specific criteria, identifying fraudulent applications and declining them.

Third Party Investigations

The Third Party Investigations team is responsible for dealing with unauthorised transactions on customer’s account, undertaken by an individual other than the customer.

First Party Investigations

Responsible for monitoring and investigating transactional and payment activity on accounts where the customer may be involved.

Police Liaison

Responsible for dealing with incoming police and law enforcement enquiries as well as making outgoing reports to the police.

Disputes

Responsible for dealing with transactions disputed by the customer. They will initiate an investigation to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible.