Ex opened accounts in my name

Flower_Power_mark_2

Hi,

A friend of mine has recently split from their partner. This partner had a lot of debt. It now turns out that most of the debt was in my friends name with cards/loans opened over the internet. Obviously the partner knew all the DOB etc and had access to copies of passports. So the ex opened accounts in my friends name and ran up debt as if they were them. None of the debt was in joint names just my friends.

Now this has come to light in the event of the split and my friend has been saddled with the debt. I have been told that they have pursued getting this debt transferred to the ex but there is apparantly nothing they, banks etc, can do and my friend is stuck with it.

My friend is adamant they did not know about the accounts/loans and I beleive them.

What I'm asking is there really nothing my friend can do? To me this seems like a serious case of fraud!
Thank you

Trajal

Flower_Power_mark_2 wrote: »

Hi,

A friend of mine has recently split from their partner. This partner had a lot of debt. It now turns out that most of the debt was in my friends name with cards/loans opened over the internet. Obviously the partner knew all the DOB etc and had access to copies of passports. So the ex opened accounts in my friends name and ran up debt as if they were them. None of the debt was in joint names just my friends.

Now this has come to light in the event of the split and my friend has been saddled with the debt. I have been told that they have pursued getting this debt transferred to the ex but there is apparantly nothing they, banks etc, can do and my friend is stuck with it.

My friend is adamant they did not know about the accounts/loans and I beleive them.

What I'm asking is there really nothing my friend can do? To me this seems like a serious case of fraud!
Thank you

Have an absolute heart to heart with your friend. Have them look you in the eye and tell you the absolute truth, even if some of them are definitely theirs.

If they pass this test, call the police together and report this.

Police will be able to advise further, it's identity theft, theft and deception rolled into one and a hugely hot potato at the moment, your friend will get a lot of help. Use the police, we pay for them with taxes so get your monies worth!

thenudeone

It is fraud which your friend is not liable for (unless he/she was party to it). But it will have to be reported as a fraud to be taken seriously. It doesn't sound like it's been taken seriously enough when the bank has been contacted so far.

It is possible to get a marker put on the credit file which will prevent anyone from opening a new credit account unless they supply a special password. This would be worth it even if it costs a few pounds.

agrinnall

Your thread title makes me think that your "friend" is in reality you.

Flower_Power_mark_2

agrinnall wrote: »

Your thread title makes me think that your "friend" is in reality you.

Not at all. Thread title was just to highlight what the problem was. If it was me then I would have no problem admitting so on an anonymous forum.

Lith

Stuff like this amazes me... when im in a relationship you don't know when the woman will stab you in the back or the guy to each his own...

this is why i have a SAFE to keep all my statements/passports and so on.


you need to contact the banks and EXPLAIN in great detail because this 'EX' should of never had a copy of a passport page?

Generali

The bank shouldn't have opened accounts on the basis of photocopies of identification. They should be seeing originals not copies.

Also I assume your friend was in a same-sex relationship. If I, as a man, tried to open a bank account as 'Mrs Generali' I'd expect to be asked a few questions.

There is a clear breech of Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering rules AFAICS.

You are right to describe this as fraud. If the bank won't act your friend needs to call in Mr Plod.

JuicyJesus

Generali wrote: »

The bank shouldn't have opened accounts on the basis of photocopies of identification. They should be seeing originals not copies.

Also I assume your friend was in a same-sex relationship. If I, as a man, tried to open a bank account as 'Mrs Generali' I'd expect to be asked a few questions.

There is a clear breech of Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering rules AFAICS.

The OP mentions the accounts were opened online, rendering this moot.

You are right to describe this as fraud. If the bank won't act your friend needs to call in Mr Plod.

This however is entirely true.

susie4747

It is too easy for a SO to open accounts in your name. All they have to do is go on line and enter the details. They then check the no paperwork box and you never need know what has happenned. an experian £2 check will give you some idea of the damage. But it won't show if they have been using your isa allowance.

Seems crazy to me. on one hand the banks tell me they need gas bills, passports and my great-grandmothers middle name. on the other hand they let SO's get away with this! Something is not right

olly300

susie4747 wrote: »

It is too easy for a SO to open accounts in your name. All they have to do is go on line and enter the details. They then check the no paperwork box and you never need know what has happenned. an experian £2 check will give you some idea of the damage. But it won't show if they have been using your isa allowance.

Seems crazy to me. on one hand the banks tell me they need gas bills, passports and my great-grandmothers middle name. on the other hand they let SO's get away with this! Something is not right

If you already have a relationship with a financial institution in that banking group i.e. an old savings account you opened when you were 8*, then they will not check your ID if you open a new account.

If you have no relationship with them then they have to check your ID under money laundering regulations.

*I'm taking the p*ss abit but I opened a current account with a BS I had a savings account with as a teenager. I did about one transaction a year with the account but had to show no ID when I opened the current account. I only needed ID when I wanted to shut down a another savings account with them.

Swans1912

Lets assume the OP friend is telling the truth as we have no reason the believe otherwise...

Calling the police is the only option i'm afraid unless the ex is willing to take on the debt formally by taking out a loan to pay the debt off (if possible). Tell the friend that part of the investigation on the fraud will be to look at what type of purchases were made to see if they fit a certain profile and at what time etc.