PLEASE HELP- phone contract fraud

mowgli12

My grandmother have been unable to leave the house due to illness for the past year. Her bank card has been given to another family member to buy her shopping and take care of her bills. We have recently come across bank statements of my grandmothers that prove this family member has been taking advantage of this situation.

These include taking out phone contracts and phone insurance under her name. One bill is from Vodafone for 700 pound! Is there anyway we can sort this out with out getting my grandmother involved? I understand most companies would want to speak to the person whos name is on the contract.

Any advice would be appreciated.

rdchick

you could call vodafone and see if they have a contract under her name - as the person might be just using the card to foot the bill? I personally would get that family member up for fraud - what a spineless thing to do!

vax2002

You need to see if Gran knows about this first, if not.....
The police I'm afraid.
Once you are aware a crime is in progress and you know who is committing that crime as well as the victim if that could be proven, which you have just said here is the case, you would be assisting the offender by not acting to stop it.
It can be a very serious offence for which you just about always get Jailed.
Sorry but it's time to pick up the phone and save your own skin.

Tixy

Unlikely you'll be able to do much without here being informed.
And then you'll need to involve the police and report the crime and then contact her bank and the creditors to try to stop grandmother's liability for the ongoing contracts etc.

Have you got the card back from this person - if not gm needs to get in cancelled straight away and a new one issued

One thing you could also consider is applying for CIFAS registration which makes it much harder for someone to take out credit agreements in her name. It costs £14 for the year but might well be worthwhile if there is any chance they will try and do the same again.

And telling grandmother might be useful if she wanted to alter her will (assuming this person was a beneficiary)