Someone trying to open a bank account against my address

DaveJH

Hi All,

Bit of a strange one and I'm not sure what to do.

The people we brought our house off over 4 years ago did a runner and left a load of unpaid debts. We managed to get all that sorted out and stop the letters from the creditors after about a year.
However in today's post we got a letter advising the previous owner that they could not open a bank account as she did not pass the qualifying tests.

So obviously she has tried to open a bank account using our address in the last few weeks. :eek:

I spoke to the bank concerned but as per the data protection act they couldn't do anything.

Should I report this to the police as an attempted fraud?

Dave

billybluehat_2

not sure the police can do anything really. if you're worried about id theft and fraud protection check out protectmyid.co.uk its an experian company who are reputable.

Chuddles

They wouldn't be able to discuss it with you due to Data protection, but they still should have been able to investigate it internally. You'd think they would be interested in someone trying to defraud them.. *shrug*

I can't post link to Action Fraud but if you want to report it google it. I'd suggest it's worth doing in case there are any other applications going through anywhere.

noh

Return the letter to the bank marked "not known at this address".

jalexa

DaveJH wrote: »

Hi All,

However in today's post we got a letter advising the previous owner that they could not open a bank account as she did not pass the qualifying tests.

Well that's all right then. (even if you shouldn't have opened the letter).

Data protection cuts more than one way. Your address is not "owned" by you (in data protection terms), but the "identity" of your name, date of birth (at an address) is a unique identity for financial data protection.

What I'm saying is the other person has a different name and a different DOB. That person is not you. However it would be prudent to check that all appears in order in *your* Experian or Equifax credit report.

I presume the other person will fail to provide documentary proof of identity at "your" address. In which case the application will lapse. Maybe why it failed.

And I agree with the other poster that the bank should investigate the matter (without compromising the other party's data protection). I would (still) insist on a letter from the bank acknowledging the issue, pursued through the complaints procedure if they are reluctant. The complaints correspondence will be all the proof you need to keep.

DaveJH

Thanks for the feedback, I'll keep an eye on my credit reports and watch for any further mail. I have a feeling this might be the start of something, especially based on previous experience with them.

I'm going to return the letter to the bank and ask them to investigate as I would have thought that they would have had to provide proof of address when they completed the form.

Lansdowne

Maybe they gave a four year old utility bill as proof of address and that helped the bank reject the application.

olly300

jalexa wrote: »

Well that's all right then. (even if you shouldn't have opened the letter).

While the rest of your advice is sound you seem to have missed the point that OP gave a very good reason for opening the letter.

Also it's not illegal to open someone else's post addressed to your address unless you plan to do something criminal/dishonest with the contents. (Postal Services Act 2000 section 84)

In this case if the bank aren't interested then report here http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/ . Also ensure the old occupiers are completely off the electoral roll at the address (contact your council's electoral roll office) as this will help ensure they are continually turned down if they try such a thing again.