Cashback site identity fraud connection, Have you had DD,s set up in your account?

Lady_K

I have had 2 direct debits set up for pet insurance in December that I did not do myself, one from Argos, one from Homebase both using my bank number and sort code, my postcode and name but the wrong house number.


I contacted the bank first who confirmed they had been set up and they cancelled both, not sure if any payments will be in the process yet though because they were due on 27th and 28th. Dates that most people probably wont check their accounts due to christmas holidays and the wrong house number means the documents get posted to the wrong address so not to alert the real bank account holder in time.


This bank account is only used to receive cashback from cashback sites and survey sites so its pretty clear that someone having access to the details within my cashback accounts is doing this themselves or passing the information on.


Is there any way to trace this, the insurance companies say no if its done online because if the postcode matches the name they dont go by the house number and just allow it through. Cant they trace ip addresses etc? or shouldnt they check the email address or phone before allowing things through?
Both of these insurances were set up with the wrong house number and an email address which had no words in it just scrambled letters and digits and the phone number was incorrect too.


I was always lead to believe that sort code and account number couldnt be used for anything, I will now have to change my bank account


Has anyone else had anything like this that they think is linked to cashback sites?

twiglet66

I had a similar thing happen to me a while ago. My dds were cat insurance, home insurance and a magazine subscription. Both of the insurances were for my name and address which was a bit odd. Mine all happened over a couple of days and luckily because I check my account regularly I was able to cancel the DDs before they came out of my account.

I have no idea what it was all about as could not really see who was gaining from this but from a bit of investigation I felt that it was something to do with a cashback site but did not manage to find out anymore that. The one thing it has taught me is to check my bank account daily.

Hope you get further than I did with investigating it.

Zelazny

One thing does occur - often the cashback sites offer large-ish payments for signing up for insurance. Someone could have signed up using your details to get the cashback, I guess.

**Juice**

Hmmm, this is a bit worrying - time to relook at my direct debits I think and make sure there's nothing going out that shouldn't be.

twiglet66

Zelazny wrote: »

One thing does occur - often the cashback sites offer large-ish payments for signing up for insurance. Someone could have signed up using your details to get the cashback, I guess.

I had thought about that but if the insurance is cancelled they would not get a penny. I guess they hope people don't check their bank accounts.

icecubequeen

I have also had a dd set up through my bank account recently for pet insurance. The money had already been taken, so it took some lengthy phonecalls trying to track down the company who had taken the money and get my money back.

geordie_joe

Lady_K wrote: »

Is there any way to trace this, the insurance companies say no

That's because you were talking to the wrong person.

If I were you I would attack it from a different angle.

These comapnies have paid someone commission for you signing up, they will not be happy to find out they will not be getting any money from you.

So I would talk to the Affiliate Manager of the company's. He/she will be able to see who was paid the commission for your signup. I wouldn't bother ringing the company's and asking to speak to the AF, they probably won't know what you are talking about.

Try searching affiliate forums, AM's usually hang around those and have their contact details freely available.

Lady_K

geordie_joe wrote: »

That's because you were talking to the wrong person.

If I were you I would attack it from a different angle.

These comapnies have paid someone commission for you signing up, they will not be happy to find out they will not be getting any money from you.

So I would talk to the Affiliate Manager of the company's. He/she will be able to see who was paid the commission for your signup. I wouldn't bother ringing the company's and asking to speak to the AF, they probably won't know what you are talking about.

Try searching affiliate forums, AM's usually hang around those and have their contact details freely available.

Will try doing that but they said they don't give out commision unless the insurance has run for 6 months and as this has now been cancelled they wont be getting it, but if they had to refuse the commision I hope they can still help with this

geordie_joe

Lady_K wrote: »

Will try doing that but they said they don't give out commision unless the insurance has run for 6 months and as this has now been cancelled they wont be getting it, but if they had to refuse the commision I hope they can still help with this

They will be able to help, as the details will still be in their log file and they will know who tried to get the commission.

esuhl

icecubequeen wrote: »

I have also had a dd set up through my bank account recently for pet insurance. The money had already been taken, so it took some lengthy phonecalls trying to track down the company who had taken the money and get my money back.

I cancelled a Direct Debit once, and my bank still paid money to the council (who were billing me in error). They lied and pretended there was nothing they could do until they had "investigated the issue", but I INSISTED that they refund the money IMMEDIATELY as they had no right to take it in the first place, and that was my right under the Direct Debit Guarantee:

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the organisation or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society.

Lady_K

Sent an email to the Affiliate manager so hoping they might be able to help