lost driving license - worried re identity theft

aidyonline

Hi everyone,

i hope this hasn't already been asked but i couldn't find it in the search, also not sure if this is the best forum but i couldn't find a better one.

basically about 3 weeks ago i lost my wallet/had it stolen; i cancelled my credit cards immediately. however it also contained my driving license - in northern ireland we have a plastic card as part of our license, about the size of a credit card, and it has our photo, date of birth, address and signature on it, basically an identity thief's dream!

i phoned the driving license authority who basically just told me to reapply for a new one. i phoned the local police station to ask advice but they said there wasn't anything you could do.

i just feel that for all i know someone could be applying for credit cards in my name right now without me knowing. i signed up to experian (the credit agency) just a few days ago for a free trial to check my details and certainly there've been no credit cards applied for so far...

but does anyone know is there anything else i can or should do to protect myself?

any advice would be appreciated...

jonesMUFCforever

Hope that the thief looks nothing like you?

To be serious though you could join a scheme whereby any credit application is refered to you first before acceptance. This would show up any fraudelent activity but costs about £6-£7 per month.

aidyonline

that souns interesting - what do i do? or where do i apply?

aidyonline

i meant to say 'sounds'

o_t_e

When I worked as a finance underwriter occasionally I'd come across experian credit files where the person had put a password on the file that any applicant would have to supply on request - the rationale being if they can't supply the password they aren't who they claim to be - it might be worthwhile writing to them about this.

jonesMUFCforever

Google for 'identity theft ' insurance.

anniecave

if anyone applies they would have to apply at your address and then the application would have to come to you anyway - or am I missing something?

unless I am missing something I wouldn't worry too much.

thesaint

anniecave wrote:

if anyone applies they would have to apply at your address and then the application would have to come to you anyway - or am I missing something?

unless I am missing something I wouldn't worry too much.

If this were the case, fraud would be pratically nil.

Not much help now, but unless in Northern Ireland it is compulsory, there is no need to carry your driving licence with you, leave it at home. It is one of the most 'helpful' pieces of identification to a fraudster.

jonesMUFCforever

The problem is that if you lose 2 items of identity then you can re-direct your post to a new address. So if someone is quick and gets in a lot of applications say in the first month you may not notice straightaway that you are not receiving your usual post.

James

It's oh so simple to stop someone using your personal information to open accounts, apply for credit etc. in your name. Even if you move address your covered.

The system described below also protects your nearest and dearest after your death.

Keeping Your Identity Safe (BBC Radio 4's MoneyBox). Scroll down page to article.

Get Thumb Protection. (Click here for information) for further info click onto Binspector Bully


The quickest way to put this system in place is to send £2 to Equifax for your Credit File - check it's clean and tell them you're using this system.

Information from Equifax click here.

This is the only proactive deterrent available, costing next to nothing.

jonesMUFCforever

James wrote:

It's oh so simple to stop someone using your personal information to open accounts, apply for credit etc. in your name. Even if you move address your covered.

The system described below also protects your nearest and dearest after your death.

Keeping Your Identity Safe (BBC Radio 4's MoneyBox). Scroll down page to article.

Get Thumb Protection. (Click here for information) for further info click onto Binspector Bully


The quickest way to put this system in place is to send £2 to Equifax for your Credit File - check it's clean and tell them you're using this system.

Information from Equifax click here.

This is the only proactive deterrent available, costing next to nothing.

James and not a word about chip and bloody pin!
Anyway how often do you intend to apply for your credit files then at £2 a pop that's £4 per application to the biggest two agencies - every month, every week??
By the time you get them someone could have cleared out a loan and credit card.