New to the UK, identity fraud?! and Barclays Premier Life account

NJE

Hello!

I know some of my questions do not belong in the forum but I hope that somebody can still help me. I have moved to the UK in January and opened a Silver Account with Lloyds TSB. In February I took out a 24 months contract with Three for an iPhone. I have now changed to Barclays and got a Premier Life account as it suits my lifestyle and it is worth the £25 a month for me.

Being new to the UK I am trying to build up my credit as I would like to get a loan in the future for my master and then a mortgage etc. My friend suggested that the best thing is to get a credit card to build up my credit rating as I don't pay any rent, household bills etc. so there is nothing on my "profile" that could show that I am credit worthy. I was turned down for one of the "New to the UK" credit cards and I was told to try and get my credit file. I used experian and tipped in all my details. They then said that they already had somebody with my name on their database and the details match (Name, DOB, Nationality). Now: It seems like that somebody has stolen my identity and opened several bank accounts etc. in the past with my details. I've had my passport stolen in the UK a few years ago when I was here on holidays. Not only did somebody open a bank accounts with my name and my details but also they took out mobile phone contracts and other things which they haven't paid for and "I" have many defaults in my name.

I need to phone them back tomorrow and I was just wondering what I can do for identity fraud in this country.

Thanks

innovate

Is it possible that someone has exactly the same name, DOB and nationality as you?

Surely, if you managed to get accounts at Lloyds, Three, and Barclays, you have passed credit checks, very likely with Experian, before. Also, the banks and Three would most likely have reported one or more monthly updates about your account statuses by now.

So the Experian record "that they already had somebody with my name on their database and the details match" is probably yours? As the holder of bank accounts and a phone contract, you would expect that your details will be held by Experian.

How do you know that "Not only did somebody open a bank accounts with my name and my details but also they took out mobile phone contracts and other things which they haven't paid for and "I" have many defaults in my name."?

If you are sure that someone stole your ID, you should go to the Police.

NJE

innovate wrote: »

Is it possible that someone has exactly the same name, DOB and nationality as you?

My name, DOB and nationality is on my passport which was stolen a few years ago. I did report it to the police but there weren't very helpful at all.

innovate wrote: »

Surely, if you managed to get accounts at Lloyds, Three, and Barclays, you have passed credit checks, very likely with Experian, before. Also, the banks and Three would most likely have reported one or more monthly updates about your account statuses by now.

I have accessed my credit file with Callcredit and it was fine. There were only the "accounts" on it I was aware of.

Experian asked me to contact them which I did and they informed me about the other account under the same name, which they assumed was mine. I didn't live in the UK from 2008 until last year. I can easily proof this as I worked and attented college in another country.

innovate

It sounds like you haven't yet seen the Experian record, and you say Experian assume the record they have about you is yours.

You say your Callcredit records look fine - therefore there is something like a 99% likelihood that your Experian record is also fine.

If there was an imposter, Callcredit would know about them, too. So there is next to zero likelihood that "Not only did somebody open a bank accounts with my name and my details but also they took out mobile phone contracts and other things which they haven't paid for and "I" have many defaults in my name."

Just call Experian, as they asked you to. They probably have some very simple questions you won't have any trouble answering.