Advice on getting fraud removed from my credit file?

sammy1989

I'll try to make this as short as possible. A brother of mine, took out a lot of debt on my name. Without me knowing at the time. He sadly did the same to my mother, in the process wiping out her entire life savings. The knock on effect is that we both now have terrible credit files.

He has moved to Canada. Regrettably we did try to help him. However all this lead to was making the problem worst for all of us. I have probably lost around 10k in money taken, and my mother has lost about 100k. However, knowing that this money has now gone and there is nothing we can do to get it back, we are trying to be positive.

So the question is, how can we go about getting the fraud removed from our credit files? It's the most embarrassing thing, being turned down for a credit card when you earn a decent living and have never racked up any debt in your life.

Thanks for help in advance.

lindann_2

l am sure when you found the fraud, they would ask why did you not report it to the police.. l can understand why you tried to help him, it is awful that this has happen to your mum, also to yourself. l think fraud is a crime, has this happen recently?... someone maybe more knowledgeable, can answer this

sammy1989

The honest answer is a long one. Neither I nor my Mother knew the extent to what had happened until we did experian credit checks. Now I know this is no excuse, but I think that we thought that we could sort this out as a family. Obviously this hasn't helped.

I am in the terratorial army, and did a tour of afghan before I really realised what was going on. And then I sort of felt lost and didn't know what to do.

The honest truth is, I shall call the experian people up tomorrow. I don't know if it is going to be an impossible case to sort this out. However as far as I am concerned if I have not taken out the debt I can't be held legally responsible for it. Can I?

Both my Mother and I are happy to give police statements if need's be.

Tixy

You can put a notice of correction on your credit files to state that these are not accounts opened by you and that they are fraudulent (not just experian you'll likely need to check equifax and noddle as well).
The notice of correction doesn't do a great deal and doesn't remove the data but it does warn anyone looking at your file that there is a question over the accuracy.

Have you contacted the creditors for each account in writing to notify them of the fraud and dispute the liability? That way they can at least start their investigations.

sammy1989

Tixy wrote: »

You can put a notice of correction on your credit files to state that these are not accounts opened by you and that they are fraudulent (not just experian you'll likely need to check equifax and noddle as well).
The notice of correction doesn't do a great deal and doesn't remove the data but it does warn anyone looking at your file that there is a question over the accuracy.

Have you contacted the creditors for each account in writing to notify them of the fraud and dispute the liability? That way they can at least start their investigations.

No. I called up O2, one of the companies and was told they would call me back, but the never did. They just sold the debt to someone else.

Is that really all I can do? So given I have not taken out this debt, I can't have it removed from my rating? Surely the data protection act, says it has to be accurate, and surely if it isn't my debt it's not accurate... Or am I on a hiding to nothing? Thanks

Tixy

The only way to remove it from your file is to convince the creditors that the debts are not yous and were not taken out by you. It is they who have the ability to remove them from your file.

Their investigations will likely take a while, which is why it might be worth filing a notice of correction on your file in the meantime.

Experian_company_representative

This is technically ID fraud and, if you contact one of the CRAs and explain this, all three will offer you support to set the record straight. We work together to help victims of fraud and will be able to contact the lenders involved on your behalf.

James Jones

teffers

No advice to give Sammy, just wanted to say I really hope you can get some resolution and get the files cleared.

All the best dude.

sammy1989

Experian_company_representative wrote: »

This is technically ID fraud and, if you contact one of the CRAs and explain this, all three will offer you support to set the record straight. We work together to help victims of fraud and will be able to contact the lenders involved on your behalf.

James Jones

Thanks for the info. I shall contact one today. Random question, but will there be a cost for me to get this info removed? Thanks