Nationwide new account - BEWARE

MummyOf1_2

I went in to my local branch the other day with my application for a flex account, i had application filled in along with my passport and utility bill, i handed it to the woman and she said your on the electoral roll so i don't need any more information from you, i said but do you not want to look at my passport to get a copy etc she said NO.

i phoned up my branch today to see what they could offer me with regards to debit card,OD etc they said i scored poorly on their very own credit score so i would only get a cashcard, im with the halifax and they give me everything and iv even seen my credit report and have no problems with debt.

I have now spoken to head office who have told me what they have done is seriously wrong, people these days can't get credit as it is but to walk in with someones, name, address, and date of birth and be able to open up an account without your knowledge is scary to say the least.

I feel like going to the papers lol but seriously it just shows you how stupid people can be, watch out it could be you next.

LittleVoice

Beware of what?

MummyOf1_2

That they don't check people for id etc before opening up accounts. how would you feel if someone could open up an account and spend money in your name without your consent?

LittleVoice

From your story, how would that happen?

Or would all the things that enable someone to spend money (card, cheques, web log-in information) not be sent to your address?

MummyOf1_2

Well tell me then why anybody can go in a bank with your name etc and open up an account with no problem? you work it out

MummyOf1_2

I am making people aware that it has happened to me it can happen to anyone. God help you if it happens to you, your tune will change then no doubt

LittleVoice

Was your original post saying that someone had opened an account in your name without your knowledge? If so, why were you contacting them about getting a card if it was someone else who had opened the account?

Was there supposed to be something else between paragraphs 2 and 3?

MummyOf1 wrote: »

I went in to my local branch the other day with my application for a flex account, i had application filled in along with my passport and utility bill, i handed it to the woman and she said your on the electoral roll so i don't need any more information from you, i said but do you not want to look at my passport to get a copy etc she said NO.

i phoned up my branch today to see what they could offer me with regards to debit card,OD etc they said i scored poorly on their very own credit score so i would only get a cashcard, im with the halifax and they give me everything and iv even seen my credit report and have no problems with debt.

I have now spoken to head office who have told me what they have done is seriously wrong, people these days can't get credit as it is but to walk in with someones, name, address, and date of birth and be able to open up an account without your knowledge is scary to say the least.

I feel like going to the papers lol but seriously it just shows you how stupid people can be, watch out it could be you next.

LisaT186

It is scary but as little voice said, all the info would be sent to your address so you would likely be aware of it.

Having said that a friend of mine suffered terrible problems when someone watching her house realised that her and her partner always left the house at 7:00am well before the postman and didn't return until 6:00pm at the earliest. This bloke then got their details from the electoral register and started intercepting the postman by 'doing the gardening' at the time he was due to arrive. The thief then removed the mail to do with things he had applied for and posted the rest through their door. They didn't know a thing until they applied for a mortgage to move and were refused. A copy of their credit file showed up loads of unapplied for credit. As the police were unravelling it they discovered that the postman thought the 'thief' was the owner of the house. Very very frightening.

This was about 10 years ago, but electoral registers are available viewing so it wouldn't be very difficult to do! The OP has a valid point.

regularsaver1

were you a total new customer to Nationwide?

Electorol roll search can some times be used for either name and address - depending on bank/bs

Sounds like you made the genuine application as you were informed about the card. But surprised they did not need more id.

I suspect if you did want to go with the account that was offered, that more id would be required

pinkfluffybabe

I don't think there is anything wrong with the OP being concerned that her ID apparantly wasn't needed and she was warning others that banks are doing this.

LittleVoice

As I understand the story, the account that was offered with the level of ID provided was a cashcard account. I believe this allows only withdrawals of existing credit balances. The account cannot be overdrawn. Therefore it doesn't seem a likely proposition for someone wanting to carry out a fraud.

OTOH, it was not the account the OP wanted and it seems NW didn't handle that request very well.