Post redirection ID fraud

beautifulmist

I know we are on about MSE but can i highlight my recent experience.
I moved about 7 months ago and mu mum in law bought our old house. She received a letter addressed to the occupier from the Post Office saying that any post addressed to me,( although they got the initials wrong ) and my wife was to be redirected.
I spoke to the PO and to their credit they stopped it immediately and have now put a note on the system that stops it happening again.
Question is how did this happen?? you can redirect post online using a credit or debit card but that must be registered to the address of the redirection, ( they did not do that) or you go to a post office and apply with ID.

The PO only look at the id docs and if they look genuine allow the redirection, they do not keep copies or notes of what id was supplied due to the good old " Data Protection Act" and this is not governed by them but OFCOM... The ID needed has to be picture ID, passport or driving license and a utility bill or bank statement.

If they kept a copy we would have a pile of info on who tried this, alas we dont. There is a forwarding address but nothing will happen as " No crime has been committed"... bloomin bizzare isnt it.

Anyway i am now going to try and get this situation changed and would appreciate any help anyone can give me in terms of putting pressure on OFCOM, via MP's, newspapers, MSE,...basically there are ways we could stop or prevent these thieves from being able to do this. Royal Mail could keep copies of the docs securely that are destroyed afterwards, they could only action the redirection once they have written to the address and received back a signed form re- authorising the redirection ( like credit cards have to be activated by the recipient).
Any thoughts????

custardy

beautifulmist wrote: »

I know we are on about MSE but can i highlight my recent experience.
I moved about 7 months ago and mu mum in law bought our old house. She received a letter addressed to the occupier from the Post Office saying that any post addressed to me,( although they got the initials wrong ) and my wife was to be redirected.
I spoke to the PO and to their credit they stopped it immediately and have now put a note on the system that stops it happening again.
Question is how did this happen?? you can redirect post online using a credit or debit card but that must be registered to the address of the redirection, ( they did not do that) or you go to a post office and apply with ID.

The PO only look at the id docs and if they look genuine allow the redirection, they do not keep copies or notes of what id was supplied due to the good old " Data Protection Act" and this is not governed by them but OFCOM... The ID needed has to be picture ID, passport or driving license and a utility bill or bank statement.

If they kept a copy we would have a pile of info on who tried this, alas we dont. There is a forwarding address but nothing will happen as " No crime has been committed"... bloomin bizzare isnt it.

Anyway i am now going to try and get this situation changed and would appreciate any help anyone can give me in terms of putting pressure on OFCOM, via MP's, newspapers, MSE,...basically there are ways we could stop or prevent these thieves from being able to do this. Royal Mail could keep copies of the docs securely that are destroyed afterwards, they could only action the redirection once they have written to the address and received back a signed form re- authorising the redirection ( like credit cards have to be activated by the recipient).
Any thoughts????

Destroyed after what?
you realise the letter received is exactly for the this reason?
How would you 'action' a redirection when the person has moved out?

And just to clarify. you received a letter from Royal Mail

pmduk

beautifulmist wrote: »

The PO only look at the id docs and if they look genuine allow the redirection, they do not keep copies or notes of what id was supplied due to the good old " Data Protection Act" and this is not governed by them but OFCOM... The ID needed has to be picture ID, passport or driving license and a utility bill or bank statement.

I suspect they are using the data protection act inappropriately. One of the main thrusts of that act requires a company to keep accurate information. They have blatantly not done that. They've no audit trail to support their actions. I'd complain formally to postwatch, ofcom, the ICO and your MP.

Ultimately, remember the main crook here is the person who arranged the redirection.

McKneff

Maybe Ive missed it but a Redirection to where?

missile

I would be concerned as to why they wanted to redirect? Identity theft perhaps? http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_guides/identity_theft.aspx

Perhaps you should check with Experian to see if any unauthorised financial searches / transactions have been carried out. I would be taking out insurance for identity theft.

maninthestreet

This happened to John Inverdale:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1227681/Special-investigation-We-reveal-Royal-Mail-security-blunders-let-fraudster-away-multi-million-pound-con.html