Please help - Being accused of fraud

Wadsworth

ValHaller wrote: »

So have you had defaults? (Even if you have, I still think that there are arguments to make, although they are more difficult)

Unfortunately, yes I have defaults on my file.

The funny thing is, having these defaults would never have affected my ability to do the job I applied for, or any job for that matter. This letter has made me feel like a crook. I would never have done anyone a bad turn - ever.

This kind of thing makes you feel like throwing in the towel.

ValHaller

Wadsworth wrote: »

Unfortunately, yes I have defaults on my file.

The funny thing is, having these defaults would never have affected my ability to do the job I applied for, or any job for that matter. This letter has made me feel like a crook. I would never have done anyone a bad turn - ever.

This kind of thing makes you feel like throwing in the towel.

OK, the line to take is that you answered a compound question carelessly and made a simple mistake. If they intend to put you on to a fraud database, they should have asked the question again at interview to distinguish between a simple error and an intention to defraud. By failing to do this, they are processing your data unfairly.

The other thing to mention is that if the defaults are more than 6 years old, they should not be on your file. And if you have since settled them in full, you have a weak but usable argument that as the defaults have been resolved, you don't regard yourself as being in default at the time of filling out the application.

Wadsworth

Thanks to everyone who has responded to me.

I will find out what the outcome will be to this next week. The only thing I can do is wait and take it from there.

I wish my defaults were over 6 years old, but they are not and I am not in a position to start putting them right at the moment.

It is like a whirlwind that you can't get out of... Need a job to repair bad credit, won't give you a job because of bad credit...

I'll let you know what next week brings.

Thanks again.

datlex

I hope everything works out. Seems really nasty to me for them to report you for fraud! They could have just turned down your application. Not like you were trying to borrow money unfairly.

MoneySaverLog

Wadsworth wrote: »

Have you ever had any defaults, County Court Judgements (CCJ's) or bad credit history?

The "Have you ever" part would stop this application dead forever, not just the 6 years that the defaults are on your file.

This is discrimination. Hope it goes well for you.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Cifas markers stay on your credit file for 12 months normally. Not 6 years

ibz75

kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »

Cifas markers stay on your credit file for 12 months normally. Not 6 years

It may not help the OP get any further credit, but do all financial institutions do a 'credit check' as part of a job application?

Never understood the full impact of such a marker. Does it actually mean 'fraud' and no chance, or as the CRA's explain, its more detailed checks by lenders to confirm who you are.

Best of luck OP, does seem extremely harsh.

MoneySaverLog

Not all companies do a financial credit check. Most financial institutions do though, they should tell you if they are going to do one.

A CIFAS marker, for anything other than Cat 0 or Cat 2 is a nasty little beast and is a lot more serious as banks have been known to close accounts when they find out about it.

brendon

There is something called the 'Staff Fraud Database'. You can find out more from this page: http://www.cifas.org.uk/CIFAS_Staff_Fraud_Database

It seems that if you are put on this database, you will have no problems with applying for credit, bank accounts, etc. I believe this data is only used with respect to employment at a bank.

It may be worth clarifying which database you are being placed on.

ValHaller

brendon wrote: »

There is something called the 'Staff Fraud Database'. You can find out more from this page: http://www.cifas.org.uk/CIFAS_Staff_Fraud_Database

It seems that if you are put on this database, you will have no problems with applying for credit, bank accounts, etc. I believe this data is only used with respect to employment at a bank.

It may be worth clarifying which database you are being placed on.

Very helpful! From the linked article

Participating organisations would access the database for the purposes of filing data about their confirmed staff fraud cases and double checking potential employees against records of proven staff fraud cases filed by other CIFAS Staff Fraud Members.

In order for a record to be put onto the Staff Fraud Database, a 'standard of proof' is required. This means that participating organisations must file records that are: Composed of factual and accurate information only.

• The Staff Fraud Database Member must have sufficient clear evidence of wrongdoing to have reasonable grounds to press criminal charges if a suspect was traced.
• Staff Fraud Database Member must be willing to make a full report to the police.
• A criminal offence must be identifiable.

So it would be quite wrong to put OP on this database!