Fraud being Committed at Address

Di_B

I could really do with some advice from anyone out there!

My mother lives alone and has been at the same house for 20 years. In that time, my father, myself and one lodger have lived there.

In the last few months, my mother has been receiving a number of letters:

1. Mrs H - Taking out an Orange contract
2. Mr H - Taking out a Barclays Bank Account
3. Mr H - A bill for £80 with the phone company 3

Now there never has been a Mr or Mrs H living at my mothers address.
She is a deaf/blind and disabled pensioner and is making herself ill over this.

I have contacted each company directly by phone to explain the situation. Every time, they have already noticed that there was a problem with the account, (but they won't tell me what) and have closed them.

I have also contacted Experian and advised them of what is going on. They have said they will make a note on that people called H do not live at my Mum's address (Thanks Experian!)

Is there anything else I can do? The police won't help as my mother isn't a victim of fraud - the companies are.... but the companies aren't the ones crying themselves to sleep scared that someone is going to break into their homes for money now....which is what my Mum is thinking, bless!

Many thanks to anyone taking the time to respond :-)

rtho782

Why would someone break into your mother's home for money? She owes no money, I probably wouldn't even bother informing the companies in question.

usignuolo

Of course it is worrying for an elderly pensioner. Have you tried explaining that they are only using her address to obtain stuff, online I imagine and will not be coming round because that is not their intention.

DCFC79

Di_B wrote: »

I have contacted each company directly by phone to explain the situation. Every time, they have already noticed that there was a problem with the account, (but they won't tell me what) and have closed them.

I have also contacted Experian and advised them of what is going on. They have said they will make a note on that people called H do not live at my Mum's address (Thanks Experian!)

They aren't obliged to tell you of the problem with the account, you did your bit by infoming them.

Di_B wrote: »

Is there anything else I can do? The police won't help as my mother isn't a victim of fraud - the companies are.... but the companies aren't the ones crying themselves to sleep scared that someone is going to break into their homes for money now....which is what my Mum is thinking, bless!

Many thanks to anyone taking the time to respond :-)

Its just a cash of someone using the address to take out a phone contract and a bank account, why didnt they carry out a credit check (thought you had to prove this especially for a bank account)

I take it you have checked the land registry details ?

usignuolo

rtho782 wrote: »

Why would someone break into your mother's home for money? She owes no money, I probably wouldn't even bother informing the companies in question.

I don't see the point of this answer. The posters mother is presumably frightened that the next step from using her address falsely to obtain goods, the people doing this may come round and steal from her. Not that the companies concerned will send someone to break in.

And of course you need to tell the companies concerned if your address is being used to obtain goods or services illegally.

Mojisola

Di_B wrote: »

She is a deaf/blind and disabled pensioner and is making herself ill over this.

Is there anything else I can do? The police won't help as my mother isn't a victim of fraud - the companies are.... but the companies aren't the ones crying themselves to sleep scared that someone is going to break into their homes for money now....which is what my Mum is thinking, bless!

I expect she's thinking that the bailiffs will turn up and take away some of her possessions.

Jonboy_1984

Have you checked if the H's appear on the electoral roll at the address?

Morrow1984

Hi,

Your best bet is to reassure you mother that no one will be coming to try and enter her home. First off baliffs do not have the legal right to force entry to your home except in very specific circumstance and only then after a long and formal process. I'd link you some info on bailiffs rights but i can't use links as a new user so i could suggest you google it and have a look at the gov.uk site or the CAB.

Bailiffs are allowed to force their way into your home to collect unpaid criminal fines, Income Tax or Stamp Duty, but only as a last resort.

As it is none of the above there will be no forced entry.

Also the companies will put a mark on the file to say that the address is incorrect for that person and also mark that person down for suspected fraud so they'll find it very hard to setup any new accounts in the future.

Di_B

Surprised at a couple of the comments here - very flippant about the situation that is causing someone to feel suicidal :-(

To explain further:
My Mum is scared that Mr/Mrs H know where she lives and might come and get her.
You might laugh and think it is pathetic - and I know that she is being silly, but to someone living along who is old, deaf and blind, the fear is very real. She has blown things totally out of proportion and won't believe me when I tell her it is ok (as letters keep coming) and I am struggling to make her feel safe. It isn't the money that is a problem. It is someone making her feel unsafe in her property by using the address.
All of these letters are making her sick and afraid to go out. This isn't funny. It is affecting her health.
This is why I bother contacting the companies! That, and to courteously advise them they are vitims of fraud of course.

The Current Situation:
So far, there has been no bailiffs - I have no idea how these peple passed a credit check.
Realistically, this is just a nuisance at the moment. But, it is a long term pressure that no one would like to deal with.
The sooner I can nip it in the bud the happier we will all be.

Thanks:
I never thought about checking the electoral role - thank you for that very useful advice :-)
Then again, my Mum gets council tax benefit due to disabilities and I would have thought this would have been impacted? Neverthless - it's a route I will check!

Thank you to those who state the companies are putting marks for potential fraud on files - that is my hope (and the fact I have contacted Experian personally should also help).

Does anyone else have any helpful ideas on how I can pro-actively help to stop these bills coming to my Mum?
This is purely to allow her to sleep at night - it is not a direct financial worry.

Thanks again to those that have tried to assist - it is appreciated I assure you :-)

Di_B

DCFC79 wrote: »

I take it you have checked the land registry details ?

What land registry details would I need to check?
My Mother has the deeds to the house and land?

Thanks

StuC75

As long as your mother isn't called Mrs H, then the fraudsters have no idea who is living there, anymore than they know who lives next door to here. As long as they are not ordering things to be delivered there, then the fraudsters have no link or likelihood of needing to be anywhere near there..