Hitachi Capital Letter - Someone Using My Wife's Details?

Digiknight

We got a letter recently from Hitachi capital (HPF Personal Loan?), addressed to my wife using her maiden name (which she has changed on bank details but still has on some existing credit). It said that they were contacting her about a loan she has tried to take out, wanting to confirm the details.

We have made no such application (or any loan or credit application for years). The letter had asked us to call a number and select option 2, I became suspicious at this point as the number was not the same as on the website. However my wife called the number on the website (not the one stated in the letter) and they confirmed that the number on the letter was theirs, used by their retail arm. They also confirmed my wife's details (getting them to read us the DoB, etc, rather than us giving it to them).

They cancelled the credit application, and have now sent out a letter requesting information

The paragraph in question says

This information is for security reasons only, for example if an application for credit facilities is received and your name and address details are used again I am able to advise the finance company concerned of the security identification. This will enable them to identify if it is you or the fraudster applying for credit.

They then request the following info

• Mothers Maiden Name
• Employment and Occupation
• Email Address
• DoB
• Password
• Any other info

Now all this SEEMS legit, but at the back of my mind there is a warning alarm going off. Has anyone any knowledge if this is legit? Has someone genuinely used my wife's details to try claim credit, and this is a company genuinely trying to help, or by replying to this letter are we providing info to people we don't want to have it?

creativemieu

I agree that it does seem as if they are collecting information that could so easily be used for fraud rather than to prevent fraud. What a world we live in! But they have put it in writing and if all the address details etc stack up as correct then it could be legit. I wonder if there is anywhere you can register an attempted fraud (perhaps the credit ref agencies) That way you are covering yourself against another attempt via another finance company.