Advice Please : Mystery linked address, mis-traced accounts and rectifying my credit

kush_p

Hi all,

For the past year I started to receive debt letters for accounts I had never once opened myself. These were accounts that had first names similar to mine, but with different spelling variations and contrasting middle names. Only the surname was similar to my own.

Digging deeper with only the information from these letters, I contacted Santander, one of the banks that I supposedly owned money too, despite never opening or banking with Santander. I was informed by the fraud team that a trace looking for the defaulter had gone to my home address.

To understand the problem more I accessed my three credit files, Experian, Call Credit and Equifax. Both Experian and Call Credit showed up with clean credit statuses. However Equifax showed something different. Under my correctly spelt name and address, my credit file was clean, bar the Santander account that was defaulted. In addition, there seemed to have been a linked address onto my credit file in which I had no association or acknowledgement off. Under this linked address, this person had a similar but differently spelt name that was identical to the name's on the debt collections letters I previously mentioned. He also had the same date of birth as me, which makes me question if this is a case of identity theft. The accounts associated with the linked address highlight that these defaulted accounts were opened during a time when I was at university. They were opened up north, whilst I was studying down south. I was away at University for four years and have proof that I have never lived at the linked address. As all my correspondences went to my parental home address, so my university addresses are not on my credit file.

Under the linked address, these defaulted accounts included one from T-Mobile and EE account opened three years ago. Nevertheless, I've been with Orange and then EE for the past five years, always paying my phone bills on time and was baffled to how a T-mobile/EE account was created. Speaking to T-Mobile, I was informed that this could not have been a fraudulent account as the person was paying on time at first.

On all the accounts under this linked address, it seemed as the person would pay accordingly for a few months, and then default owing large sums of money. In addition the Santander account opened under this linked address after a month was then then moved under my home address on my credit file. I've spoked to Santander fraud department, yet they have failed to come back to me on many occasions with a adequate answer. Equifax has also been informed about the linked address, and have so far done nothing to remove it from my credit file. They also informed me that Santander came back to them stating that there is nothing wrong with the account.

I have also attained a CIFAS protective registration on my credit file so it will be harder for anyone to out credit in my name.

This is a situation that has caused much distress. My suspicions are that this is an individual that has opened these accounts, vanished from the system and these institutions are looking for someone to pay of his debts. If anyone has any knowledge on this situation and what to do next in removing this linked address with these debts, it would be much appreciated.

Tixy

I would start by writing to the creditor of each of these accounts, including santander, stating that the accounts are not yours and you have never used that alias or lived at that address and that you therefore require that they remove their entry from your credit file.

It could be identity theft or could easily be just a mistrace by one of the creditors, that has then been seen by the other creditors.

kush_p

Dear Tixy

I'd like to thank you for your advice here. It's very much appreciated. I will now write to the creditor of each of these accounts to remove their entry from my credit file.

[Deleted User]

kush_p wrote: »

Speaking to T-Mobile, I was informed that this could not have been a fraudulent account as the person was paying on time at first.

He or she was vocalizing testicles.

JKSandy

Would the fraud action line be worth a call also?

fermi

Sounds very much like this all stemmed from Equifax forming an incorrect linked address. Possibly due to an incorrect debt collection trace.

Sadly this sort of thing does happen, and it's not always a case of fraud specific against you, but often simply CRAs and debt collectors incompetently making that link to you for accounts that never had anything to do with you apart from being under a similar name and DOB.

Was a case of this on BBC a while back, where an incorrect trace with one agency caused some poor bloke no end of hassle being chased for debts that were under a similar name and dob but never anything to do with him.

Complain to Equifax telling them that they have falsely linked you to records and accounts that have never had anything to do with you, and that if they do not remove the incorrect links and accounts from your reports then you will be taking Equifax to both the Financial Ombudsman and the Information Commissioner.

Obviously attack this from the creditors end as well to see if they can remove anything incorrect from their end.

Between to two you stand the best chance of getting somewhere sooner rather than later.

fermi

See this BBC Watchdog video: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00zdn1s

fermi

May also be worth taking to the FOS now.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumer/complaints.htm

As said there, they will often agree to write on your behalf with your complaint. Companies tend to take more notice when they write.

kush_p

Thank you for the insightful advice 'fermi'. I watched the watchdog link that you posted, and the situation is more clearer now. I will attack this from both ends with Equifax along with the creditors and FOS to get somewhere sooner.