Fraud Prevention Databases

starM

Hi,

This is a question for my relative.

Does anyone know how long details are held at Synectics Solutions?

I know CIFAS keep the details for 6 years but I am not about Synthetics.

Anyone has any examples what data is held at Synthetics?

Thanks
MS

agrinnall

Never heard of them before this. Could your relative submit a SAR to Synetics (not Synthetics, it's always best to get the company name right when asking them for information!)?


Just noticed I've fallen into my own trap, it is of course Synectics. I wonder what genius come up with a company name that is so difficult to get right?

Ed-1

starM wrote: »

Hi,

This is a question for my relative.

Does anyone know how long details are held at Synectics Solutions?

I know CIFAS keep the details for 6 years but I am not about Synthetics.

Anyone has any examples what data is held at Synthetics?

Thanks
MS

It holds limited fields of details off applications made to institutions who are members of Synectics Solutions. It holds name, single/joint application, date of birth, address, phone number (home and mobile) and email address details provided on an application.

It also holds the status of an application which is set by the loading member institution which can either be 'clear' (if the loading member found nothing untoward or out of the ordinary with the application) or 'refer' if they felt there was something out of the ordinary or felt the need to investigate it further and wanted to warn other members that they may wish to look closer into any applications they receive that match those details. Any applications marked 'clear' stay on the database for 2 years. Anything marked 'refer' stays on for 6 years.

starM

Ed-1 wrote: »

It holds limited fields of details off applications made to institutions who are members of Synectics Solutions. It holds name, single/joint application, date of birth, address, phone number (home and mobile) and email address details provided on an application.

It also holds the status of an application which is set by the loading member institution which can either be 'clear' (if the loading member found nothing untoward or out of the ordinary with the application) or 'refer' if they felt there was something out of the ordinary of felt the need to investigate it further and wanted to warn other members that they may wish to look closer into any applications they recieve that match those details. Any applications marked 'clear' stay on the database for 2 years. Anything marked 'refer' stays on for 6 years.

Thanks for this. So if the database shows Refer on previous application will that mean any new application made will be automatically be referred for further checks?

FAQ says:- Who processes the CIFAS information?

The CIFAS database is held by Synectics Solutions and four other fraud prevention agencies below. It is processed by these agencies to allow access by companies such as banks, building societies and insurance companies when processing your application for their services.

So obviously that means if Synectics databased is checked by financial institution they will also provide any CIFAS data if held.

The bank my relative applied with appealed and received the following response:-

Thank you again for your time – and I hope we will be able to resolve the discrepancy you believe is currently showing, so that we can open your account.

Thank you for your application. After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we are unable to approve your request at this time. Our decision was based in whole or in part on information obtained from the Credit Reference Agency ('CRA') and Fraud Prevention Databases (‘FPD’) listed below. Please see Terms 2.1 and 2.2 of our ‘Our Service Relationship with Personal Customers’ brochure for more information about how we make lending and customer acceptance decisions. We will not tell CRAs that we have declined your application. Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you have a right to know the information contained in your credit file at the CRA. Whilst we referred to information from the records the CRA holds about you, the CRA played no part in our decision and is unable to supply specific reasons why we have declined your application.

You have a right to a copy of your report from the CRA for a fee of £2 which is payable directly to them. If you find that any information contained in the report you receive is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to ask the CRA to correct the information.

You may learn more about the information the CRA and FPDs hold about you by contacting them at the addresses below.

CRA
Equifax Plc

FPD
Synectics Solutions Ltd

It looks they have found some discrepancy which resulted in decling the application.

Ed-1

starM wrote: »

Thanks for this. So if the database shows Refer on previous application will that mean any new application made will be automatically be referred for further checks?

FAQ says:- Who processes the CIFAS information?

The CIFAS database is held by Synectics Solutions and four other fraud prevention agencies below. It is processed by these agencies to allow access by companies such as banks, building societies and insurance companies when processing your application for their services.

So obviously that means if Synectics databased is checked by financial institution they will also provide any CIFAS data if held.

The bank my relative applied with appealed and received the following response:-

Thank you again for your time – and I hope we will be able to resolve the discrepancy you believe is currently showing, so that we can open your account.

Thank you for your application. After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we are unable to approve your request at this time. Our decision was based in whole or in part on information obtained from the Credit Reference Agency ('CRA') and Fraud Prevention Databases (‘FPD’) listed below. Please see Terms 2.1 and 2.2 of our ‘Our Service Relationship with Personal Customers’ brochure for more information about how we make lending and customer acceptance decisions. We will not tell CRAs that we have declined your application. Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you have a right to know the information contained in your credit file at the CRA. Whilst we referred to information from the records the CRA holds about you, the CRA played no part in our decision and is unable to supply specific reasons why we have declined your application.

You have a right to a copy of your report from the CRA for a fee of £2 which is payable directly to them. If you find that any information contained in the report you receive is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to ask the CRA to correct the information.

You may learn more about the information the CRA and FPDs hold about you by contacting them at the addresses below.

CRA
Equifax Plc

FPD
Synectics Solutions Ltd

It looks they have found some discrepancy which resulted in decling the application.

Which bank was it (not many use Equifax)? The best way forward is to make a subject access request to Synectics Solutions using this form to see what applications are on there and what the statuses are. It won't contain any information held on the CIFAS database although lenders can get feeds from the CIFAS database when checking other databases. If they haven't mentioned CIFAS that's probably not the issue.

I'm not sure whether a refer status 'flags up' to a lender when you make an application but I assume it will do as that's the purpose of it (to warn other members that they may wish to take a closer look into applications with those details) but that may not be the issue - it may be inconsistencies in the details held on the database and the information supplied on the application. The only way to find out is to do a subject access request to Synectics.

TSx

Just to add, Synectics database (SIRA) doesn't just contain details of financial applications - we use it to record details of insurance policies and claims, and where there is fraud this will be flagged up on the database. I assume that banks can see these details as we can see details of fraud which has been flagged by the banks.

GingerBob_3

TSx wrote: »

Just to add, Synectics database (SIRA) doesn't just contain details of financial applications - we use it to record details of insurance policies and claims, and where there is fraud this will be flagged up on the database. I assume that banks can see these details as we can see details of fraud which has been flagged by the banks.

Fraud, suspected fraud, or both?

gunsandbanjos

GingerBob wrote: »

Fraud, suspected fraud, or both?

Confirmed fraud or inconsistent applications.

GingerBob_3

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

Confirmed fraud or inconsistent applications.

Quite. These bum data-raping organisations conflate criminality with mistakes, some of which will be honest mistakes. They need a bloody good sorting out.

Ed-1

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

Confirmed fraud or inconsistent applications.

But how is the distinction made on the database if all the loading member can do is set the status to refer or clear? Refer for something out of the ordinary with an application. Refer for confirmed fraud on an existing account or application. Anyone looking at the data won't be able to tell if there was fraud or not unless they check CIFAS.

colsten

GingerBob wrote: »

Quite. These bum data-raping organisations conflate criminality with mistakes, some of which will be honest mistakes. They need a bloody good sorting out.

I love the idea of 'dishonest mistakes'.

Don't love the foul language though.