Fraud Help - Barclays Partner Finance

mycastle

I received a letter in the post saying that a direct debit that I had apparently tried to set up had not been set up so they wanted me to provide different payment details

It appears that some one has taken out a finance agreement in my name.

It appeared to be from my bank (same letter head), so I thought it strange that they would ask for my details as my funnily enough my bank have all my account details.

So I went to my bank and reported it and the lady at the desk called the number on the letter (saying she recognised it and that it is a legitimate branch of the bank) and gave over a host of other information to the lady at the other end

BFP have now sent me a letter asking for various personal information that is largely held by my bank already. I find this most strange because -
1. Surely writing down and posting all my private details to BFP is a potential leak of my information that a fraudster could use to take out further finance and purchase (e.g. what happens if the letter gets lost/intercepted in the post)
2. They (my bank) hold this information already.

I'm just not comfortable with this but phoning them I get passed from department to department and put on hold for my entire lunch break........and they are closed from 5pm and at weekends...................it's like they dont want to be contacted and it really rings alarm bells.

Any advice or any ideas where to go for advice on this please or anyone with any experience in this problem would be appreciated

This is most worrying and stressful

Pixie5740

Is a credit search for BPF showing on any of your credit files?

Ben8282

Surely if you have been into a branch about this somebody would have told you what this finance agreement is by now?
Also if they have written to you the letter must contain some sort of reference or information to enable them to easily trace the account?
Would suggest you ask in branch:
What sort of credit agreement does this letter refer to?
If a loan, where has the money gone as it has not been paid into my account?
Why were you unable to set up a direct debit using the information which appears to have been provided?
and, most importantly, I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS.

mycastle

Yes there is a BPF search - but under their alternative name of Clydesdale Finance

mycastle

Branch are pretty useless and just call the number on the letter, they even have to wait ages on hold like normal ppl would - no special hotline

jonesMUFCforever

BPF and Barclays are not run under the same umbrella so won't have access to any of your personal Barclays account details.

(Similarly Lloyds and BHF operate this way)

mycastle

Thanks Jones

They present themselves as the same company - this looks very shady to me.

Its just coincidental that the loan agreement is with BPF and that B are also my bank

I am even more concerned about the personal data that an unknown company wants to coerce out of me - under the guise of being MY bank too

Any advice on what to do

jonesMUFCforever

mycastle wrote: »

Thanks Jones

They present themselves as the same company - this looks very shady to me.

Its just coincidental that the loan agreement is with BPF and that B are also my bank

I am even more concerned about the personal data that an unknown company wants to coerce out of me - under the guise of being MY bank too

Any advice on what to do

Co-operate with them - if you don't you may be the one accused of fraud.
They will know how they paid the money out - if it was a cheque then they can get the details, if it was an electronic payment a trail will exist.
It is important that you check your credit files in case someone has also opened a bank account in your name to receive the funds.

mycastle

It looks like its a phone or tablet device or contract - Apple are in the description so there is no actual money or transfer or moneys

Im worried that they will just use the information I give them to amend the file so it looks like they were give the correct information.

Also im worried about how they are asking for it - to send all information in a single letter that could be intercepted and cause me greater problems

jonesMUFCforever

mycastle wrote: »

It looks like its a phone or tablet device or contract - Apple are in the description so there is no actual money or transfer or moneys

Im worried that they will just use the information I give them to amend the file so it looks like they were give the correct information.

Also im worried about how they are asking for it - to send all information in a single letter that could be intercepted and cause me greater problems

From their point of view you might be trying it on .....could you not?, or perhaps you have suspicions of someone close to home who might have used your details.

Up to you really - if it was me I would be co-operating.

Candyapple

mycastle wrote: »

It looks like its a phone or tablet device or contract - Apple are in the description so there is no actual money or transfer or moneys

From Apple's website: Important: Your delivery address and billing address must match to apply for financing.

Do you live with anyone else? The only other way of getting finance would be in person at an Apple store.