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Fraud affecting credit rating

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Hello, I am posting on behalf of my husband. His account of the situation is below:

I began receiving letters from a debt company in 2016 stating I owed more than £6000 on a
credit card that had been taken out with Barclays bank. I have no knowledge of this credit card, I
have never used this credit card and I have no details for this card. I believe this credit card was
fraudulently taken out in my name by my brother who has admitted to being the one who has
used the card and who has applied for credit in my name in the past (without my knowledge). I
reported the fraud to the police who would not help - they said they I am not the victim but that
Barclays is the victim and it is up to them to investigate. I have attempted to contact Barclays by
phone several times and most of the time they have refused to talk to me as I do not have any of
the passwords for the account and therefore they do not believe I am the person named on the
account. During one phone call they gave me some of the details on the account such as the
email address and previous addresses which all relate to my brother. About a month ago I visited
my local branch of Barclays who were able to phone the fraud team for me and were able to
verify to the person on the phone that I am the person named on the account as they were able
to check my ID. The fraud team agreed that the debt was not mine. They stated that the default would be removed from my account within 14 days and that I should receive letters from
Barclays and Hoist Portfolio/Robinson Way (the debt company) in that time. I have not received any
letters nor has the default been removed from my credit report. I have begun sending out complaint
letters to Barclays and Hoist Portfolio/Robinson Way (see attached file) but I have had no response.
I have even considered taking legal action as I have no idea where to turn and no one seems to be
able to help me. I believe if I could access the statements for the credit card to see the transations I
would be able to prove that I was not the one who made the transactions but Barclays have
prevented me from having access to the statements due to the account being closed. I believe that
this information must still exist somewhere and that there must be some way to provide me with
access to the account statements. This has been going on for more than a year now and nothing
has been done to resolve the situation. When I phoned Barclays this weekend they were able to tell
me that something was happening with the account but could give me no further information. Again
they don't believe I am the account holder as I have no passwords for the account which is due to
the account being opened by another person in my name. I am hoping to purchase my first house in
the very near future but this will be impossible with a default on my credit report.

Any adivce would be appraciated. Thanks!

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 35,242 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Continue to escalate it with Barclays but also raise a dispute with the CRAs.

    Let Barclays know you will also take it to FOS if they don't resolve it.
  • Arleen
    Arleen Posts: 1,164 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It's not your account.

    When he visited the bank, did they give him something in writing to confirm what you are saying here? If not, make another trip and demand confirmation in writing of what they've said.

    Also call Action Fraud as they can take details of your case and advise specifically where to go, what to say and what to do. They website also has very handy steps that you should do as a victim: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud_protection/identity_fraud

    Just keep in mind that this will take time to clear, sadly this is rather complex crime and takes time to untangle.
  • Thank you for the responses. My husband reported it to action fraud who said he is not the victim but Barclays is and it is up to them to investigate. When he visited the branch they didn't give him anything in writing, they had telephoned the fraud team who stated he should receive a letter within 14 days and that the default would be removed from his credit report but neither of these things have happened. We have now sent complaints to Barclays, the debt company, the financial ombudsman and the information commissioner. I guess it's now just a case of waiting for responses. It's just very frustrating as the family member who opened the account in my husbands name is actually quite well off and is living a life of luxury whilst we have been left with this debt and unable to get a mortgage.
  • Arleen
    Arleen Posts: 1,164 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I feel your pain, but this sadly will take time, there is little more you can do right now as you've notified everyone you should have. The justice will come to him, as id theft and credit fraud are pretty serious crimes, and police will be knocking down his door soon enough.

    The best way to go about the waiting game is to remember that at the end of it you will be brought back to where you were before, so you can then apply for mortgage and have the same chances of success as if this never happened.
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