Unknown account in my name

Whitee

Hi,

I was checking my credit file and came across a shop direct finance account opened in my name two Months ago which had no balance.

I've been very careful the past few years trying to build good credit etc so this random account came as a shock as I knew it was nothing I had opened.

I called up shop direct and asked them to close the account as I had not opened it. Thankfully it's not anything fraudulent from a stranger it turns out it was a family member who was rejected so applied in my name instead. Obviously I was pi***d off with this as it's dropped my credit rating and although my 'credit score' can't be seen by lenders I'm just wondering how this may affect my overall credit. Can this be removed from my file or is it there to stay? (It's a 'Very' a/c)

I'm planning on applying for a mortgage in 4 Months or so I'm just wondering how this may affect my application as it will be a fairly recent new account opened (and closed) Also if the account is there to stay on my file would I need to explain anything to a potential mortgage lender?

Thanks if anyone can shed some light!

jonesMUFCforever

How did they know that a 'family member' had opened an account in your name?

Whitee

The man on the phone read out a mobile number to me and I told him that wasn't my number and asked if that number was used on this account and he said yes - it just so happened I recognised the number

Ben8282

You need to be very careful how you proceed.
I am assuming that you don't want to involve the police and/or report this family member for fraud.
After making your feelings known to the family member concerned and putting the fear of god into them - you can judge how to best achieve this - I would suggest that you proceed as follows:
1. Make absolutely sure that the family member concerned is unable to make any further orders using the account.
2. Pay in full the outstanding balance of the account.
3. Wait until you have received a nil balance statement and ensure no trailing interest is due.
4. Close the account.
Do NOT discuss fraud, unauthorised account, unknown account etc with Very. Simply pay in full and close without further comment.

Provided that the account has been conducted correctly, no late payment etc then what has happened will have no real long term effect. It will add an extra settled account to your credit files. It will probably look a bit like you opened the account to buy something from Very, paid and closed account because you didn't need to buy anything else from them. There will be a reduction in the average age of your accounts.
Your credit score might have dropped as you say due to the hard search and the appearance of the new account but this is a very short term effect especially if the account is correctly conducted. I don't think you need to explain anything to anybody and much better for all concerned if you don't.

The only way you could have the account removed from your file is if you report your family member for fraud.

Whitee

Thanks Ben

No purchases were made so it's literally the opening of the account and closing with no purchases made.

So fustrating this has happened!

macman

Whether used for purchases or not, it's still fraud and a serious criminal offence.

Candyapple

Whitee wrote: »

Hi,

I was checking my credit file and came across a shop direct finance account opened in my name two Months ago which had no balance.

I've been very careful the past few years trying to build good credit etc so this random account came as a shock as I knew it was nothing I had opened.

I called up shop direct and asked them to close the account as I had not opened it. Thankfully it's not anything fraudulent from a stranger it turns out it was a family member who was rejected so applied in my name instead. Obviously I was pi***d off with this as it's dropped my credit rating and although my 'credit score' can't be seen by lenders I'm just wondering how this may affect my overall credit. Can this be removed from my file or is it there to stay? (It's a 'Very' a/c)

I'm planning on applying for a mortgage in 4 Months or so I'm just wondering how this may affect my application as it will be a fairly recent new account opened (and closed) Also if the account is there to stay on my file would I need to explain anything to a potential mortgage lender?

Thanks if anyone can shed some light!

When they opened the account, did they use your correct date of birth or their own? Follow Ben's advice, nothing you can do about it now, unless you want to report the person to the police?

I would also check all 3 of the CRAs to make sure that this person hasn't made other applications that you don't know about:

The free versions to check your credit files are below:
Experian: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/creditclub
Call Credit: https://www.noddle.co.uk
Equifax: https://www.clearscore.com

Was there a reason why they didn't actually spend anything after opening the Very account?

Whitee

I believe it was my date of birth used and I don't want to report this at all. All I want is it somehow removed from my file.

Could I advise the wrong name and date of birth was given by mistake? It might sound a bit far fetched but I'm not really sure how it quite works.

Not sure why no purchases were made but this wasn't done maliciously.

It's not on experian only on noddle and for some reason my clearscore account is having login issues so I'm unsure about that one.

System

The only way it can be removed from your file is if you report it as fraud to the police.

And even though no purchases were made I'm sorry but it was done maliciously. It was probably only a last minute twang of conscience that stopped them going through with it but they quite clearly thought nothing at all of deciding to commit fraud and drop you in it.

Personally I would go see them at a time you know other family members are in the house and start with the opening line "Did you think I wouldn't find out about the Shop Direct account you opened in my name?"

Whitee

Thanks for comments all.

I've had the conversation in private and asked about the account so it has politely been dealt with.

I think your advice to involve other family members and put it the way you've said (Tarambor) sounds like it would be inviting a family fued! ha

Appreciate all comments made and all help given. It's ashame it won't come off my file but I guess it's done now and just happy no further damage was done.

[Deleted User]

Whitee wrote: »

Could I advise the wrong name and date of birth was given by mistake? It might sound a bit far fetched but I'm not really sure how it quite works.

It's possible that someone forgets when they were born, but unlikely they would mistake their own name for someone else's.