Pure co-incidence or something more sinister ???

Middle_Earth

It's that time of the year again, so last night I went through the MInt on-line application process to get my next fix of interest free balance transfer.

I was quite shocked at the end of the process to be informed that my application had been refused - this has never happened before and I have a good credit rating.

Not satisfied with this I rang Mint to get an explaination. I was told that I had been refused as I had applied twice - very strange me thinks ??? I explained that I had only applied once to them and would like them to look into matters.

10 minutes later they phone me back to confirm my name and ask me if I had ever lived at xxxxx address. I hadn't even heard of the place, yet alone lived there. I asked whether my names sake also had the same date of birth as me. I wasn't given a straight answer, but was assured that same names crop up all the time. This I can accept, but the odds of somebody having the same name as me and also having the same date of birth seem very very reomte to me.

They said they would look into matters and get back to me in no more than 5 working days.

I left it at that as it was Friday night, but I intend to phone them back on Monday and take matters further.

The best case scenario is that this genuinely is someone with the same details as me (hey maybe I should start a club ;D), but the worse case is that somebody has cloned my identity and is applying for credit in my name.

Right now I am not jumping to any conclusions.

This is where you all come in. When I phone Mint on Monday, what information can I reasonably demand of them and what other questions should I be asking of them ? Any other advice in dealing with this matter would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

babysaver

Hi Middle Earth - it might be worth requesting your credit record.  Both Experian and Equifax allow you do this on-line - don't know if you can view it on-line but it might be worth a try so that you know for Monday if anyone else has applied for credit in your name

https://www.creditexpert.co.uk/UK/StaticContent.aspx?PageTypeID=CEUK_SP_TakeControl_01&sc=400900&bcd=gglukronxxpaypcgg018

https://www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/uk/landing.ehtml?^start=&companyName=Opie_def

(Modified links so that they work - G)

Robert_Sterling_3

Request it on line ... Yes
Pay for it on line ... Yes
Get it on line ... No
It arrives by post within about a week or less.
Cost £2

Sub_2

You *can* your get your report online, but it may cost you more and it also depends if they can verify your identity without resorting to snail mail.

Regardless, it's a good idea to get hold of your credit file from both the major agencies. If a search has been done which is somehow tied in to your identity then it will show on your file, and you can arrange to have it removed. If there is no other search on your file then Mint need to clarify exactly why they are telling you about a second appplication, when no duplicate shows on your file.

If someone *has* been playing silly buggers with your ID, prepare yourself for a CIFAS fraud marker on your credit file and get ready to be !!!!!! about next time you need to apply for anything.