Someone has used my ID and its effected my credit rating!

bloggsjo

My credit score has gone from good to bad instantly because someone has fraudulently used my name and details to get a phone contract and has defaulted on the account.

None of the correspondence for this phone account has come to me and I was not given notice that I would be given a black mark on my credit score. I received one letter asking for a payment of £291 and when I contacted the phone company they said all the other correspondence had been going to the other person. It turns out that this person is a member of my family!

I challenged the phone company saying I had not given permission, signed anything or entered into a contract with them. I could prove that i was not in the house at the same time the account was opened and they said it was the same IP address and therefore a family matter.

I paid the £291 and then recently tried to get a store card and was declined. My credit rating had gone from 5 to 1.

I contacted the phone company who said in order to remove the credit black mark I would have to press charges as it was ID fraud and not their problem.

I think they are wrong! But are they?

I did not sign a thing. They have not completed their checks properly prior to opening the account.
I have a text from the family member admitting they did it.
I received no correspondence at all and discover I am the primary contract holder when the default has occurred and although I have paid it, i am still being held responsible.
I think the phone company are wrong to not send a warning to me about the consequences.
Also why do I need to press charges, what if the person was unknown to me would that still be the case?

Can anyone please give me some advice as I’m not sure if I’ve just got it all wrong.

[Deleted User]

You don't need to press charges (as the fraud is not against you) but you will need to report it to Action Fraud and provide details of the person. This will provide evidence that the debt isn't yours.

Once removed, all will be fine. The credit score probably won't change but that's fine.

[Deleted User]

Ignore any scores or ratings as they are made up.

You need to report the person that has done this to Action Fraud and also speak to the phone company to discuss having the account removed from your credit file.

Willing2Learn

Deleted_User wrote: »

You don't need to press charges (as the fraud is not against you) but you will need to report it to Action Fraud and provide details of the person. This will provide evidence that the debt isn't yours.

If it were me, I would also submit a Protective Registration with CIFAS too.

bloggsjo

Deleted_User wrote: »

You don't need to press charges (as the fraud is not against you) but you will need to report it to Action Fraud and provide details of the person. This will provide evidence that the debt isn't yours.

Once removed, all will be fine. The credit score probably won't change but that's fine.

Thank you willingtolearn but can you explain how the fraud is not against me? And what will I get removed? And isn’t credit score important for gaining credit and most importantly my upcoming re-mortgage application?

bloggsjo

!!! wrote: »

Ignore any scores or ratings as they are made up.

You need to report the person that has done this to Action Fraud and also speak to the phone company to discuss having the account removed from your credit file.

Hi Gary Dexter thank you for reading my post. I have reported it and they are calling my family member in for questioning tomorrow. The phone company say they will do noting until they have been prosecuted.

[Deleted User]

bloggsjo wrote: »

Thank you willingtolearn but can you explain how the fraud is not against me? And what will I get removed? And isn’t credit score important for gaining credit and most importantly my upcoming re-mortgage application?

Because the fraud is against the lender.

Once you evidence the fraud, the account should be removed.

The credit score is made up number that no one else sees or uses. It's not important for anything, unless you are a collector of random numbers. Only the detail on your credit files is important, which is why the removal of the account is all that matters.

Remember to check your other two files.

bloggsjo

Deleted_User wrote: »

Because the fraud is against the lender.

Once you evidence the fraud, the account should be removed.

The credit score is made up number that no one else sees or uses. It's not important for anything, unless you are a collector of random numbers. Only the detail on your credit files is important, which is why the removal of the account is all that matters.

Remember to check your other two files.

I have given them all the evidence but they have insisted that we must pursue it with the police ourselves - are they wrong?

I’m at a loss as what to do - the police are interviewing the family member tomorrow.

[Deleted User]

bloggsjo wrote: »

I’m at a loss as what to do

Give them the police reference number and tell them to sort it out. Hopefully you'll get a more informed person on the end of the phone.

If they don't, pursue it via the three CRAs.

bloggsjo

Deleted_User wrote: »

Give them the police reference number and tell them to sort it out. Hopefully you'll get a more informed person on the end of the phone.

If they don't, pursue it via the three CRAs.

Sorry to be ignorant - but how do you pursue is through the credit reference agencies?

Willing2Learn

Deleted_User wrote: »

Give them the police reference number and tell them to sort it out.

And just to confirm for the OP: ActionFraud is part of the police. When you report the fraud to ActionFraud, you will be given a (police) crime reference number...