Cifas Notification

cloud_dog

Hi

My dear 'ole ma has received a letter from a well know high street retailer advising her that it appears someone has tried to obtain credit (I assume) using her details, and that they have placed a Cifas marker against her / address. I don't have the letter in front of me so cannot remember if there was a Cifas number referenced.

I understand the basics of a Cifas markers but am unsure how this may affect her?

She is elderly and does not need to obtain credit so the possibility of having to jump through additional hoops to obtain credit can be dismissed. Also, with her being elderly and with this marker against her/address it would make it much more difficult for a third party to obtain credit fraudulently in her name.

So, what are the implications of this? Should we query, possibly challenge it, or just leave it be?

Anthorn

There are different categories of CIFAS registration. From the information you supplied it looks like it is a victim marker which simply tells lenders that the subject has been a victim of fraud and make extra checks on identity. It should not affect credit applications unless the lender is too lazy to do extra checks. But as the subject is unlikely to want credit the effect will be null.

You can get a copy of the data CIFAS holds by making a data subject access request which is free.
https://www.cifas.org.uk/contact-us/subject-access-request

PRAISETHESUN

The CIFAS marker for being a victim of fraud should not affect the ability to get credit, it just means applications take longer as they are always sent for manual review to double check the application is legitimate. There is a chance that some lenders might just outright reject the application since it means more work, but for the most part you shouldn't see a difference.

EachPenny

cloud_dog wrote: »

I understand the basics of a Cifas markers but am unsure how this may affect her?
....
So, what are the implications of this? Should we query, possibly challenge it, or just leave it be?

At the very minimum you need to be sure it is a protective registration rather than any false suspicion that she was involved in a fraudulent act. If it is the latter then there is a possibility of existing accounts being closed which has a considerable impact on people.

cloud_dog

EachPenny wrote: »

At the very minimum you need to be sure it is a protective registration rather than any false suspicion that she was involved in a fraudulent act. If it is the latter then there is a possibility of existing accounts being closed which has a considerable impact on people.

I'm fairly certain it was a 'victim' type notification but will double check the letter.