Halifax opening a basic account without my permission

eejay1973

I had an alert from my credit report stating that there was a new account added to my report. When I checked it, it was a basic bank account with Halifax, I had a bank account with them years ago 2010 to be exact and I haven't had any dealings or conversed with them since 2011 when I told them that I was closing the account. I have NOT asked Halifax to open this account and I don't want it either (obviously it's showing a balance of 0). I know that when a new account is opened it affects your credit score, so how can they open an account without my permission or knowledge? I am absolutely fuming. Has this happened to anyone else?

parchedpeas

Did you have a Reward Account that wasn't closed? As they've just downgraded lots of those. Might explain it.

colsten

eejay1973 said:

I had an alert from my credit report stating that there was a new account added to my report. When I checked it, it was a basic bank account with Halifax, I had a bank account with them years ago 2010 to be exact and I haven't had any dealings or conversed with them since 2011 when I told them that I was closing the account. I have NOT asked Halifax to open this account and I don't want it either (obviously it's showing a balance of 0). I know that when a new account is opened it affects your credit score, so how can they open an account without my permission or knowledge? I am absolutely fuming. Has this happened to anyone else?

How are they supposed to know it wasn't you who applied? Clearly, somebody has enough of your personal data to convincingly pose as yourself.

Rather than being angry with Halifax, call them and explain quietly that it wasn't you. Ask them to close the account and to help you with information about preventing a future occurrence. You may also want to contact CIFAS and ask for a protective registration, and also change all your passwords. 

notveryeducated

parchedpeas said:

Did you have a Reward Account that wasn't closed? As they've just downgraded lots of those. Might explain it.

The Reward Account got changed to the "Current Account", which isn't Halifax's basic account. 

Fighter1986

What does the start show against the account? End date? Does it show the account is currently open, or settled?

It might be the very same account open for 10 years and they hadn't previously closed it.

I had Halifax retrospectively add an old closed Easycash account too. 

Having a current account open on your credit file for 10 years will have a very positive effect on your creditworthiness.

If the account is your old one (you'll see from the start date recorded against the account) politely ask Halifax to close it.

If it's showing a very recent start date, and it wasn't you who opened the account, you need to alert Halifax that you've been a victim of identity theft. 

Breadcake

notveryeducated said:

parchedpeas said:

Did you have a Reward Account that wasn't closed? As they've just downgraded lots of those. Might explain it.

The Reward Account got changed to the "Current Account", which isn't Halifax's basic account. 

In both cases, surely this wouldn't be a new account added. Either an update to an existing or no change at all (I don't have a basic account so I cannot be certain but when I've upgraded/downgraded current accounts with a provider my credit file was not affected).

colsten said:

OP post

How are they supposed to know it wasn't you who applied? Clearly, somebody has enough of your personal data to convincingly pose as yourself.

Rather than being angry with Halifax, call them and explain quietly that it wasn't you. Ask them to close the account and to help you with information about preventing a future occurrence. You may also want to contact CIFAS and ask for a protective registration, and also change all your passwords. 

As said here, someone must have sailed through the application knowing your details. A downside to online applications, the alternative would be requesting everyone to ID themselves in branch (imagine the number of posts on here exclaiming how inconvenient it is).

jonesMUFCforever

notveryeducated said:

parchedpeas said:

Did you have a Reward Account that wasn't closed? As they've just downgraded lots of those. Might explain it.

The Reward Account got changed to the "Current Account", which isn't Halifax's basic account. 

If someone was not eligible for a current account - a basic account would be the default.

eejay1973

eejay1973 said:

I had an alert from my credit report stating that there was a new account added to my report. When I checked it, it was a basic bank account with Halifax, I had a bank account with them years ago 2010 to be exact and I haven't had any dealings or conversed with them since 2011 when I told them that I was closing the account. I have NOT asked Halifax to open this account and I don't want it either (obviously it's showing a balance of 0). I know that when a new account is opened it affects your credit score, so how can they open an account without my permission or knowledge? I am absolutely fuming. Has this happened to anyone else?

I should have stated that I closed the previous account with them back in 2011 and it's not a case of identity theft either as someone has suggested as I've already checked that. All details concerning this account are correct for the closed account. I just wonder if they actually closed the account when I asked them. I have to say in my personal opinion the halifax is the worst bank I ever dealt with and to reopen an account that has been closed and if they didn't close it hasn't been used for almost 10 years in my opinion is an absolute disgrace!!!!!

pinkdalek

I agree with Colsten, you must have issues with Halifax.  Had this account been opened as you originally stated then a credit check would show on your file done by them recently.  If this account has been there for a decade and not closed the financial institute is within its rights to show it on your credit file or not.  If it was not closed properly then complain and get them to sort it out.

[Deleted User]

I wonder if the Halifax Group are doing some data quality work.... one of my very old BOS Cash Accounts has just appeared on my credit file, tagged as a basic account. I've had Lloyds/Halifax accounts since - so I presume they've gone through and matched up my name/DOB/past addresses/credit file etc. to tie the accounts up. As really customers shouldn't have multiple IDs etc (even if they are across multiple brands, good practice would be 1 overall record, if technically possible)

Used the details showing on my credit file to reset all my details and get logged back in to BOS website - account is still sat there as active still (I didn't request it was closed though). 

OP it sounds like your closure hasn't gone through properly, as others have said you can probably complain and ask them to sort it, but it has minimal difference on your overall credit file (externally).

Internally, my Halifax credit tracker now shows I am "unscored" (previously had a poor internal grading). I read years ago if you have a cash/basic account you won't get any borrowing, whether that's true or not I'm not sure. But might be worth sorting if you may actually want LBG borrowing in future. I'm trying to get mine formally closed now!

eejay1973

Somerset_La_La_La said:

I wonder if the Halifax Group are doing some data quality work.... one of my very old BOS Cash Accounts has just appeared on my credit file, tagged as a basic account. I've had Lloyds/Halifax accounts since - so I presume they've gone through and matched up my name/DOB/past addresses/credit file etc. to tie the accounts up. As really customers shouldn't have multiple IDs etc (even if they are across multiple brands, good practice would be 1 overall record, if technically possible)

Used the details showing on my credit file to reset all my details and get logged back in to BOS website - account is still sat there as active still (I didn't request it was closed though). 

OP it sounds like your closure hasn't gone through properly, as others have said you can probably complain and ask them to sort it, but it has minimal difference on your overall credit file (externally).

Internally, my Halifax credit tracker now shows I am "unscored" (previously had a poor internal grading). I read years ago if you have a cash/basic account you won't get any borrowing, whether that's true or not I'm not sure. But might be worth sorting if you may actually want LBG borrowing in future. I'm trying to get mine formally closed now!

Thanks, I'm glad that it's not just me then. I haven't used the account since 2003 when I went with a different bank (I only used the account for 11 months)  and I've been with the 'new' bank since. I am quite shocked that this account is still being held open after 17 years of being unused and most definitely classed as dormant, but more so that it remains open even after I requested to close it.  I'll get back in touch with them. Thanks for your help!!!