Does anyone know much about provident? (Fraud).

SparkyMark123

I do know quite a bit how these work

Firstly up until the last year ( Pre COVID) Provident was a home collected credit company who paid out cash loans in a customers home. What would have had to have happened ( or should happened is as follows)

Person applies either online or by contacting a local CEM ( Agent pre July 2017) who would call to home address and fill in Basic details Name Address DOB Nat insuarance criteria

A credit check would then Ben performed. Subject to checks being passed the agent ( or cem post July 17) would have to call to said customers house. They would then confirm initial details then would need to see Valid ID ( Either photographic or non). They would then conduct a affordability assessment so proof of income ( again in applicants name) would be required. Subject to all that being passed loan would be paid out as cash. Please also bear in mind if this loan was post a July 2017 there is a strong likely hood the loan transaction was captured on voice recording which could further strengthen your case.

There is a option to report this as Fraud to Provident via the company’s complaints procedure and they have a dedicated team who investigate such things and can take things further on your behalf if they believe the agent ( or CEM was acting in collusion or did not do adequate checks)

You obviously have the right to report this to the police and again you can use  the crime number given to add into your complaint..

im not passing judgement on this individual case one way or another but for Fraud to have happened the person who has stolen identity in this case must have had access and or knowledge to the following

your property to complete said loan transaction
personall details ie DOB and NI Number
ID in said customers name
proof of income benifits etc in said persons name 

any more questions please ask

SparkyMark123

And just too add in Provident didn’t used to have to take photographic ID I believe it used to be two utility bills of some sort ( Not a mobile phone) or anything from DWP or Council so tenancy agreement council tax Benifits letter Gas Electric Water bill and quite a few other things can’t remember them all off the top of me head but it was 2 documents. Would really help me to help OP more if you know roughly when this was taken out 

Sunflower49

MalMonroe said:

Sunflower49 said:

Deleted_User said:

Sunflower49 said:

It is unclear, sorry. I misunderstood what my partner said at the time of her telling me about it-they DID live at the same address at the time the account was opened I went back to edit the post accordingly and obviously failed-I will re-edit now. 

This isn't a police matter unfortunately

No, it very much IS a police matter, it's fraud
The company categorically will not remove the debt from your partner's name without involving the police. Think about it - if you could just say "oh that debt isn't mine" and the firm say "oh ok, we'll not chase you any more" people could run up huge amounts of fraud.
You have 2 choices and ONLY two choices:
1) Take the hit of the debt, arguing with bailiffs, debt collectors, court costs etc and try and argue it isn't yours (which has little chance of success given you are unwilling to involve the police)
2) Report this fraud to the police and then go back to the lender with the crime details and go from there

Maybe it is force dependent? I work for the police-the force I work for categorically would not deal with it.

You are right, sadly, the police won't be bothered. 

There is a third choice. You DO have another choice.

There is advice from Citizens Advice in this link under the heading "If someone used your name to open new accounts, get credit or buy services".

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/banking/banking-security-and-fraud/

Basically your partner's ex has stolen her identity and that's just not on.   

I'd have another try at reporting this to Provident - maybe by phone, though - and if they continue to ignore what your partner tells them, then she should go to the Financial Ombudmsan, as it states in the Citizens Advice website. They also have an online form you can fill in on that site, couldn't be easier, I have just done one myself. 

Thank you. Ive written to providenct on advice of CCA. Ive said I'll go to the ombudsmen  if they dont resolve it.

Sunflower49

Thrugelmir said:

Sunflower49 said:

peteuk said:

Provident are a door step loan company and it is unlikely they would have paid the loan without visiting first, to check the details and for proof of identity.  It would be interesting to see what they have as such proof. 

This^Is what I am hoping to get them on. They both look SO different, and surely they'd want photo ID? 

What actual evidence does your partner have?  Why not pursue the ex partner? 

Thrugelmir said:

Sunflower49 said:

peteuk said:

Provident are a door step loan company and it is unlikely they would have paid the loan without visiting first, to check the details and for proof of identity.  It would be interesting to see what they have as such proof. 

This^Is what I am hoping to get them on. They both look SO different, and surely they'd want photo ID? 

What actual evidence does your partner have?  Why not pursue the ex partner? 

The only evidence she could have is how there is a huge age gap and one looks female and one doesnt. They have to have photographic id according to their website T&Cs so they haven't followed that. I imagine persuing ex partner would go something like 
'Hey you owe me £ for taking out a loan in my name!"

*block*.

Sunflower49

nyermen said:

Firstly - OP - assuming there is the will to, report it to Action Fraud.  At least get a crime number and pass it to the DC.

Secondly - evidence. It would appear this was taken out when they were living together.  I doubt photo ID would matter, just a bill or something else for the address, plus a credit check (maybe?) to confirm address, would be considered enough.  Especially if they're at the door.

BUT - unless not a single payment was made from then onwards, how were payments made?  Do they collect at the door?  If so, a statement should show that they were still collecting after your partner could prove they had moved away.  Otherwise it might be by bank account - even better.   Also, how is the money paid?  Cash?  To a bank account?  If the money was paid to someone else (and even better if that someone else made repayments from their account etc) I think any magistrate (if it came to that) would add two and two together pretty easily.

It looks as if she paid a bit and then just stopped once they split up. But no real way of knowing at this stage.

Sunflower49

Deleted_User said:

Sunflower49 said:

Deleted_User said:

Sunflower49 said:

It is unclear, sorry. I misunderstood what my partner said at the time of her telling me about it-they DID live at the same address at the time the account was opened I went back to edit the post accordingly and obviously failed-I will re-edit now. 

This isn't a police matter unfortunately

No, it very much IS a police matter, it's fraud
The company categorically will not remove the debt from your partner's name without involving the police. Think about it - if you could just say "oh that debt isn't mine" and the firm say "oh ok, we'll not chase you any more" people could run up huge amounts of fraud.
You have 2 choices and ONLY two choices:
1) Take the hit of the debt, arguing with bailiffs, debt collectors, court costs etc and try and argue it isn't yours (which has little chance of success given you are unwilling to involve the police)
2) Report this fraud to the police and then go back to the lender with the crime details and go from there

Maybe it is force dependent? I work for the police-the force I work for categorically would not deal with it.

Action Fraud = police in this context, even if they are technically not. It is fraud and police should look at it, that they won't is a show of the state of UK society unfortunately. 

Police don't really have much to do with fraud unless it is a huge case finances wise, or there is another crime involved (eg cuckooing, harassment, domestic abuse etc) unless as I've said above, it is force dependent (I'm a despatch officer).

Sunflower49

MalMonroe said:

Caz3121 said:

Sunflower49 said:

Maybe it is force dependent? I work for the police-the force I work for categorically would not deal with it.

I would consider 'Action Fraud' (the place to report online) as the 'police' in this situation. (their website is actionfraud.police.uk) 

Action Fraud doesn't actually take any action though. I think they should change their name. 

Yes they just monitor what's going on i think.

Sunflower49

SparkyMark123 said:

I do know quite a bit how these work

Firstly up until the last year ( Pre COVID) Provident was a home collected credit company who paid out cash loans in a customers home. What would have had to have happened ( or should happened is as follows)

Person applies either online or by contacting a local CEM ( Agent pre July 2017) who would call to home address and fill in Basic details Name Address DOB Nat insuarance criteria

A credit check would then Ben performed. Subject to checks being passed the agent ( or cem post July 17) would have to call to said customers house. They would then confirm initial details then would need to see Valid ID ( Either photographic or non). They would then conduct a affordability assessment so proof of income ( again in applicants name) would be required. Subject to all that being passed loan would be paid out as cash. Please also bear in mind if this loan was post a July 2017 there is a strong likely hood the loan transaction was captured on voice recording which could further strengthen your case.

There is a option to report this as Fraud to Provident via the company’s complaints procedure and they have a dedicated team who investigate such things and can take things further on your behalf if they believe the agent ( or CEM was acting in collusion or did not do adequate checks)

You obviously have the right to report this to the police and again you can use  the crime number given to add into your complaint..

im not passing judgement on this individual case one way or another but for Fraud to have happened the person who has stolen identity in this case must have had access and or knowledge to the following

your property to complete said loan transaction
personall details ie DOB and NI Number
ID in said customers name
proof of income benifits etc in said persons name 

any more questions please ask

Yes, she would have done all that while my partner was at work i think. It was 2016 unfortunately. Thanks foryour input. Ive written to provident and will not give up until I have to. I dont know how she could have done it,it baffles me.

Sunflower49

SparkyMark123 said:

And just too add in Provident didn’t used to have to take photographic ID I believe it used to be two utility bills of some sort ( Not a mobile phone) or anything from DWP or Council so tenancy agreement council tax Benifits letter Gas Electric Water bill and quite a few other things can’t remember them all off the top of me head but it was 2 documents. Would really help me to help OP more if you know roughly when this was taken out 

Sorry, it was 2016, I'll get the month too just at work atm 

2021BJ

Sunflower49 said:

MalMonroe said:

Sunflower49 said:

Deleted_User said:

Sunflower49 said:

It is unclear, sorry. I misunderstood what my partner said at the time of her telling me about it-they DID live at the same address at the time the account was opened I went back to edit the post accordingly and obviously failed-I will re-edit now. 

This isn't a police matter unfortunately

No, it very much IS a police matter, it's fraud
The company categorically will not remove the debt from your partner's name without involving the police. Think about it - if you could just say "oh that debt isn't mine" and the firm say "oh ok, we'll not chase you any more" people could run up huge amounts of fraud.
You have 2 choices and ONLY two choices:
1) Take the hit of the debt, arguing with bailiffs, debt collectors, court costs etc and try and argue it isn't yours (which has little chance of success given you are unwilling to involve the police)
2) Report this fraud to the police and then go back to the lender with the crime details and go from there

Maybe it is force dependent? I work for the police-the force I work for categorically would not deal with it.

You are right, sadly, the police won't be bothered. 

There is a third choice. You DO have another choice.

There is advice from Citizens Advice in this link under the heading "If someone used your name to open new accounts, get credit or buy services".

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/banking/banking-security-and-fraud/

Basically your partner's ex has stolen her identity and that's just not on.   

I'd have another try at reporting this to Provident - maybe by phone, though - and if they continue to ignore what your partner tells them, then she should go to the Financial Ombudmsan, as it states in the Citizens Advice website. They also have an online form you can fill in on that site, couldn't be easier, I have just done one myself. 

Thank you. Ive written to providenct on advice of CCA. Ive said I'll go to the ombudsmen  if they dont resolve it.

Why haven't you reported this to Action Fraud?  You're not doing yourself any favours if you don't.

This will be a lot easier to resolve if you just report it and write to Provident including the reference number from Action Fraud, as has already been suggested.  Whether the Police do anything about it is immaterial as long as you get a reference number.

All this nonsense about what ID was checked (or wasn't) and if someone looks like someone else is a complete red herring and utterly irrelevant to your complaint.  You didn't take out the loan and you want it removed from your credit file and to no longer be chased for it. The end.