Ex Pats want to use our UK address for a credit card?

Belenus

We are British citizens and residents of England. We are owner occupiers of a mortgage free home with no debts and a very good credit record. We have multiple bank accounts and credit cards.

A British couple, not married but together for 15 years, currently live in Spain. They own a property in England that is rented out. They normally use that address for post from British financial intuitions. They visit the UK regularly but they have not lived here for a decade and more. The current tenants have left and have not been replaced so they have no reliable person to forward their mail to Spain.

She is a close friend of my wife and she has asked my wife if they can use our address for a Santander credit card application.

My wife would like to agree but has asked me what I think. I am apprehensive.

What risks, if any, might we face?

Is there any chance of any downside for us as I am concerned that we might end up with problems.

They will not be on the Electoral Roll so that might be their first hurdle.

If we do agree and their application is approved we will presumably receive the card, PIN number and statements etc. What might happen if the card is intercepted on its way to us or when we forward it and it is used fraudulently? We don't want to be in a position where suspicion falls on us.

I already have a Santander credit card myself. I don't want that put at risk. Nor do I want to risk our credit standing for any reason.

My instincts are to politely refuse.

What valid reasons can we give for refusing other than just saying we don't want to do it.

What do you think?

Thanks

43722

I would go out and buy a barge pole tomorrow morning.  And use it  make sure I stay away from this idea. 

McKneff

Definitely go with the barge pole idea. 
The friends are lying to the cc company telling them they live in England when they don't. 
Its really not on for them to expect you to do the same. 

Just be honest and say you aren't comfortable with it. You really don't have to justify your answer.

DiamondLil

Your valid reason is the truth - it's dishonest. If you need a stronger reason, complicit in fraud.

teachfast

It's fraud. Why take the risk? Obtaining funds through misrepresentation or something. You might even get done before the application is accepted/rejected... Or it might take a little longer for them to catch up with you.

cymruchris

I wouldn't be doing it.

Thrugelmir

Belenus said:

The current tenants have left and have not been replaced so they have no reliable person to forward their mail to Spain.

All sounds rather murky.  They want to use you as a mailbox? 

Grumpy_chap

Is their vacant property near you?
Could you agree to forward post once a month?
Then again, I assume someone must be calling in on the vacant property and whoever that is could forward post as well.

J_B

Tell them to use the property that they already own.

They can get Royal Mail to redirect the mail to yours ..... or probably all the way to Espana is they wanted (would probably be expensive for junk mail!!!)

pramsay13

It wouldn't bother me if a close friend wanted to use my address for credit card application or otherwise although I suspect it won't work in practice.

[Deleted User]

Belenus said:

We are British citizens and residents of England. We are owner occupiers of a mortgage free home with no debts and a very good credit record. We have multiple bank accounts and credit cards.

A British couple, not married but together for 15 years, currently live in Spain. They own a property in England that is rented out. They normally use that address for post from British financial intuitions. They visit the UK regularly but they have not lived here for a decade and more. The current tenants have left and have not been replaced so they have no reliable person to forward their mail to Spain.

She is a close friend of my wife and she has asked my wife if they can use our address for a Santander credit card application.

My wife would like to agree but has asked me what I think. I am apprehensive.

What risks, if any, might we face?

Is there any chance of any downside for us as I am concerned that we might end up with problems.

They will not be on the Electoral Roll so that might be their first hurdle.

If we do agree and their application is approved we will presumably receive the card, PIN number and statements etc. What might happen if the card is intercepted on its way to us or when we forward it and it is used fraudulently? We don't want to be in a position where suspicion falls on us.

I already have a Santander credit card myself. I don't want that put at risk. Nor do I want to risk our credit standing for any reason.

My instincts are to politely refuse.

What valid reasons can we give for refusing other than just saying we don't want to do it.

What do you think?

Thanks

I live in Australia and let a property in the UK.  I don't reply on the tenants forwarding my post as I have an international redirection set up.  I have recently set up a UK postal address though www.ukpostbox.com as some institutions will not accept an overseas address and UK Postbox will scan and email letters to me instead of me months for important letters to reach me.  (Australia Post is quite slow and down to deliveries every second day at the moment).  There's no reason why your wife's friends can't do similar.

This all said credit files are attached to people not front doors so in that respect there should be no impact to your credit files.  You also don't have to give a reason for saying no, no on it's own is perfectly acceptable and I think they've been rather cheeky asking you in the first place when there are services readily available to help them manage post whilst living abroad.