Identity Theft Protection

murphydavid

On reading the MSE (archived) article on Identity Theft Protection and moving on to register to get my credit reports with the 3 credit score companies mentioned. (Well worth a read and in my opinion well worth resurrecting and updating.)

I Googled “Identity theft protection” and noted that Experian in the USA appears to provide a free method to lock and unlock your own credit data which prevents an unexpected search.

I cannot find the same free functionality for Experian in the UK. So this means someone can buy a product in your name and your credit data be searched by the seller without you knowing. Till the next time you check up and by then its too late.

Does anyone know of a free service that will alert you to a search being done.

[Deleted User]

If you were particularly inclined, you can setup a CIFAS protection which is something like £15-£25 a year and I saw a link on here the other day for a free equivalent 

It's highly unlikely someone you don't know could setup credit in your name though, applications normally need all sorts of data about you like full address, date of birth, some form of ID etc, hence why a lot of this sort of fraud is done by dodgy family members

born_again

Not sure how locking your data stops a search by financial co's. Given different banks/lenders/companies use different CRA for the data they need. 


CIFAS Protective Registration is the only real way in the UK. But even that is not fool proof.

James

CIFAS Protective Registration is a deterrent, but as above it doesn't reach all those who search your Credit File.

You can also Password protect your Credit Files FREE OF CHARGE.  (CIFAS Protective Registration is also a password system).

Here is anothe (more effective) alternative.  Just judge for yourselves:

MyPAS - The AntiSocial Engineer Limited

The Solution To Identity Fraud - The AntiSocial Engineer Limited

It's about time Martin Lewis had a look at this.