identity fraud hell

petlog45

My story started with something happy, a cruise, in oct i did the online check in for my cruise through the app like they had told me to, turns out that my details were stolen and during oct someone took out three loans in my name, payed them into the debit account (joint account card used for cruise) and immediately transferred the money out, by the time we had realized a month later (other half didn't notice the transactions) we had paid two loans monthly charge. 
we contacted the bank, joint account was closed and they opened up a single account in my other halfs name, i reported fraud to all three loan companies spent hours on the phone and by Christmas eve eve, we finally had a new debit card. Mobile number for partner was changed by tesco when he contacted them as it had been on a list of numbers sold abroad?(asked for investigation) nothing received yet
the debit card was then immediately eaten by the card machine on the first use. Partner went to branch had 3.5 hour wait to withdraw at the counter, they said they would send new online banking details, new card and transfer money to my account to pay our bills. 
by 10th of jan none of this had happened. partner closed the account and opened with a new bank. 
loan companies have got back to me 18/1/23 to say i am liable for all three loans as the details are correct, so ive raised formal complaints with all three companies. 
i have done all the right things- reported to action fraud, sought help from victim support as i have really struggled with my mental health through this process. But through this whole thing we are being made to suffer as the victim. we couldn't do Christmas properly as couldn't access money, cant buy our pet food online which is costing a fortune in the store. mobile phone bill tripled as phoning the bank being on hold for hours is costing a fortune and im still no further forward. 

im at my wits end,  is it just a case of keep complaining dont pay and hope they don't send bailiffs? I'm so scared now or do i arrange to make payments just to stop the constant stream of messages about missed payments (accounts were on hold until the fraud investigation was completed but now getting messages about payment 3 so far this morning from the same company)

any help appreciated

sourcrates

OK, take a breath, it must be a distressing time for you.

As these loans are in your name, then technically you are liable for them, however, as the applications were the result of fraud, the lenders should take that into account whilst dealing with you.

I would suspect at the moment its the collections dept contacting you, who will possibly be non the wiser as to your circumstances, all lenders have specialist departments that deal with fraud, you are best writing to them, with as much detail as possible, or asking to speak to them on the phone, but I would say writing to them is best.

No one just sends bailiffs round, the calls/texts etc are automated, computer generated as the payments haven`t been made, the normal collection process that will kick in will involve debt collectors calling you, and writing to you, but don`t let that bother you, the sooner the lenders are fully aware of the situation, the better equipped they will be to deal with it.

Also you may want to look at changing your mobile tariff, as most come with unlimited free mins these days.

_Penny_Dreadful

On top of the advice sourcrates has given you I was going to suggest applying to CIFAS for prtective registration which would make it more difficult for a fraudster to open accounts in your name for the next 2 years but they now only accept online applications and you have to use a bank card registered in your name <eyeroll>

https://www.cifas.org.uk/pr

Have you checked your credit files with Experian (free from MSE Credit), Equifax (free from ClearScore) and TransUnion (free from Credit Karma) to see if any other account or cards may have been fraudulently opened in your name?

penners324

The loans were paid into your account and then transferred out of that account?

Do you know how that happened?

born_again

petlog45 said:

My story started with something happy, a cruise, in oct i did the online check in for my cruise through the app like they had told me to, turns out that my details were stolen and during oct someone took out three loans in my name, payed them into the debit account (joint account card used for cruise) and immediately transferred the money out, by the time we had realized a month later (other half didn't notice the transactions) we had paid two loans monthly charge. 
we contacted the bank, joint account was closed and they opened up a single account in my other halfs name, i reported fraud to all three loan companies spent hours on the phone and by Christmas eve eve, we finally had a new debit card. Mobile number for partner was changed by tesco when he contacted them as it had been on a list of numbers sold abroad?(asked for investigation) nothing received yet
the debit card was then immediately eaten by the card machine on the first use. Partner went to branch had 3.5 hour wait to withdraw at the counter, they said they would send new online banking details, new card and transfer money to my account to pay our bills. 
by 10th of jan none of this had happened. partner closed the account and opened with a new bank. 
loan companies have got back to me 18/1/23 to say i am liable for all three loans as the details are correct, so ive raised formal complaints with all three companies. 
i have done all the right things- reported to action fraud, sought help from victim support as i have really struggled with my mental health through this process. But through this whole thing we are being made to suffer as the victim. we couldn't do Christmas properly as couldn't access money, cant buy our pet food online which is costing a fortune in the store. mobile phone bill tripled as phoning the bank being on hold for hours is costing a fortune and im still no further forward. 

im at my wits end,  is it just a case of keep complaining dont pay and hope they don't send bailiffs? I'm so scared now or do i arrange to make payments just to stop the constant stream of messages about missed payments (accounts were on hold until the fraud investigation was completed but now getting messages about payment 3 so far this morning from the same company)

any help appreciated

So how did the fraudsters manage to access your online banking?

I can't see how a cruise app is going to include all you online banking security. Yes it may have your bank account or card details  for them to take any payments for purchases made on the cruise. But would say that these would have been by DD or CPA using card details.