Bank account closed and can't open another one

friolento

MattMattMattUK said:

friolento said:

MattMattMattUK said:

km1500 said:

I believe you are legally entitled to a basic bank account - others may know the details and how you get one

Not at all, no bank has to give you an account. Banks have a duty to specifically not allow accounts to be used for fraud, having a CIFAS marker means a customer is a fraud risk and so refuse to open an account. 

A bank must refuse to open a basic bank account for someone they believe will use it for fraud or money laundering.

A CIFAS (Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System) is a fraud marker against a person's name. Banks automatically search the CIFAS register when someone applies for an account. The marker can result in applications for credit being refused and can lead to the closure of an existing bank account.

The CIFAS marker can remain on the register for up to six years. 

The OP reported I contacted CIFAS and they hold no records for my name/addresses. So a CIFAS fraud marker doesn't come into it

As was pointed out in previous posts, they may have contacted CIFAS before the record was applied.

How would you explain that Halifax let the accounts of someone with a fraud marker continue to run for 50 days?

MattMattMattUK

friolento said:

MattMattMattUK said:

friolento said:

MattMattMattUK said:

km1500 said:

I believe you are legally entitled to a basic bank account - others may know the details and how you get one

Not at all, no bank has to give you an account. Banks have a duty to specifically not allow accounts to be used for fraud, having a CIFAS marker means a customer is a fraud risk and so refuse to open an account. 

A bank must refuse to open a basic bank account for someone they believe will use it for fraud or money laundering.

A CIFAS (Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System) is a fraud marker against a person's name. Banks automatically search the CIFAS register when someone applies for an account. The marker can result in applications for credit being refused and can lead to the closure of an existing bank account.

The CIFAS marker can remain on the register for up to six years. 

The OP reported I contacted CIFAS and they hold no records for my name/addresses. So a CIFAS fraud marker doesn't come into it

As was pointed out in previous posts, they may have contacted CIFAS before the record was applied.

How would you explain that Halifax let the accounts of someone with a fraud marker continue to run for 50 days?

That would depend why they were closing the account and what category it was. It would be odd for Halifax to refer the OP to CIFAS if it was not something fraud related.

km1500

can someone give a couple of examples of what would constitute 'fraud'

MattMattMattUK

km1500 said:

can someone give a couple of examples of what would constitute 'fraud'

Below are the ones that get a CIFAS marker/category that stop people opening/using banking facilities/accounts.

• First-party fraud. When a customer has not paid owed payment for goods and has no intention of paying it.
• Insurance claims fraud. When you give incorrect information when making an insurance claim.
• Facility Takeover. When a bank account has been taken and used by someone else for unauthorised transactions.
• Application fraud. When an application is made for credit using a correct name, but false details have been provided.
• Asset conversion. Issued when somebody has sold goods that have been hired, rented or leased, such as a hire car.
• Misuse of facility. A marker is placed when someone gains control of another person’s account for the purpose of fraudulent activity.

These two are for the benefit of victims, they do not stop one opening an account, but they do sometimes delay new applications. 

• Protective Registration. A marker that you request and pay for directly to CIFAS if you believe you have been a victim of fraud, lasting for 2 years
• Victim of Impersonation. A marker filed for your protection by a lender if you have been a victim of identity fraud. Lasts up to 13 months

zjoliveira

MattMattMattUK said:

I would suggest you contact CIFAS again, I wonder if you submitted your SAR in the short period between being send the letter and your original bank having reported to them.

Checked and still nothing on CIFAS as of today.

zjoliveira

FrankRizzo said:

I would go to the press. I would even flag this to Martin Lewis to bring media attention.

Have you ever used your Halifax accounts for buying cryptocurrency?

I have used Halifax to buy cryptocurrency, yes. I did not realise that was illegal?

zjoliveira

friolento said:

zjoliveira said:

I contacted CIFAS and they hold no records for my name/addresses.
 

Is the plural a spello or do you have multiple addresses?

This is just alluding to the fact that when filling in my CIFAS request, all of my addresses from the 6 years had to be provided.

zjoliveira

friolento said:

MattMattMattUK said:

friolento said:

MattMattMattUK said:

km1500 said:

I believe you are legally entitled to a basic bank account - others may know the details and how you get one

Not at all, no bank has to give you an account. Banks have a duty to specifically not allow accounts to be used for fraud, having a CIFAS marker means a customer is a fraud risk and so refuse to open an account. 

A bank must refuse to open a basic bank account for someone they believe will use it for fraud or money laundering.

A CIFAS (Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System) is a fraud marker against a person's name. Banks automatically search the CIFAS register when someone applies for an account. The marker can result in applications for credit being refused and can lead to the closure of an existing bank account.

The CIFAS marker can remain on the register for up to six years. 

The OP reported I contacted CIFAS and they hold no records for my name/addresses. So a CIFAS fraud marker doesn't come into it

As was pointed out in previous posts, they may have contacted CIFAS before the record was applied.

How would you explain that Halifax let the accounts of someone with a fraud marker continue to run for 50 days?

60 days, actually, but 10 have passed. To clarify, although my account is not completely closed, I have no access to any cash unless I go to a branch to identify me and then I can only withdraw cash. All cards have been cancelled. So I assume this is as good as cancellation on the spot...

MattMattMattUK

zjoliveira said:

MattMattMattUK said:

I would suggest you contact CIFAS again, I wonder if you submitted your SAR in the short period between being send the letter and your original bank having reported to them.

Checked and still nothing on CIFAS as of today.

When you say as of today, CIFAS take a few days to respond to a DSAR, as far as I am aware they do not provide members of the public with real time access, so there could have been a lag. As others have said also check National Hunter and request a full credit report with all CRAs.

wmb194

zjoliveira said:

MattMattMattUK said:

I would suggest you contact CIFAS again, I wonder if you submitted your SAR in the short period between being send the letter and your original bank having reported to them.

Checked and still nothing on CIFAS as of today.

Where did you check?