In want of reassurance - lost driving licence is haunting me

[Deleted User]

Applied for a switch in current account to new bank today and surprised to find they didn't need any ID just electoral roll info.

A little bit alarmed - I lost my wallet last year and had to replace driving licence.

I didn't apply for CIFAS after losing it (reported to police, applied for new licence with presumably different issue number so nobody could use the old one). But had always assumed banks would need inside leg measurement to open an account with them.

Having small meltdown now that anyone could use my stupid DL to open a bank account. I check my credit reports regularly and it doesn't look like anybody *has*, and CIFAS is only recommended if you feel you're at real risk.

Can someone please explain if electoral roll info IS somehow more secure?! Isn't it available for anyone to view?

Mark_d

I wouldn't consider electoral roll info to be adequate:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proof-of-identity-checklist/proof-of-identity-checklist

eskbanker

[Deleted User] said:

Applied for a switch in current account to new bank today and surprised to find they didn't need any ID just electoral roll info.

Most institutions will use one of the credit rating agencies to conduct an electronic ID verification, which isn't just the electoral roll but a consolidated picture of your identity from multiple sources.

Or if you're saying they specifically stated that they'd check only against the electoral roll, it would perhaps help if you named the bank concerned?

[Deleted User]

I called to ask why no ID and they told me it would be information from the electoral roll. I'm assuming the info from electoral roll would be address history, which I would know but others wouldn't get from DL, but if the electoral roll is available for anyone to view then that isn't exactly fraud-proof? 

Even if they did a credit check to try to check my ID - if someone put that infor from my DL in then the credit reference check wouldn't fail, would it?

eskbanker

[Deleted User] said:

I called to ask why no ID and they told me it would be information from the electoral roll - but if someone used my name, address and DOB from old licence to open an account then surely a credit check and electoral roll info will just be checking that those details are correct (which they will be). I'm assuming the info from electoral roll would be address history, but if the electoral roll is available for anyone to view then that isn't exactly fraud-proof?

No, the electoral roll itself only records the fact that someone with your name and DOB lives at your current address, but credit agencies build a more comprehensive picture, including past addresses, as well as all the relevant credit account data.

I'm not sure what's publicly visible from the electoral roll itself but it won't be set up in such a way as to facilitate identity theft en masse!

As you say though, anyone with enough of your details could theoretically open an account in your name, which is why the CIFAS protective registration service exists for those who are at risk, but regularly checking credit files is also worth doing, in order to validate that there aren't any unexpected activities going on....

[Deleted User]

eskbanker said:

[Deleted User] said:

I called to ask why no ID and they told me it would be information from the electoral roll - but if someone used my name, address and DOB from old licence to open an account then surely a credit check and electoral roll info will just be checking that those details are correct (which they will be). I'm assuming the info from electoral roll would be address history, but if the electoral roll is available for anyone to view then that isn't exactly fraud-proof?

No, the electoral roll itself only records the fact that someone with your name and DOB lives at your current address, but credit agencies build a more comprehensive picture, including past addresses, as well as all the relevant credit account data.

I'm not sure what's publicly visible from the electoral roll itself but it won't be set up in such a way as to facilitate identity theft en masse!

As you say though, anyone with enough of your details could theoretically open an account in your name, which is why the CIFAS protective registration service exists for those who are at risk, but regularly checking credit files is also worth doing, in order to validate that there aren't any unexpected activities going on....

Thanks - I just don't understand how using a credit check to verify identity works as it's not like they've tested me by asking when I last took out a loan or whatever. I do check my credit reports and nothing suspicious since losing DL. As it stands it feels the only thing a fraud wouldn't know would be my address history. But, honestly, both people I spoke to today said "just information from electoral roll".

I'm trying to take some comfort from the fact that nothing fishy has been on my report in the year since I lost my DL, and that if someone opened an account I'd eventually get some post. These things are sent to test us...

friolento

I don’t think you need to be concerned but if you are, you can buy a 2-year CIFAS protective registration. This will trigger manual intervention on any applications for financial products in your name. TBH, the registration is a tremendous PITA as it can take ages for the checks on your legit applications to complete but it does ensure that fraudsters can’t open accounts in your name.

The less nuclear option is to check all your credit reference files regularly, say monthly, for new accounts and/or hard searches, and then take appropriate action if anything untoward has happened. 

You can cancel the 2-year CIFAS subscription any time you like, too

eskbanker

[Deleted User] said:

eskbanker said:

[Deleted User] said:

I called to ask why no ID and they told me it would be information from the electoral roll - but if someone used my name, address and DOB from old licence to open an account then surely a credit check and electoral roll info will just be checking that those details are correct (which they will be). I'm assuming the info from electoral roll would be address history, but if the electoral roll is available for anyone to view then that isn't exactly fraud-proof?

No, the electoral roll itself only records the fact that someone with your name and DOB lives at your current address, but credit agencies build a more comprehensive picture, including past addresses, as well as all the relevant credit account data.

I'm not sure what's publicly visible from the electoral roll itself but it won't be set up in such a way as to facilitate identity theft en masse!

As you say though, anyone with enough of your details could theoretically open an account in your name, which is why the CIFAS protective registration service exists for those who are at risk, but regularly checking credit files is also worth doing, in order to validate that there aren't any unexpected activities going on....

Thanks - I just don't understand how using a credit check to verify identity works as it's not like they've tested me by asking when I last took out a loan or whatever. I do check my credit reports and nothing suspicious since losing DL. As it stands it feels the only thing a fraud wouldn't know would be my address history. But, honestly, both people I spoke to today said "just information from electoral roll".

I'm trying to take some comfort from the fact that nothing fishy has been on my report in the year since I lost my DL, and that if someone opened an account I'd eventually get some post. These things are sent to test us...

There's a difference between a credit check and an ID check that happens to be made via a credit ratings agency, although chances are that both will be done when opening a current account.  The former does look at your credit accounts, and leaves a footprint on your file to recognise that a prospective creditor was searching, but the latter is a simpler check.

MEM62

[Deleted User] said:

A little bit alarmed - I lost my wallet last year and had to replace driving license.

If someone was going to do something nefarious with your driving license they would have done it by now.  

Zanderman

You seem to be worrying about two separate things - how banks have ID'd you and whether your lost DL could be used by someone else to impersonate you.

Most high street banks can - and do - assess your identity without seeing your DL or passport. Nothing unusual in that. So losing (and replacing) your DL won't be an issue for them. 

Re mis-use of your lost DL, many app-based banks want to see your DL etc. But they also usually want your picture too, to check against the DL. Unless a thief looks like you that won't work. 

And your driving licence number stays the same if you ask for a replacement - it's a number assigned to you, the driver, not the piece of plastic, so it won't have changed.

Brie

And there's lost and then there's lost!

The foxes we had in the garden last year were taking anything edible from all the neighbouring gardens.  I found someone's wallet, well chewed but still with their DL, a few cards and some cash in it.  But for me spotting by chance in a bit of the garden I never normally visit (the kits had left a LOT of debris which needed tidying) the chap would never have known what happened to his wallet.  His last recollection was of having it in his pocket in their garden.  Half a mile away!  Unfortunately by the time I got it back to him he'd already paid for a new DL.