ID Fraud Protection: Loophole to get it free discussion

duggie1982

I thought this thread was about ID fraud protection?

Anyway I signed up for it today and think this is a great service. I have the Classic account with Capital One so at least I am getting something for my money.

Lugh_Chronain

mbailey wrote: »

I applied for the Capital one card last year as suggested by Martin, and kept it in a draw, but recently received a letter from them saying my card is now cancelled as I had not used it in 1 year.

So, if you do apply for the card, make sure you use it occasionally so they don't cancel it.

Yes, the same thing happened to me. I phoned up the day before yesterday as I'd received a letter a few days before and they said I couldn't reapply until after 6 months :mad:. I had the Platinum No Hassle card for quite some time too.

just_about

aron wrote: »

You mean they actually expected you to use it? What a rip off! :mad:

Of course they expect you to use it, otherwise they look at it as a wate of credit facility which has been offered to you :rolleyes:

Can tell you not only credit cards but banks even withdraw overdrafts or reduces them significantly depending on how much and how you use it :cool:

kevanf1

I've also had the same very long and actually quite frightening spiel from Barclays offering ID fraud prevention. This was on Friday last after I found I have been take for £2,000 on my credit card A soon as I read my statement I realised something was amiss as the total was over my limit (£3,000) yet I normally only go up to about £800 maximum. It's being sorted but it has mde me feel very ill.

edtheduck_2

Hello
Not sure where to post this, so please feel free to move :-)

Got an email from Guardian at the weekend saying that their jobs site has been hacked and because i made job applications online through it, my identity is likely to have been compromised.
They suggest taking steps such as contacting my creditors - does that mean everyone, banks, loans, Sky, BT etc., what do I say to them ? I did ring o2 yesterday and they said they would put a note on the account that i had been in touch.
They (the Guardian) said to cntact CIFAS and register - this costs about £13 - why should i have to pay for their mistake?
They also said to monitor my credit report and contact one of the CRAs - again why should I have to pay for their error, despite the small amount.

Apparently they have emailed 500,000 people who they say have been affected.
This has never happened me before - I mean I don't know if my details will be used so what does anyone advise?
The details were all personal data, but no bank details were involved.
Any advice/suggestions appreciated - I'm sort off putting of ringing my creditors because I'm unsure what to say and also what to expect.
Thanks

James

edtheduck wrote: »

Hello

They (the Guardian) said to cntact CIFAS and register - this costs about £13 - why should i have to pay for their mistake?
They also said to monitor my credit report and contact one of the CRAs - again why should I have to pay for their error, despite the small amount.

Thanks

.

No you shouldn't have to pay nor need you.

Here's what I'd do:

Contact the Guardian, tell them about the FREE ID PROTECTION system and ask them to print a template of the letter their readers should send to the 3 Credit Reference Agencies if they so wish.

They are advising readers to take out CIFAS Protective Registration, which has several disadvantages here are a few:

The Cost.

Is not a 100%. CIFAS PROTECTIVE REGISTRATION is designed to protect its finance industury memebers. Not all lenders are members therefore someone taking out Protective Registration is not fully covered.

Low Level Security. CIFAS PROTECTIVE REGISTRATION is a 'PASSWORD' based system, shared with other human beings.

Free ID Protection:

Costs nothing to enrol into (other than the cost of 3 letters, stamps and envelopes). Maybe the Guardian could provide them to you all? Why not ask.

Reaches all Lenders NOT just CIFAS members.

Nothing to forget or compromise.

It's the only really PROACTIVE deterrent availabe.

What EQUIFAX says about Free Id Protection:
"This is an excellent idea. It offers people effective protection against fraud".

mbailey

James wrote: »

.

No you shouldn't have to pay nor need you.

Here's what I'd do:

Contact the Guardian, tell them about the FREE ID PROTECTION system and ask them to print a template of the letter their readers should send to the 3 Credit Reference Agencies if they so wish.

The big disadvantage of this system is that it takes away the ability to apply for any financial product online or on the telephone. Yes I agree the benefits of the thumb print, but the disadvantages are too great.

Before you ask I have been hit by identity theft myself a couple of times now, but I still think this is a step too far.

I am currently registered on CIFAS (due to last incident) and that is bad enough when you apply for anything. I applied for a new mobile contract with Vodafone last month and that took 2 weeks to sort out and it would have been a day.

Personally I would ask the Guardian to register you on CIFAS and ask them to pay, as it was their mistake. (If their server was strong enough, then it wouldn't have been hacked.)

Good luck!

James

mbailey wrote: »

The big disadvantage of this system is that it takes away the ability to apply for any financial product online or on the telephone. Yes I agree the benefits of the thumb print, but the disadvantages are too great.
Good luck!

I strongly disagree. If anything it makes applying on-line or over the phone that much safer and here's how the sytem works.

No matter how you apply a credit check is carried out on you.

The lender (online or phone) reads your Notice of Correction and that fact that you Thumbprint.

'THIS WILL NOT EFFECT YOUR CREDIT RATING", it does however mean that a phone or internet application will be 'followed up with a paper application for you to sign Thumbprint and return.

By using the Thumpirnt method you're putting the onus on the lender to comply with your instructions. You're in the driving seat.

Hope this explains 'Thumbprinting' and person not present applications. Yes applications do take a little longer, but this is a very small price to pay for the added security benefits.

There are a growing number of people embracing the 'Thumbprint' system. This in itself ensures Banks, Lenders etc are more diligent with Notice of Correction instructions.

So far nobody subscribing to Thumbprinting has fallen vcitim to application fraud.

mbailey

James wrote: »

I strongly disagree.

The lender (online or phone) reads your Notice of Correction and that fact that you Thumbprint.

'THIS WILL NOT EFFECT YOUR CREDIT RATING", it does however mean that a phone or internet application will be 'followed up with a paper application for you to sign Thumbprint and return.

Hope this explains 'Thumbprinting' and person not present applications. Yes applications do take a little longer, but this is a very small price to pay for the added security benefits.

Ok, good point - you can still apply for stuff online and on the telephone, but the lender has to request a thumbprint to continue with the application. This is exactly the same with CIFAS, in that the application is on hold until you give them the password to confirm your identity which allows the application to continue.

One thing that still puzzles me, is it up to the lender to compare your finger print with the finger print record stored with the credit reference agencies? Presumable the lenders will need special hardware and software?

James

mbailey wrote: »

One thing that still puzzles me, is it up to the lender to compare your finger print with the finger print record stored with the credit reference agencies? Presumable the lenders will need special hardware and software?

The Credit Reference Agencies (CRA's) do not hold a copy of your print on their files. The only copy they would have is if you submit your print on your original Notice of Correction letter to them.

The CRA's should never need to compare your print. The NOC is only a vehicle to inform lenders that they require a print on application form.

The lender does not request you to submit a print. They only have to check that any application they receive from someone signed up for Thumbprinting, has a Thumbprint on the application. No print - no credit or loan.


The only time an application form would ever be examined is if fraud was committed against a genuine person.

The Thumbprint System achieves the following.

First of all it provides an indication and warning to lenders that an application maybe fraudulent. i.e. a lender receives a paper application without a print.

By forcing crooks to submit their print it acts as a proactive deterrent.

If a crook does decide to 'chance their hand' and submit a print, then this provides Law Enforcement Agencies with forensic evidence - the crooks print on the original application form. (No hardware or software requirements for lenders. In fact it's a 'no cost' system for them).

It's also a sure fire way of proving you weren't the person who submitted the application, thus clearing your good name.

Hope this explains things further.