Credit report searched/account opened frauduently

[ChilliPeppered]

Not sure if this is the right area of the forum to post this in. If not, I apologise.

 

I notice two searches made on my credit report by a company named Express Gifts Ltd in June and July this year. I did not recognise either search, and more worrying one was referred to as a mail order account. The person had used my name, my old address but had entered a wrong date or birth and an incorrect length of time I was living at my old address

 

I contacted Express Gifts, or Studio as Google told me, to find out more. The advisor told me that yes, an account had been opened and some goods sent. Several other items had been ordered as well, and were awaiting dispatch! I told him that it was not me who opened the account and they have frozen the account. He told me to send in a letter with proof that I was living at my new address when these searches were made and the account opened.

 

I sent the letter last week, and have spoken to them again today but they say they haven't got my letter yet. I am waiting for a call from their manager.

 

I am still on the electoral roll at my old address and am due to be added shortly, but not on it yet, at my new address. Unfortunately the fraudsters have taken advantage of the council's slowness at updating things, as I feel it was also this factor that enabled them to open the account. I requested at the time of adding the new address, to be removed from the old one, but they haven't done it yet so have been in contact with them again today and they are removing it.

 

I am incredibly angry that someone was able to open a credit account solely on my name and my old address, whilst making up other fake details. Even the mobile phone number that I got off the advisor at Studio is a fake one. The police won't do anything as they say Studio are the victims. However, it would be my credit that would be affected when these b$st@ards run up debts in my name and get me defaults. A large company like Studio may loose out on the products already sent, however they should have carried out the correct checks in the first place.

 

Has anyone got any ideas or experience of this? I would like to complain about how a credit account was opened so easily in my name.

 

I am working with the credit reference agency who have added a password and a notice of correction regarding the search, temporarily on my account, until this is sorted out.

 

I am fuming as I have finally got my credit back on track and wanted to apply for a balance transfer card once I was on the electoral roll. Thank goodness I pay for unlimited access to my report.

 

On another matter, the idiots at TalkTalk who I was going to take out an account with but thankfully didn't, were able to search my Equifax report with an incorrect spelling of my name. How can this happen?

 

I find it scandalous that these reference agencies have our futures in their hands by allowing these inaccuracies to be bypassed, and people can search our reports just like that!

[ChilliPeppered]

Maybe this wasn't the right part of the forum

[ChilliPeppered]

Does no one have any idea??

[Brigadier 1JCS]

Hi,Request a copy of the credit agreement from them £1 postal order unsigned

send RD. See template letter on this site.

Report the matter to the Office of fair trading and the Information Commissioners

office asap.

Make sure you do not acknowledge any liability for this account,it might be worth a word with your local police as this is fraud of a nasty type.

[ChilliPeppered]

Thanks very much for your reply Brigadier.

 

I spoke to the local police the day after I discovered it (looked at my report in the evening) and they basically said they couldn't do much as it was the catalogue company that are the real victims Even though they were the ones who allowed this to happen, plus I think it's a high chance that the people who have committed this crime live at our old address

 

I am new to this site, where will I find the template for the credit agreement? Also how do I go about reporting to Office of Fair Trading and IC office?

 

I got a phone call from a manager at Studio last night at 9.30pm. She said there was a man who 'dealt with things like this' who will write back to me once he receives my letter. I informed her I was very upset that this had happened, and annoyed how easily they opened a credit account in my name.

[ErikaPNP]

CCA template

 

You can also send a subject access request for all information that they hold on "you".

 

Amend this one for your circumstances SAR

 

I shall alert some other members to your thread to see if they can suggest anything further that you should be doing.

[ChilliPeppered]

CCA template

 

You can also send a subject access request for all information that they hold on "you".

 

Amend this one for your circumstances SAR

 

I shall alert some other members to your thread to see if they can suggest anything further that you should be doing.

 

Thanks very much for your help Erika

 

I will have a read through the template.

[ChilliPeppered]

I am wondering whether this person actually signed an agreement with this company? As it's an online mail order, maybe it was signed digitally?

 

The SAR mentions sending £10, do I still need to do this and if so, can I reclaim it back from them?

[Bazooka Boo]

Have the Police given you a crime reference number?

 

Who did you speak to at the station was it just the front desk?

 

Go back and ask to speak to a senior officer, ideally the duty inspector and report this as identity theft/fraud, and if you believe you know, or think you know who may have done this advise them accordingly.

 

Keep as much info as you can in writing so you have a paper trail of evidence, get back in touch with the credit ref agency (CRA) and advise them that you have been subject to ID theft and place a 'notice of correction' on your file against the two searches.

 

Identity Theft - Who can help?

[patrickq1]

Have the Police given you a crime reference number?

 

Who did you speak to at the station was it just the front desk?

 

Go back and ask to speak to a senior officer, ideally the duty inspector and report this as identity theft/fraud, and if you believe you know, or think you know who may have done this advise them accordingly.

 

Keep as much info as you can in writing so you have a paper trail of evidence, get back in touch with the credit ref agency (CRA) and advise them that you have been subject to ID theft and place a 'notice of correction' on your file against the two searches.

 

Identity Theft - Who can help?

 

YES ASK FOR A SENIOR OFFICER AND GET A CRIME SCENE NUMBER hopefully the police speak with google and see where the goods are to be delivered ,then if they have any common sense they can catch the people who have fraudulently used your data...IF THE POLICE HAVE ANY SENSE lol fat chance in thinking outside the box huh

[ChilliPeppered]

Thanks everyone, the policeman didn't give me a crime reference number. I spoke to CID I think, or was it CIB? Anyway he said that he'd filed the incident and if they ever needed to go round there they'd keep an eye out for the things I told him that the person had ordered

 

It's appalling that the police won't even go round there to investigate! It is obviously someone at my old address, but the police said it is "usually someone not living at the address who hangs around in a van for the delivery, then offers to take the delivery in for the person".

 

I also think it's disgusting that CreditExpert are not able to take off the search straight away when I have told them that I did not authorise it. The same with Studio really. I've had to faff around sending proof that I live where I do, and yet they opened an account for some muppet supplying false details without a thought! It does not seem right, and I am fuming about it

 

Is it worth pressing the police about it and seeing if they will go round there? What about if I say I am going to go round there and have it out with them!

 

CE have placed a notice of correction on the search that matters, saying that I am disputing it. I have also put a password on my file.

 

Has anyone got any idea whether CIFAS would be a good idea? I am worried it will cause problems when I want to apply for credit using my details.

 

I am annoyed as I have just got my file back on track and wanted to apply for a balance transfer as soon as I was showing as on the electoral roll at my new house.

[Bazooka Boo]

http://www.cifas.org.uk/default.asp?edit_id=968-56

 

It may be worth it, but have a look on their website first and see if you can get any answer off that.

 

Yes it will have been CID, you should go back to the station and speak to them again, and say that it is having a serious impact on your credit file which will stop you from obtaining further credit, a Mortgage, and any future employment, and you need at the very least a Crime Ref number especially if they are not going to investigate the crime so that you may be able to attempt to sort this mess out with the Credit Ref Agencies.

[Brigadier 1JCS]

A letter of complaint to The Chief Constable and the local police authority shoul have some impact

Identity theft and fraud is ''supposed'' to be a priority.

Give the names,rank & numbers of the officers who have been dismissive about your complaint,

also a letter to your MP should stir things up!!

[ChilliPeppered]

Thanks everyone. I will ring the police again.

 

If I send the subject access request with ten pounds, can I get them to send this back to me afterwards, as I don't see why I should have to pay for this muppet who has stolen my identity. It's bad enough all the phone calls and postage charges this has cost me so far.

 

Also why is the forum all weird???

[Brigadier 1JCS]

Weird is in the eye of the beholder or something like that!!

[patrickq1]

A letter of complaint to The Chief Constable and the local police authority shoul have some impact

Identity theft and fraud is ''supposed'' to be a priority.

Give the names,rank & numbers of the officers who have been dismissive about your complaint,

also a letter to your MP should stir things up!!

 

well put general lol and you are absolutely correct get them plods on the beat and earn their keep, no wonder country's gone to dogs if theirs no discipline in the force what chance have we got,when i was a swimming instructor i used to take the police and fire service at least the fire service would do everything to the letter WHY because peoples lives depend on their discipline the police were just their for a laugh...

I also think it's disgusting that CreditExpert are not able to take off the search straight away when I have told them that I did not authorise it. The same with Studio really. I've had to faff around sending proof that I live where I do, and yet they opened an account for some muppet supplying

 

issue them with an ultimation that if the data is not removed with 7 days you will issue procceedings for any damages to your credit status and costs plus it shall also be treated as a libel action

patrickq1

patrickq1

[ChilliPeppered]

Weird is in the eye of the beholder or something like that!!

 

It just suddenly changed though... Has there been an update to the theme of the forum? Confusing for a new user!

[ChilliPeppered]

well put general lol and you are absolutely correct get them plods on the beat and earn their keep, no wonder country's gone to dogs if theirs no discipline in the force what chance have we got,when i was a swimming instructor i used to take the police and fire service at least the fire service would do everything to the letter WHY because peoples lives depend on their discipline the police were just their for a laugh...

I also think it's disgusting that CreditExpert are not able to take off the search straight away when I have told them that I did not authorise it. The same with Studio really. I've had to faff around sending proof that I live where I do, and yet they opened an account for some muppet supplying

 

issue them with an ultimation that if the data is not removed with 7 days you will issue procceedings for any damages to your credit status and costs plus it shall also be treated as a libel action

patrickq1

patrickq1

 

I am going to phone them again on Tuesday if not heard anything back, and if they aren't getting on with it straight away I will certainly send them that letter. Can I contact trading standards or the Ombudsman about it?

 

I have checked my call credit report as well and find that the credit card company I wrote to who failed to change my address, randomly upped my credit limit (despite me not using it for months previously) without me asking, and no doubt sent a letter about it to my old address! Thankfully there has been no transactions on there, I don't think they are stupid enough to include full card details on letters, and I have now closed the card.

 

This whole thing is a nightmare

[patrickq1]

one never knows i would write again to the CC company warning them they shall be held liable and not to increase your credit without your say so..

yes trading standars and the ICO and OFT because you could be held liable and them with the credit card may only need your account number and try buying on the net, the CC company may try to hold you responsible even though you are not we have seen so many victims on here for simmallar things take no chances change your card if poss

patrickq1

reason i say make your complaints is because if you were in trouble with them ie debt wise they would not think twice in harrassing you they would nt be polite they would just default and ruin you so get complaining its no good being nicey nice with this lot if they cannot do their job correctly then so be it after all its your life they are playing with also BILL THEM FOR EVERY CALL AND EXPENSE IT HAS COST YOU MAKE A DETAILED LIST and send them the damm bill make em pay they would you plus 8% intrest

[ChilliPeppered]

Thanks Patrick. Yes I will certainly be complaining and making sure they cover the cost of my telephone/postage charges.

 

Regarding my credit card, I rang to close it and have had a letter since to confirm it is closed. I will ring them tomorrow and ask why they put my credit limit up with 8 months of inactivity, and to confirm no transactions were made. I am freaking out about this now as well. I did write to them to change my address but they obviously didn't do it. I thought I wasn't getting any statements from them as my balance is zero. My balance on CreditExpert and Equifax shows as zero, last updated last month, so hopefully there hasn't been anything since. They didn't mention anything when I rang to close. I did tell them I had changed address then so that is why I have got the account closure letter sent to my address.

 

I will make sure to always get a mail redirect service setup next time I move. Not sure what else I can do, though it seems someone can open an account with Studio just by knowing someone's name and old/current address.

[ChilliPeppered]

CallCredit last updated 31st July and is showing as nil balance, so hopefully this is OK. If not then it is the credit card company's fault for 1) not changing my address when requested and 2) upping my limit without asking, thus giving notice to people living at my old address.

 

Though I suppose it is necessarily someone living at my old address, it could be as the policeman said, just a random selection. I am suspicious though, and this is going to make me even more paranoid

[ChilliPeppered]

Rang my card company today who have confirmed no transactions, nor attempted transactions. And my account was closed 2nd August. They did send out a new card, along with advice of my new limit to my old address, which has made me furious but THANKFULLY nothing has happened. Absolute imbeciles.

 

No contact from Studio today. Will be chasing them up tomorrow.

 

CreditExpert have emailed me back saying that they have again got in contact with Studio about this activity, and have let CC and Equifax know I have been a victim of ID theft.

 

Has anyone got any idea of a template letter or such that I can send to the police to try and get them to investigate this?

 

Also, if I send the subject access request, do I still need to send £10?

[Bazooka Boo]

I would save your money, a SAR would be pointless. As the CRA's have been informed of the ID theft, as long as they remove any adverse data, then there is nothing else you can achieve really, I though it was just a search on your CRF you didn't recognise? It would be a whole different ball game if they had placed adverse data on your files without you knowing and never having any dealings with them.

[ChilliPeppered]

Hi, someone else suggested a SAR to find out everything that Studio holds about 'me'.

 

It isn't just a search on Experian, an account was actually opened. It was only the fact that I pay for unlimited access of my credit report that I was able to find out so quickly. The account isn't showing on my report, and hopefully won't, as CE have been working with me to contact this company.

 

I'm going to speak to Studio tomorrow and find out if they have received my letter yet (they must have) and what they are doing about it.

[Bazooka Boo]

Thats just it, as you never opened the account in the first place, they won't have any info on you, so IMO it would be a waste of 10 beer tokens..let us know what Studio say tomorrow..