Cifas warning causes capital one to lock account

[Sheptonfuchsias]

Hi my son has a capital one account which he has maintained for 3 months with no problems. All fine. 

 

Two days ago I paid £320 off his balance  from my bank using my bank card, via his online account manager 

 

Today he went to use his card and it was declined. So thinking the payment hadnt been processed he went to the cash machine to check his balance only for the machine to retain his card. 

 

When he got home we tried to log onto his online account manager and found he couldn't log on and they gave him a number to call. We rang the number but that department was closed and he was told to ring back tomorrow morning. 

 

Being curious we checked on his credit karma account to see if anything flashed up there and there was a Cifas warning sated yesterday. It was a Mark 2 Impersonation of fraud at current address warning. Application refused. Further check showed it was fron Vanquis bank for a recent application for a Vanquis card 

 

I am assuming that because of that Cifas warning capital one has seen a red flag and blocked his account. 

 

Now this is where it gets strange because my son did make an application to Vanquis. He is basically being accused of impersonating himself. 

 

We are a bit unsure what to do because firstly what will happen to his Capital One account. Has it been closed and if so what happens to the remaining balance he owes. Surely given the fact we paid £320 would be enough to suggest its really him. I wouldbt imagine many fraudsters would actually pay off the debt as opposed to spend it. 

 

Secondly, how do we sort out the Cifas warning with Vanquis. They have placed that marker on there. Without even speaking to my son, other than the confirmatory phone call they made as part of his application. Obviously something he said or put in his application has triggered an alarm and that in turn has caused this CIFAS warning. Of course the problem is the warning is wrong. It was him applying 

 

Having checked the Web and read up on it it seems these warnings are placed without consulting the person involved so he has a totally wrong warning which would appear to have triggered his capital one card to be blocked 

 

Anyone have any ideas what to do to sort it out. Granted its not the worst problem in the world to have and on a positive note shows card companies do take card fraud seriously and they can spot fraudsters. But what do you do when the warning is wrong and actually you did apply. 

Edited November 23, 2019 by Sheptonfuchsias

[fkofilee]

Hiya

 

I have had involvement with CIFAS Markers for a while and its best sorted now before anything. 

Very shortly his life might come to a screeching holt with no Bank account etc etc. But if its Class 2 he might be okay. I think Cap One have locked his account to ensure that this is the son using it. 

 

You need to raise a formal complaint to Vanquis CEO - Ask them why they have placed this and what proof they have had. 

 

Quote

[email protected]

 

Also send a SAR to CIFAS (Looks like you might already have done)  -  https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=33324 

In there is a good piece on CIFAS - Cat 2 is basically a protective marker but is inconclusive... Unlike a Cat 0 Marker.

[Sheptonfuchsias]

Okay it goes from bad to worse. 

 

My son rang Capital one today who told him the account has been closed as its a fraud account!!!!! 

 

Obviously we are absolutely fuming as my lad has never committed fraud at all and been completely honest. They are unable to put us in touch with the fraud investigation team as they only work Monday to Friday. Fraudsters don't work weekends I assume. 

 

Anyway we are in a right panic now because he relies heavily on his bank account and is off to the USA in two weeks. The last thing we need is his bank suddenly closing his account whilst he is overseas leaving him stranded with no bank account and all his money in an account that is locked. 

 

Secondly and this is where i am fuming. I have just paid £320 towards his bill from my bank. They have taken that payment and now are saying its a fraud account. If that's the case surely I am entitled to ask for that money to be returned to my account. If its a fraud account they likewise have no right to keep a payment for an account which according to them shouldnt exist. 

 

I am utterly shocked that a credit card company would take payments on ab account theb claim its fraud. My lad would have to be the dumbest fraudster alive to take out a credit card, then pay off what he owes..

 

What on earth do we do. 

[fkofilee]

Also complain to Cap One... 

[dx100uk]

It will simply be that cap1 think he has fronted the card for you to obtain credit or that he didnt actually open the account and you did using his details without him knowing.

 

why they cant understand a mom wants to help her son is beyond me

 

Dx

[Sheptonfuchsias]

Firstly he is fully aware of the card. He uses it not us. He filled in all the details. As he did with his application for Vanquis 

 

I have a capital one card myself so that logic doesn't really apply. If I can afford to pay £320 on his bill then I wouldn't be using him to obtain credit. I could simply pay that amount on my card and spend at will. 

 

It all seems to stem from this application fron Vanquis. 

 

And assuming you were correct which you aren't, if he were taking out a card to help us surely him being aware does not make it fraud. Its would be his choice. To label him a fraudster or attempt to label us as fraudsters is deplorable. 

 

The actual truth is a reversal. We had no phone line or broadband in the house. We reached an agreement that if he wanted the broadband then he had to pay to have it all set up and a new phone line installed. 

 

He paid for it on his card and was supposed to pay it off but his work wasn't as busy as he hoped and with going to America it was going to leave him short. 

 

We agreed to cover the payments on his card until he is in a better position and rather than risk him having negatives on his card we set up payments through their online portal. You have to name the cardholder and provide all the details such as address and postcode. When he applied he told them he was living with his parents so you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out that we live at the same address and therfore if our names are used for payments there is a good chance we know about it. 

 

It's strange that his Vanquis application was the one that triggered the CIFAS warning and within 24 hours of it appearing on his credit file his capital one account is closed. 

 

Would that CIFAS warning trigger an automated shutdown of his capital one card? 

 

Whilst I understand security and them wanting to prevent fraud, to react to a CIFAS warning in such a way seems very draconian and certainly seems to be a harsh way of dealing with the matter. All they have to do is ask for identification which my son is more thab happy to supply 

 

 

 

 

 

[dx100uk]

I was merely pointing out possible reasons....

[fkofilee]

It would flag up to Capital One and they would then make a decision based upon the information in the report on CIFAS. 

 

How do you know its a Cat 2 CIFAS marker? 

[Sheptonfuchsias]

IHe has an account with a CRA and it says there it is an category 2 Impersonation warning 

[dx100uk]

Yep so someone thinks someone got or applied for credit using his details.

 

Had too be be one or the other of my suggestion s

 

Dx