Identity Theft

Author
Discussion

LotusMartin

1,112 posts

151 months

Sunday 4th December 2016
quotequote all
Sounds like a nightmare. I had a few grand on my credit card a few years ago but that was just one source so easy to stop.

Any lessons learnt that could prevent something like this happening to others?

Alex L

Original Poster:

2,575 posts

253 months

Monday 5th December 2016
quotequote all
LotusMartin said:
Sounds like a nightmare. I had a few grand on my credit card a few years ago but that was just one source so easy to stop.

Any lessons learnt that could prevent something like this happening to others?
The problem is, I don't know how this person has got hold of my details.

All I've established is that it's incredibly easy to obtain credit with only a person's name/date of birth and address.

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Monday 5th December 2016
quotequote all
Alex L said:
The problem is, I don't know how this person has got hold of my details.

All I've established is that it's incredibly easy to obtain credit with only a person's name/date of birth and address.
It's usually stolen post or a worker somewhere that has been processing your data has sold it on isn't it?

Alex L

Original Poster:

2,575 posts

253 months

Monday 5th December 2016
quotequote all
DonkeyApple said:
Alex L said:
The problem is, I don't know how this person has got hold of my details.

All I've established is that it's incredibly easy to obtain credit with only a person's name/date of birth and address.
It's usually stolen post or a worker somewhere that has been processing your data has sold it on isn't it?
I assume so, in my case I expect the latter.

monoloco

289 posts

191 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
Alex L said:
DonkeyApple said:
Alex L said:
The problem is, I don't know how this person has got hold of my details.

All I've established is that it's incredibly easy to obtain credit with only a person's name/date of birth and address.
It's usually stolen post or a worker somewhere that has been processing your data has sold it on isn't it?
I assume so, in my case I expect the latter.
Name and address seems sufficient -some see-you-next-tuesday applied for a card in my name/address but completely wrong DoB and Barclaycard still issued it. Took a few weeks to resolve but eventually sorted and now registered with CIFAS to hopefully avoid a repetition.

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
Another great decision by the UK Plc. In other countries you can 'lock' your credit file, so when you apply for a loan, no info is given without your permission.

It was proposed in the UK, but the finance industry lobbied it down as they didn't want to lose sales due to any delays.

Alex L

Original Poster:

2,575 posts

253 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
I'm in the process of registering passwords with all of the main credit companies. It's frustrating that you can't do it once and they share the information.

Yesterday a bill for another mobile phone contract arrived, this time for EE. No doubt I'll be getting one from O2 and the remaining providers soon...