Removing CIFAS fraud warning

[foliedouce]

Does anyone have any experience of this I can share?

Last year someone stole my identity, opened a Barclays bank account, got money paid in then closed it again. No loss to me.

Thinking I was doing the right thing I reported it to Barclays, however 6 months on I find they have registered a CIFAS warning on my credit file which is causing me issues.

I called Experian, they said they can't help I need to call CIFAS, I call CIFAs, they say I they can't help I have to call Barclays. I call Barclays and they say I have to call CIFAS, I say I've already done that and then they put me me through to CIFAS anyway!

Angry is not the word, if anyone can help I'd be grateful.

Thanks

[lampchair]

The warning basically says you have been used to funnel / mule funds. So while you didn't lose anything, or do anything, you're still a risk as such.

[foliedouce]

If it happens again, I won't report it. It seems by being a good citizen, you're the one that suffers. The fraudsters / money launderers are long gone.

[Brads67]

Experian are a legalised scam bunch of wkers.

Won't help but just wanted to let you know.

[p_k_n]

Financial ombudsman?

[Sarnie]

It's Barclays that need to deal with this as they would have been the ones who reported it to CIFAS...........

[Mandat]

foliedouce said:

Does anyone have any experience of this I can share?

Last year someone stole my identity, opened a Barclays bank account, got money paid in then closed it again. No loss to me.

Thinking I was doing the right thing I reported it to Barclays, however 6 months on I find they have registered a CIFAS warning on my credit file which is causing me issues.

I called Experian, they said they can't help I need to call CIFAS, I call CIFAs, they say I they can't help I have to call Barclays. I call Barclays and they say I have to call CIFAS, I say I've already done that and then they put me me through to CIFAS anyway!

Angry is not the word, if anyone can help I'd be grateful.

Thanks

What kind of issues are you experiencing, with the CIFAS marker in place?

[Sarnie]

Mandat said:

What kind of issues are you experiencing, with the CIFAS marker in place?

Obtaining any sort of credit I would assume........

[Mandat]

Sarnie said:

Mandat said:

What kind of issues are you experiencing, with the CIFAS marker in place?

Obtaining any sort of credit I would assume........

That's why I asked.

I thought that a CIFAS maker on your credit file was supposed to help with preventing future ID theft / fraud by requiring additional checks to be carried out to verify that the applicant is the genuine party.

If that is the purpose, why would it make it impossible to obtain any sort of credit?

[Sarnie]

Mandat said:

That's why I asked.

I thought that a CIFAS maker on your credit file was supposed to help with preventing future ID theft / fraud by requiring additional checks to be carried out to verify that the applicant is the genuine party.

If that is the purpose, why would it make it impossible to obtain any sort of credit?

....because thats not happens, the CIFAS marker will cause auto declines..........they won't start asking you for ID and when you ask why they will simply refer you to your credit file...........

[Mandat]

Sarnie said:

Mandat said:

That's why I asked.

I thought that a CIFAS maker on your credit file was supposed to help with preventing future ID theft / fraud by requiring additional checks to be carried out to verify that the applicant is the genuine party.

If that is the purpose, why would it make it impossible to obtain any sort of credit?

....because thats not happens, the CIFAS marker will cause auto declines..........they won't start asking you for ID and when you ask why they will simply refer you to your credit file...........

If that is the reality, it sound like the system is not fit for purpose.

[foliedouce]

Yep - every FS outfit seems to have auto decisioning and a CIFAS warning, even a victim of fraud one, like mine, is auto decline.

My credit rating is 930 / 1000 apparently and I haven't been turned down for credit in 20 years.

Apparently I can send a boat load of additional information into the lender to get the decision looked at but frankly it shouldn't have happened in the first place and seems like a hassle for something that should have been simple. I'll finance it without borrowing.

I've called Barclays again this afternoon and 58 minutes of ranting later they tell me they can't remove it and it will stay on my file for 3 years! They tell me they have a duty of care to me, I don't want their duty of care, so lesson learnt, let Barclays get fked over next time if there's no loss to self.

[Sarnie]

Mandat said:

If that is the reality, it sound like the system is not fit for purpose.

CIFAS isn't specifically or only for Identity Fraud..............it's usually a marker for when people attempt to commit fraud.........Eg people who take out a Residential mortgage then rent it out...................or attempt to obtain credit with hooky documents.........

[lampchair]

Or try to get a job at some institutions using hooky docs, particularly statements.

[Mandat]

Sarnie said:

Mandat said:

If that is the reality, it sound like the system is not fit for purpose.

CIFAS isn't specifically or only for Identity Fraud..............it's usually a marker for when people attempt to commit fraud.........Eg people who take out a Residential mortgage then rent it out...................or attempt to obtain credit with hooky documents.........

Based on how the system seems to work, it lumps both perpetrators and victims of fraud under the same category, which seems very shortsighted in its design & operation.

[SpeedBash]

Doesn't the CIFAS marker only sit on your credit file for a limited amount of time like a year?

[Chellementu]

Hello OP, a similar thing happened to me the CIFAS marker will make ur life very difficult, you will not be given any sort of credit, mortgage etc, no jobs or bank accounts for SIX YEARS. What you need to do is write a letter which is an official complaint and mail it to the complaint department . Make sure your letter details all the events fully and why you think the marker has been wrongly placed. The bank should send their final response letter which hopefully will be in your favour.

[foliedouce]

Chellementu said:

Hello OP, a similar thing happened to me the CIFAS marker will make ur life very difficult, you will not be given any sort of credit, mortgage etc, no jobs or bank accounts for SIX YEARS. What you need to do is write a letter which is an official complaint and mail it to the complaint department . Make sure your letter details all the events fully and why you think the marker has been wrongly placed. The bank should send their final response letter which hopefully will be in your favour.

Thanks, mine has dropped off now as I was a victim of fraud, it only stayed on for 13 months. Luckily I didn't need a mortgage / credit during that time. Trying to get it removed was like going round in circles.

[95JO]

Only earlier this week did I have the opportunity to add a CIFAS warning to my credit file...

I got an alert from ClearScore (turns out they are useful for something) stating that a new hard search performed by Shop Direct will be added to my upcoming credit report. I've never used any of the websites owned by Shop Direct, never mind applied for credit... Turns out someone had picked up my old details (old address etc) and tried to buy multiple North Face coats on finance

Anyway, after being passed from pillar to post on the phone to their call centre, they told me that they already highlighted it as fraud and it will be removed from my credit file already. But, I do have the option to add a CIFAS marker to my credit file if I wish and to call them back if so... After a quick Google I was dubious and I'm glad I didn't opt for it.

Just to be sure, they can't go ahead and add the CIFAS marker for me without my approval?

OP - I'm sorry this has happened to you, it sounds like an ordeal to say the least. I hope you can get it resolved.

[foliedouce]

95JO said:

Just to be sure, they can't go ahead and add the CIFAS marker for me without my approval?

Yes they can, that's what happened to me, Barclays added without my knowledge / consent and it proved very difficult to get removed. In the end up, I gave up trying to get it removed.