Make sure you HAVE an account with ALL the credit ref agencies. If YOU don't - someone else MIGHT: and then they would have access to.......

[Girlwithsilversocks]

Not using usual name for identifying reasons

I have spent two days now changing passwords and speaking to the fraud departments of sundry financial service sector companies

What I did learn:

Make sure you have an account with all the credit ref agencies. If YOU don't - someone else MIGHT: and then they would have access to.......

All of your personal data, credit history, past addresses and anything else of interest.

The bastards set up an Equifax account in DPs name and had enough info to get into it: so they know literally everything. Passwords can be changed but your actual history can't. They reported our phones stolen the other day, and they were barred - then did it again yesterday and got as far as ordering a new sim in a store. They've tried to get credit and loans from quite a few companies unsuccessfully. We've had to register with CIFAS as at risk of fraud so anything applied for in our names is super high security.

So: something you can do is stake your claim - sign up for the three agencies (Equifax, Experian and Call Credit) - sadly you have to put you credit card details in and then remember to cancel after the 30 day trial, but you will still have an account. DP didn't and they just set one up!

I have Lastpass set up after the last MN webchat so passwords are secure, but personal details can't be changed.

Happened to me. Credit reference agency told me they don't make mistakes I must have done it and forgot. I asked when. It was the day dd was born. I pointed this out and that I could easily prove I was in labour and punching out a fresh human that day. They returned my money and apologised

Really - shocking

i have a cifas warning on equifax and experian i have a passcode i need to give over to unlock my credit its a pita because i cant even open a bank account because some girl stole my identity (and got away with it)

basically you need to learn this lesson too even if you haven't heard from a catalogue company for years make sure you change your address immediately if you move see i didn't for a week or so after moving house then i remembered and changed it they sent me a helpful email saying thanks for changing your address your order will be with you soon WHAT FUCKING ORDER? turns out the girl i did a house exchange with swiped the leaflet they sent me and ordered over a hundred pounds worth of stuff i reported it to the police and locked out my credit but because i returned the items and wasn't charged for it the police didn't pursue it apparently the fact that i was a size ten and my (at the time) husband was an ex large meant it was totally plausible to have ordered size 16 clothing for me and small for him plus little girl clothing when i have a boy (she is a 16 has a little girl and boyfriend at the time was a small) yes i was stupid not to have changed my address immediately but seriously? they sent me no paperwork for two years plus who knew they would randomly send me something!

im now stuck with a cifas warning and excellent credit i cannot use without great difficulty as i always get rejected with no reason and most companies wont go to the trouble of ringing and getting around it