To be worried about this

[user1475530483]

I have name changed for this.
We have a live in Nanny who we really love and has been with us almost 2 years. We consider her part of the family, have taken her overseas with us, paying for her to go to her home country for 3 weeks (paid) over xmas etc, paying for her to learn to drive etc. generally think we treat her well and like a family member. She has been amazing to us also and I have trusted and relied on her like a family member.

So tonight i come home and open a letter which was declining me for a credit card application that I didn't apply for.

I immediately called the provider the letter was from to find out about it. I didnt get much information because they told me "as it was declined the application was wiped" however the person on the phone had enough info about the application to then ask me "do you know someone by the name of (Nannys Name) because the application was made by her"
Lady on the phone was quite cagey and wouldnt give much info but said that i was put down as an employer on nannys credit card application,.
i immediately checked my credit rating which appears to have been affected by this "hard enquiry" by this credit card place.

Afterwards I spoke with a friend who works at a bank to ask how this could happen - she said it is possible that I was listed as a co-applicant.

What I dont understand is even if she unknowingly added me as a co applicant - how did they do a credit check on me (which has affected my credit ) without my permission or knowledge?

My husband says she must have been approached by one of those sharky credit card pushers and likely didnt really know what she was filling out. But I have a really sick feeling about it to be honest. How would they be able to do a credit check on me? The letter declining me came to ME - as if I was the applicant. It is all extremely weird.

Is there a logical and innocent explanation for this ? Or should I be concerned that someone I trust isnt who I think they are ?

Someone started trying to take out payday loans in dh names , though for some reason used dh email, and he started getting emails rejecting loans ( suspect its because for non important stuff he puts wrong date of birth, so the loan applicant got his details )

He sorted it out through experion, they are bery helpful. You can also see all applications that have been made in your name, also can set a flag up so you are notified if an application is made in your name. There is also a note on his account about fraudulant applications, so loan companies can be extra weary) You also need to look at other companies that offer the same service as experian.

And why does it matter what my credit was before this? This is a “hard enquiry” on my credit which adds points. I have always had good credit and this has brought me down a notch- whether it’s from good to ok or from ok to bad or from bad to poor is irrelevant- it’s happened outside of my control - would you be ok with that

Because you can't grumble about her ruining your credit if your credit is already ruined by yourself.

You then backtracked after I'd posted that to say

It hasn’t killed my credit (perhaps I was dramatic earlier)

And I wouldn't say here is particularly helpful for advice and given that the only way you would get an answer is to actually speak with the Nanny, why not ask her first? It just smacks of you not trusting her.

If I had a letter through the post, I'd also do the same and phone the company. I would then ask the Nanny for her version of events, not conduct my own investigation behind her back and gather sources of unreliable info.

Is this a well known credit card?

It doesn't seem right that they would tell you that the nanny applied for the card, banks etc are extremely cagey normally about giving out any information.

Did any similar letters come addressed to the nanny?

I don't think anything unethical has gone on here. Either your nanny has perpetrated fraud or she or the bank have made a mistake somewhere. In jellybean's case, perhaps she and her OH are financially linked. That could be the reason for credit-checking her. I wouldn't be so quick to exonerate your nanny.

Sandy - the fact is I don’t know. I got this letter declining the card I never applied for so I called. They told me “oh I assume you don’t know anyone by the name of (nanny’s name)” and I said well I do actually. Then she told me that because the application was declined the info was wiped but she knew enough to tell me who the applicant was and that I was listed as an employer .

They were weird actually thinking back - apparently the security dept had gone home but had passed on a message to tell me to contact the credit bureaus when I tried to ask more !!
But I still don’t get why they’d credit check an applicants employer
Sounds to me more like they’ve got unsavoury practices and I’ll have to dig a bit more. My research tonight shows they have to produce any application with my name on.

None of what i outlined above affected dh credit rating.

I used to work in a bank - application being ‘wiped’ as it was declined is weird.
Can I ask who the lender was? PM me if you want.

I would always look to impartial information to tell me what is going on. People do let others down terribly and some people see kindness as weakness. A person that would fraudulently apply for a credit card in your name is unlikely to admit to it unless the evidence is overwhelming. Then again, if there has been a terrible mix-up and she is completely innocent I would rather not bring it up at all.

I'm surprised your credit rating was affected so quickly. In my experience it usually takes a month or two for a credit reference agency to update the details of any searches.

I used to work in a bank - application being ‘wiped’ as it was declined is weird.
Can I ask who the lender was?

this

The bank never said the nanny applied for the credit card. They just have her name down on the application somewhere. Perhaps as a secondary cardholder.

It might be worth going to the Moneysavingexpert forum and posting on the credit card board. It definitely warrants further investigation.

This definitely doesn't sound like any kind of financial institution that I've ever dealt with.

It sounds like you rang them twice, is that right as you say the security dept left a message for you. If you aren't already a customer how did they know the message was there for you when you rang back?

Is it a very small provider with only a very few call centre staff? That might explain why they seem to operating in a different way to other companies.

Emily you’re being obtuse / the fact is as I previously stated that this hard check has affected my credit rating - however regardless of that / my concern is either fraudulent application in my name or illegal unauthorized credit check taking place.

I’m not investigating her behind her back to gather evidence against her - if you read my previous replies I would prefer to understand what has happened rather than appear to be accusing her and put her on the spot

Who's the lender OP?

Maybe someone who works for them can shed light on their practices for you?

Banks are often reluctant to discuss details where they suspect fraud. Anyway, I've said what I think. I will bow out now. The nanny may be completely innocent. Just keep an open mind. The simplest answers are usually the right ones. But not always.

Fluttershy nope as per the report I ran today the check was done around a week ago

They didn’t credit check you (not likely as you’d have ‘passed’ with all your money/mortgages/other cards)

You’ve been turned down because she’s accidentally (or deliberately with fraud) put you down as primary card holder and her as additional - and the combination means you’ve failed - they don’t do ‘company’ business cards this way

She’s basically tried to make an ordinary credit card a company one by having you as the employer

Without her being ‘family’ - you can apply for additional cards with spouses/children/parents - it’s not worked

Yes you need to complain - however you have a bigger problem with the nanny - she’s got enough PERSONAL info about you to apply for credit in your name.

I read the other day about being able to ‘block’ credit being taken out for certain periods - 6 months, a year - but I don’t know more about it (actually I think it was John Oliver’s American show - so it might only apply there)

Thanks Charleston I’m not sure if you’re saying I should or shouldn’t be wary but I appreciate the advice anyway

You can speak to your Nanny though, with the fact you have.

You have received a letter telling you your credit card app was declined - just ask her if she knows anything as you're confused why you got it?

Laiste I’m overseas but it’s a national retailer that’s gone into credit card lending I guess

Why has it affected your credit rating?
Dh credit rating was 100% despite having fraudulant loans rejected

No Idea bruffin I’m not in the uk and I understand there’s a point system for hard checks and other “violations “ for want of a better word .

You should be wary. Just because she's been great up to now doesn't mean she can't have let you down in this way. I have watched video footage of carers of many years steal money after secret cameras were installed because money was going missing repeatedly. Some of these carers were seen as members of the family and had been employed for many years. They did it because they thought they could get away with it. Just try to find out from the credit card company what has gone on so you can come to a conclusion on whether this was a mistake or deliberate.

Laurie they DID credit check me personally it appears on my credit report