to expect my bank to tackle Identity Fraud when I can see it under my nose???

[EmotionalRex]

The previous tenants in my house keep opening new bank accounts saying they're living at this address (where they no longer live).
I've been into the bank (which is also mine, incidentally) and because they're not applying in my NAME but my address, they just say, 'oh, mark them as no longer at this address, and send them back to us.'
Tried this approach only to find they've taken another account out this week. Grr.
And just called the bank again, who gave me a grilling to get MY details to even discuss it, and then proceeded to be completely useless again. They reckon I should pay out to some company for 7 quid a month to protect myself... why can't THEY sort this out - and why aren't they getting proper evidence that the people opening bank accounts live where they say they do??

Why do you need to protect yourself?

when I say that they said 'send them back to us' i meant the letters, not the previous tenants of course

I mean protect yourself from what?

I'm not sure, since they're committing the fraud... perhaps in case the address gets blacklisted?

Addresses don't get blacklisted.

It doesn't go on the address, it is attributed to the individual. As they are not using your name it is in fact not ID fraud.

Keep returning the mail to them.

OK, well then I still don't understand the bank's approach to this.

Thanks both - Kutner, it says it's still identity fraud according to the gov website but it's identity fraud of address, not personal identity?
I'm just concerned that it will have some impact upon us.

I suppose I'm also angry that the bank doesn't seem to give a monkeys...

it won't have any impact

we were having a lot of stuff coming to our address for the previous owners

i rang Experian who said to keep returning letters with "RTS - addresses not known here"

most of the letters have since stopped

Thanks rubyslippers.

We have had bailiffs... (well, THEY, but we live here now, so it's our door they're knocking on) so I guess that's one thing I'm not keen on.

I used to work for a major credit card company in their fraud department, but that was a few years back so it may well have changed.

AFAIK the only thing that is a problem is that the bank think that these people live at your address.

Worst case scenario is that they run up a debt whilst saying that they are at your address. You'll know if red letters start arriving for them on your doorstep.

It is an inconvenience if this happens but it's not as if they can chase you for the money as it's not your debt iyswim?

If you've already called them and return the mail you are doing as much as you need to IMHO.

Thanks Kutner, I'm sure you're right, and we have in our favour the fact that we've never had so much as a parking fine.
I'm just so cross that people can do this and get away with it.

It's terrible isn't it?

Another possibility is to call the bank and ask for their complaints dept. Write them a letter to say that you feel harrassed by the ongoing mail. This may spur them into stopping sending it out.

FWIW I'm still receiving credit related bills for the previous tenant at my address and I've been here two years and return the mail every month

Ok will do - sounds a good plan - and I think I'll maybe send them a copy of my tenancy agreement too, which states exactly who does live at the property.

Hi Rex, we are in same boat: we also keep receiving bills for old occupants (we have been living here since '04).
until recently we had no idea where the old owner had gone off to, but now we know where he lives, and we're now sending all the bailiffs on to their new address...

we've had the court bailiffs here (think for one of the guy's fines) and they were quite rude until it was not us they were after.

it is infuriating that people can just disappear and leave others to cope with their financial mess...

You're right to be annoyed we will all end up paying for the debt they run up.

Had similar experience with fraudulent tax thing in my name (and address) even reporting it took considerable time and effort on my bahalf.

I've had exactly this problem recently - wouldn't be barclays would it? Worse than useless.

I would advise you to open the letters before returning them to the sender. Although this is technically an offence (according to Barclays), you will at least get a heads up as to when the bailiffs will arrive.

And they will at some point - they're not using your address intending to pay their debts are they?!

The debts to private companies (credit cards/overdrafts, etc) weren't so much of a problem. The bailiffs did turn up, but we managed to convince them that the person didn't live here. Bizarrely, the 'proof' consisted of a utility bill in my name. Surely that just proves that I do live here, not that the debtor doesn't, but I digress..

The one that WAS a major problem, was fines due to the magistrates court for motoring offences. Not paying these can mean a prison sentence, and they were much harder to convince. They also have the power to force entry to your property. I couldn't leave the house for 2 wks in case they turned up while I wasn't there.

As I say, I would advise you to open all letters. If you get one from a debt recovery agency, get onto it straight away.

if you send the bank/creditors anything or if you return bills in unopened envelope, make sure you send recorded mail: that way they can not claim not to have received it (which is what happened to us on a number of occasions).

many debt collectors just toss the 'return to sender' in the bin.

'many debt collectors just toss the 'return to sender' in the bin. '

Yeah, that's what I was worried would happen.

No I don't bark with Banclays

To use my bank's slogan, "there is another way"... and apparently it's sloppy and apathetic .

rambleon: that's the rude ones i was talking about, the magistrates court. we've had them here and we were due to go on holiday the next day.

turned out it was lucky we had not gone yet as, as they put it: "you could've come home to find the entire contents of your home and garden shed missing".

Holy poo, Honneybunny - not the best start or end to a holiday...

It's been said that "Addresses don't get blacklisted" but I think the current occupants could be suspected of being the ones doing this.

Btw do the previous people have access to your mail? I had something like this once when I lived in a place with mailboxes outside. It meant they could collect the letters themselves without me knowing.

ER - do you know where they have gone? Are they still in the area?

hbunny - yes, rude and aggressive, even when I answered the door carrying my 3wo newborn. They tried to push past me and wedged a foot in the door so I couldn't close it on them.