"You're in prison!"

BluerthanBlue · 2023-02-07T18:42:51+00:00

I remember reading a guardian article about a lady in the US who had enormous problems when her identity got stolen. It stated that this wouldn't happen here. Well it does, is worse, and in our case been going on for nearly 30 years with arrests, money taken from benefits to repay fines, bailiffs, and most recently, this week, carer's allowance being stopped as "you're in prison". He has no criminal record or debts. He's had to make a declaration to the court that it's not him, had the property surrounded by 6 policemen because there is a warrant for "his" arrest, been arrested several times for this other person that has an extensive criminal record. He's pleaded his innocence and the mix-up to police that respond by saying "that's what everybody says" until the fingerprint is checked. He looks nothing like this other person: height, tattoos on the criminal etc. He's been told, by police, to always have his passport with him and he was given a letter, from police head of data, that he was not to be mixed up with this other person. Yet that doesn't stop his carer's allowance being stopped and they still have money for him that they took several years ago. What can be done?

Eyerollcentral · 07/02/2023 18:47

Sorry who is ‘he’? Go to your mp. Is this identity theft of just two people with the same name?

ErysimumCheiri · 07/02/2023 18:55

www.policeconduct.gov.uk/ independent office for police conduct complaint

MP for the money/benefits problem.

Consider contacting the BBC and see if they'd be interested in reporting on the case?

CoorieIn · 07/02/2023 18:56

That sounds awful. Nothing to add but ErysimumCheiri has good advice.

CoorieIn · 07/02/2023 18:57

Would a name change help?

Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:31

Person is DH. Been to MP. Tried solicitors. Police claim identity mix up but having spoken with the General Registry Office they can't find another entry with that name. Several complaints have been made to the police that just claim they've done the right thing and blame the court services (HMCTS). The police have suggested a name change but why should we do that? He likes his name and the children have his surname too. If there's no birth certificate it's clearly identity theft.

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Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:32

Would like to try the media, it's a story and a half, but don't know how

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Eyerollcentral · 07/02/2023 19:35

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:31

Person is DH. Been to MP. Tried solicitors. Police claim identity mix up but having spoken with the General Registry Office they can't find another entry with that name. Several complaints have been made to the police that just claim they've done the right thing and blame the court services (HMCTS). The police have suggested a name change but why should we do that? He likes his name and the children have his surname too. If there's no birth certificate it's clearly identity theft.

So has the identity thief been identified then? Surely he has if he’s in prison? Has anyone been prosecuted in relation to these crimes? Most sensible solution is for your husband to change his name by deed poll for all official documents. He doesn’t have to use it in real life?

Eyerollcentral · 07/02/2023 19:36

If the police referred you to HMCTS have you complained to them? Feels like there are a lot of loose ends here

Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:46

Yes, have complained to HMCTS and provided passport for proof. They refunded money they had taken, immediately put a warrant out for the arrest and DH was arrested! In claiming wrong identity we were given the other person's address and criminal record. Mainly petty. Has been referred for alcohol dependency. All crimes ever have been in East London. We are in SW London. Recently police did a welfare check after OP had discharged himself from hospital.

Everyone is blaming everyone else. MP gave up. Solicitors won't touch it as it's too complex.

That's why we are considering the media but don't know how to contact them. Someone needs to take charge of it all and kick some butts.

Changing name by deed poll may be our only option but it's very time consuming: NHS, schools, tax man, bills etc. And it still doesn't reimburse us for money they've taken or compensate us for all the arrests etc

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Eyerollcentral · 07/02/2023 19:51

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:46

Yes, have complained to HMCTS and provided passport for proof. They refunded money they had taken, immediately put a warrant out for the arrest and DH was arrested! In claiming wrong identity we were given the other person's address and criminal record. Mainly petty. Has been referred for alcohol dependency. All crimes ever have been in East London. We are in SW London. Recently police did a welfare check after OP had discharged himself from hospital.

Everyone is blaming everyone else. MP gave up. Solicitors won't touch it as it's too complex.

That's why we are considering the media but don't know how to contact them. Someone needs to take charge of it all and kick some butts.

Changing name by deed poll may be our only option but it's very time consuming: NHS, schools, tax man, bills etc. And it still doesn't reimburse us for money they've taken or compensate us for all the arrests etc

Right so does this man not have the same name as your husband? Or a very similar name? Has he actually committed a crime - take money from your husband f.e.? Is he trying to pass himself off as your husband but his name is completely different?
If your husband has been falsely arrested then he needs to go through the police complaints procedure and seek civil compensation. He may be out of time for the compensation if this was some time ago. What other money are you out of pocket? Have you ever done a chronology of events? At the moment it’s hard to follow this story.

BathTangle · 07/02/2023 19:51

Having had only a tiny taste of ID theft myself I can't imagine what this is like for your DH (and you).

This is the sort of article the Daily Mail, Sun etc ought to pick up instead of all the click-baity ones they usually do. Anyone have contacts in that world??

Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:52

And in trying to say they've done nothing wrong the police claim the OP was born on the same day at the same hospital. But General Registry Office have no record of his birth certificate! Doesn't that imply identity theft?? But the police say it isn't and they are sure of his name...

There was once an event when DH was 15 and he thinks OP knows people he knew. So it could be very old and he just keeps this as his criminal identity

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jtaeapa · 07/02/2023 19:53

Would this be an instance where the Daily Mail could be your friend?

Eyerollcentral · 07/02/2023 19:53

Do you know the man’s name?

Eyerollcentral · 07/02/2023 19:54

You should stop jumping to implying identity theft. Has this man actually been pretending to be your husband?

ladymacbeth · 07/02/2023 19:55

BathTangle · 07/02/2023 19:51

Having had only a tiny taste of ID theft myself I can't imagine what this is like for your DH (and you).

This is the sort of article the Daily Mail, Sun etc ought to pick up instead of all the click-baity ones they usually do. Anyone have contacts in that world??

Do you don't need contacts, they all have open emails to get these sorts of stories. On their websites

Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:56

Same first name and surname. Same middle initial. Middle name same as his brother.

No crimes against us, just using this name (that doesn't have a birth certificate) for all his petty crimes (dozens) and lately when staying in hospital and it sometimes causes problems on tax return as DH is accused of not disclosing all his employment. Has to write a disclaimer every year.

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MargaritMargo · 07/02/2023 19:57

As this point if I were you DP I’d legally change my name by deed poll and have my licence, passport, bank account, benefits and all other official docs and details changed to my new legal name.

He shouldn’t have to of course but that’s what I’d do as some kind of counter measure.

Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:57

@Eyerollcentral he has no birth certificate!

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Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:59

@MargaritMargo yes, that seems like only option but it's exceedingly time consuming and procedures are not tightened. Could still happen to someone else...

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Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 20:00

One would have thought that they would use middle names, NINO etc

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Eyerollcentral · 07/02/2023 20:00

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:56

Same first name and surname. Same middle initial. Middle name same as his brother.

No crimes against us, just using this name (that doesn't have a birth certificate) for all his petty crimes (dozens) and lately when staying in hospital and it sometimes causes problems on tax return as DH is accused of not disclosing all his employment. Has to write a disclaimer every year.

It’s not identity theft then. It’s just a coincidence. The police have given your husband a letter. If he wants to pursue them for unlawful arrest he can / could have. No one has taken any money from you and there have been no crimes committed. It’s a nuisance but what do you actually want to have done? This man be made to change his name because he has a criminal record???? Writing a disclaimer on his tax return is hardly the end of the world? Anyway wouldn’t they have different national insurance numbers????

Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 20:00

Does anyone have a link in the media?

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Eyerollcentral · 07/02/2023 20:03

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 19:57

@Eyerollcentral he has no birth certificate!

Right…but the police and courts, prison service, hospitals etc are all content that the name he is using is his legal name?

Original poster

BluerthanBlue · 07/02/2023 20:04

@Eyerollcentral there is an event from nearly 30 years ago that would imply identity theft. And there's no birth certificate for the OP. And middle name is used by almost all males in the family, just not DH.

HMCTS have taken money , refunded it, got DH arrested, then took the money again...

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