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Original poster

Address Fraud for School Enrollment - What to do?

19 replies

Lunar27 · 05/02/2022 13:55

Hi.

Someone has recently used my rental property address to get their child into a local prep school. It's not a mistake as they're not neighbours and we've owned the house for over 20 years (we lived there prior to renting it out and the tenants know nothing about it).

I'm going to contact the school to report it. However, I'm not sure if there are any other legal aspects I need to consider?

A credit check would only really tell me about my main residence so am not sure how I'd find out if they've been doing anything else relating to my rental (although I guess mail would've arrived, which it has not).

Is there anything else to do like contacting the council? If this were identity fraud I'd look at taking them to court but this is likely just parents looking to get their child into a decent school. However I need to be sure it's just that. Thanks!

OP posts:

RandomQuest · 05/02/2022 14:04

Prep school? As in private? That would be really strange as they don’t have the same admissions criteria as state schools so there wouldn't be any need to fake your address. I would be more worried about identify fraud tbh.

Original poster

Lunar27 · 05/02/2022 14:27

Thanks. I did wonder that but why would someone use a fake address? The letters were invoices and there are no other letters addressed to them.

OP posts:

eurochick · 05/02/2022 14:38

I've never heard of a prep school having a location-based admissions criteria. It sounds like it's a mistake.

HarrietSchulenberg · 05/02/2022 14:45

I would send the invoices back yo the school marked "Not known at this address" and let them handle it.

Eightiesfan · 05/02/2022 14:56

It could be the school has mis-typed the address into their manage to system, but I would make sure that it’s nothing more serious.

RandomQuest · 05/02/2022 15:03

I’d call the school or do a return to sender. Council won’t be interested if it’s a private school.
And if it helps offer a semi plausible explanation- we moved out temporarily into a rental whilst doing building work and I was forever mixing up the addresses and once sent a whole new bathroom to my neighbour by using the rental’s door number but our actual house’s postcode!

paname · 05/02/2022 15:05

That's not how private school works....they haven't used the address to gain admission. Someone has cocked up the address but it's not got anything to do with admissions!

LetHimHaveIt · 05/02/2022 15:07

Unless it's somewhere like Cranbrook?

Itsalmostanaccessory · 05/02/2022 15:07

If its just invoices them someone at the school has made an error when inputting the address. Call the school and tell them.

Viviennemary · 05/02/2022 15:09

I wpuld report them to your local authority. It's fraud and maybe even a crime.

Hapoydayz · 05/02/2022 15:12

If its a private school there will be no catchment area so it won't be for that reason

Original poster

Lunar27 · 05/02/2022 15:12

Ok thanks. I've probably been overthinking it and got myself in a tizzy

I'll call the school just to confirm it's not something more onerous though (obvs without asking and personal info).

The school is likely to be oversubscribed so not sure if they had a criteria for entry but as people are saying, it's likely to be an admin foul up.

Thanks again.

OP posts:

minipie · 05/02/2022 15:16

There are a few prep schools which operate a “preferred” area. One near me says it “prefers” pupils to live within a mile to facilitate walking to school and friendships etc
—the parents all drop off in 4x4s anyway—

Original poster

Lunar27 · 05/02/2022 15:20

Although, where would this school get the address from? Seems rather random as I've never been involved with the school or any of my tenants?

OP posts:

ItWasntMyFault · 05/02/2022 15:37

Could your tenants have sublet the property?

needmoreshinys · 05/02/2022 15:56

I believe, it doesn't matter is someone is using your address for fraud purposes unless, the letters are addressed to either you or your tenants.

You can check your credit score to make sure someone isn't using your details and can reccomend your tenants do the same.

Its very easy to input the wrong address, for example
72 flour road
72 flower road

ruthieness · 05/02/2022 16:01

might be a fraud which has not succeeded?
Scammers find out which school your child goes to
and then send a fake invoice for the terms fees with their bank details on!

NumberTheory · 05/02/2022 17:46

@Lunar27

Although, where would this school get the address from? Seems rather random as I've never been involved with the school or any of my tenants?

There are plenty of ways to screwup data entry if you have someone who isn’t very detail oriented. Sometime tools designed to improve data entry can make things worse. E.g. If they use some form of address verifier where they put in the post code and choose the address from a drop down (as you sometimes get on websites when you order.). If that’s the case mistyped the post code and plump for the correct house number without looking at the street name, etc. and you have instantly misaddressed whilst thinking it must be perfect…

xyzandabc · 05/02/2022 17:55

@Lunar27

Although, where would this school get the address from? Seems rather random as I've never been involved with the school or any of my tenants?

Probably literally just a typo.

72 High Street - your address
27 High Street - address of people with child at the school

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