At Last I’m a Fraud!
2007 rolls on a pace and I still can’t say I have actually won something at a raffle, or booked a last minute holiday to the Caribbean for £50, but there is one “it never happens to me statistic” to which I am now sadly part - identity fraud.
I have had a very good relationship with NatWest for almost 20 years. They give me all the toys to play with and a great personal service, but in early January something started to go wrong. Having always said yes, the computer started to say no.
That was three weeks ago and in that time my credit rating has gone from exemplary to student. After a huge amount of heartache and trying not to swear at hapless telephone operators I have discovered that some muppet tried to use my name and address to buy a computer from Dell. Dell, sharp as a tack, spotted this and against a house address I had sold in 2004 put a flag against my name (in 2006) saying I had fraudulently attempted to obtain credit. At the same time they put a flag against my current address saying I was a victim of impersonation. Apparently the two should have, in effect, cancelled each other out. Oh no.
According to the Personal Lending Unit in Edinburgh I am a fraudster and a fake. The computer has said no and simultaneously, while it was at it, ruined my credit-life for the next 5 years – not to mention incurred me bank charges of almost £300. No amount of human intervention from my bank manager, Dell or myself has been able to induce the application of the most basic of common sense and I am still this morning, a fraud.
The only shame is the low-life who perpetrated this in the first place didn’t do it online. Would have been a great war story to tell my clients – being in the Internet game and all. What a way to instil confidence that would be..
Anyway, thanks Edinburgh Lending Unit. Thanks a £milllion.
May 11th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Here I am commenting on my own story….Is that allowed? Well, nuts!
At last, I’ve been done online. Standing in between railway destinations, with a ticket that covers only the first half of my journey, my credit card is refused as I try to purchase a second ticket. Denied! Calling my bank I am eventually informed that I need to call number blah blah blah where after many false starts I am informed that I must cut up my cards as I have been a victim of identify fraud - again! No apology, moreover I am supposed to be grateful that the perpetrators have been stopped. My credit card number has been cloned online and some numpty has been shopping on it.
“When will my new card be delivered?” I ask.
“7-8 days” I am sympatheticaly informed.
It was a very long walk home.