Security
Contact your bank or building society straight away if you’re worried someone might have access to your account.
Check your bank statement or the bank’s website for the phone number to call for reporting security issues – or go to their branch in person. When you contact your bank, they’ll take action straight away to protect your account.
You should also report the crime to the police through Action Fraud: telephone 0300 123 2040 and textphone 0300 123 2050. They’ll log it and give you a crime reference number.
Identity theft
If someone used your name to open new accounts, get credit or buy services this is called ‘identity theft’. If you start getting bank letters, bills or letters from debt collectors that you know nothing about, this might have happened to you.
You should contact your bank straight away. They will investigate, take action to protect your accounts and refer the crime to the police.
You should also contact the main credit reference agencies: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Explain you’ve been a victim of identity theft and ask them what credit accounts or services are on your file. Tell them which ones you didn’t apply for and ask for the information to be removed. You can also ask the credit reference agency to add a password to your file – this is called a ‘notice of correction’ password.
Postal crime
If you think someone has got your details by stealing your post, or by getting mail redirected, contact the Royal Mail Customer Enquiry Number on 03457 740 740.
Citizens Advice Central Notts can help with this and other issues. Contact them:
- Ollerton office: 5 Forest Court, NG22 9PL – Monday and Wednesday. 9.30am to 2.30pm.
- 01623 861769 – you may be offered a call back.
- They also have outreaches throughout the local area which may be closer to home – for dates and times check online or call them
- www.ca-centralnotts.org.uk
- admin@ca-centralnotts.org.uk