Someone's set a business up in my name/address

Mynight · 2 Mar 2016 at 00:36

Bit of a weird one.

I've been getting a lot of spam calls/people knocking on my door trying to sell stuff to company X. This company apparantly uses all my details yet I have never heard of it let alone registered it. Annoyingly the companies trying to sell this stuff either flat out refuse or "can't" find out where they got such details.

I've tried googling the company but it doesn't appear in companies house nor anywhere I can find.

Any ideas on what I should do? Before I get someone knocking saying I owe them £X in a loan "I" took out.

Cheers for any advice.

Dis86 · 2 Mar 2016 at 00:53

Start by reporting it to the police. It's potential identity fraud.

Mynight · 2 Mar 2016 at 00:55

Dis86 said:
Start by reporting it to the police. It's potential identity fraud.

That was my first consideration but wasn't sure if "potential" would be wasting their time as nothing has really happened that could be a crime yet.

Is it a 111 job?

The only other thing I thought might be worth a shot is trading standards but I can't find any information on their site relating to such an issue.

Redrum · 2 Mar 2016 at 00:59

I'd get credit reports on myself if I were in your position. It might help work out who's behind it and may also show if someone's taken credit out in your name. You can get a free report from noddle.co.uk and Experian and Equifax have free trials.

Since it's actually in your name, you could try searching Google for your name and other details like your address and phone number to see if you find anything.

Dis86 · 2 Mar 2016 at 00:59

Mynight said:
That was my first consideration but wasn't sure if "potential" would be wasting their time as nothing has really happened that could be a crime yet.

Is it a 111 job?

The only other thing I thought might be worth a shot is trading standards but I can't find any information on their site relating to such an issue.

It's up to them to decide. 111 is where I'd be going though.

Redrum · 2 Mar 2016 at 01:06

111 is the NHS number. It's 101 for police non emergency calls. You might as well give them a call but I predict they will refer you to Action Fraud. This is a separate number you call so they can log the crime, give you a crime reference number then do absolutely nothing about it.

The police care so little about low level fraud that they don't even want to waste 5 minutes on the phone logging the crime, which is why they've set up a separate line for you to call so you don't have to bother them.

Mynight · 2 Mar 2016 at 01:08

Yeah just realised the typo my bad

. I'm sure the NHS would love to hear about my problem.

You are also correct they did refer me to action fraud.

I guess even if they do nothing about it I at least have some recourse should someone turn up at my door stating I owe them money.

Edit: I've checked my credit report exactly the same as it should be. Despite my best attempts I cannot find my details online. I do not exist as I like it

.

Annoyingly it appears as though action fraud only deals with fraud that has happened rather than the ability to preempt it. I'll have to ring them in the morning and hope it's something that can be reported rather than wait for something to happen then deal with the aftermath.

Dj_Jestar · 2 Mar 2016 at 01:37

Fraud has happened. You aren't the company director, someone else is, but they've used your identity to incorporate it. That's fraud. Perhaps contact companies house?

Mynight · 2 Mar 2016 at 02:07

Dj_Jestar said:
Fraud has happened. You aren't the company director, someone else is, but they've used your identity to incorporate it. That's fraud. Perhaps contact companies house?

It's not registered at companies house. I literally cannot find any information on this company yet in the past 3 days I've had 4 knocks on the door from companies 2 who insisted it was an arranged call. As well as around 7 phone calls all giving me my information but linked to this company I can't find.

Must admit I'm somewhat confused. I highly doubt any lender will lend to a company that isn't registered with companies house but I am somewhat concerned none the less.

Good point though I guess it is still fraud regardless.

Freakbro · 2 Mar 2016 at 05:57

Only Ltd companies will be registered with companies house of course, the could have set up 'Mynight Trading/As XYZ' as just a sole trader....not sure how you would find that out apart from your own credit report

wez130 · 2 Mar 2016 at 08:54

Redrum said:
I'd get credit reports on myself if I were in your position. It might help work out who's behind it and may also show if someone's taken credit out in your name. You can get a free report from noodle.co.uk and Experian and Equifax have free trials.

Since it's actually in your name, you could try searching Google for your name and other details like your address and phone number to see if you find anything.

noddle.co.uk

Also, Equifax's version is clearscore.

bazzabear · 2 Mar 2016 at 09:19

Do the things that have happened to you require that a company has been set up? Or merely that someone has contacted these sales people with made up details of a supposed company?

Someone pulling a prank on you akin to getting pizzas delivered?

Efour · 2 Mar 2016 at 09:35

1 call to the non emergency rozzer hotline just incase, if it is a legit ID theft case, you have some legs to stand on when The joker starts defaulting on debts !

HazardO · 2 Mar 2016 at 11:23

bazzabear said:
Do the things that have happened to you require that a company has been set up? Or merely that someone has contacted these sales people with made up details of a supposed company?

Someone pulling a prank on you akin to getting pizzas delivered?

This sounds plausable, have you been upsetting anyone recently nighty?

What sort of stuff are they trying to sell you?

Mynight · 2 Mar 2016 at 13:12

bazzabear said:
Do the things that have happened to you require that a company has been set up? Or merely that someone has contacted these sales people with made up details of a supposed company?

Someone pulling a prank on you akin to getting pizzas delivered?

You could be correct on that one actually.

Seems a rather weird thing to do though if it is that case.

As far as I know none of my friends have my business number and I don't think any of my clients have my home address.

O it's been things like business stationary/cards to a fleet company confirming my interest on purchasing a group policy of vehicles.