ID Theft
Protecting our customers from identity theft
Your identity and personal information are of value to criminals. They can take and use your personal details to open bank accounts, apply for credit cards, loans, state benefits, mortgages, passports and driving licences – all in your name. If your identity has been stolen you may have difficulty accessing your own bank account and have to spend days sorting out finances and documents until the matter is resolved.
How will our ID Theft Assistance service help you to clear your name?
If you do become a victim of identity theft, RIAS can help resolve the situation in four ways:
- Provide you with your own Case Manager
As soon as you call we will assign you to your own dedicated expert, who will help you establish whether or not your identity has been stolen and provide you with practical help and advice.
- Put in a request for your Credit Files
Your ID Theft Case Manager will work with all three credit agencies (Experian, Equifax and CallCredit) to establish a complete overview of your personal credit history. They will then create and dispatch the relevant documents and explanatory notes to you, so you can complete the process of clearing your name. Please note there is a small charge for each credit report.
- Undertake Identity Recovery and CIFAS Protection
If your credit report does identify any credit agreements that you did not take out yourself, your Case Manager will work with you to correct and amend your credit file. If appropriate we will arrange for CIFAS (the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service) Protective Registration, to help you prevent future ID theft.
- Provide you with proof of Identity If a bank or other company involved in the crime has any doubts that you were a victim of identity theft, they may require more proof. In this situation your Case Manager will help by putting together all the evidence for you, this will include proof of identity and documentation that fully clears your name.
This service is provided by Europ Assistance Holdings Limited and the helpline number is 0870 737 5709. Lines are open 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
To identify if you are a potential victim, look out for:
- Bank statements or correspondence that does not arrive, or if you are receiving no post at all.
- Bills, invoices or receipts addressed to you for goods and services you know that you haven’t requested.
- A refusal of an application for a credit card, mortgage or loan, despite having a good credit history.
- Letters from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren’t yours.
- If you lose or have your passport or driving licence stolen, you may become a target.
Useful contacts