To think they did this on purpose? PIL related

[Dannilion]

Bit of background..

PIL's are shit with money. They have had failed business after failed business, declared themselves bankrupt, borrowed £££££'s from friends as investments, asked DH to launder money for them etc.

FIL is nice enough, just made some very silly decisions as well as being on the receiving end of some very bad luck. MIL are very different but get on on a surface level.

Anyways, a few months ago PIL's came round and asked if they could open a bank account in DH's name in order to receive their wages or something as due to their bankruptcy they were struggling with doing so. DH said no, as it was obviously illegal and he is also self employed and didn't want to be investigated. Also PFB was due and we were worried about the effect it would have on us when it came to claiming tax credits etc. Not that we should have had to have given a reason for not wanting to partake in this, but we had plenty.


Fast forward to them coming to visit the baby last week and bringing some letters for him that had arrived at their address. He gets the odd one every so often. He opens one and it's from Santander, thanking him for opening a new account. He never opened a new account with them, ever.

PIL's were very quick to say 'oh your father opened an account with them but they did it in the wrong name by accident, never mind all sorted now etc' and changed the subject.

I just can't see how a bank could open an account in the wrong name for someone who hasn't lived at that address in years. All his other mail comes here so if there is some sort of grand database it would had him at our home address surely?

I haven't broached this with DH yet as it would be devastating for him. But AIBU to think that they have probably gone ahead and opened a bank account in his name? Obviously if they have we will have to deal with it ASAP.

[olivertheoctopus]

Yikes, sounds unlikely to be a mistake. Tell your DH and let him decide what to do, they're his parents!

[freddiemisagreatshag]

They've opened a bank account in his name. He needs to get it sorted asap.

[minouminou]

Oh my shit!

I would be on it like a car bonnet.

I'd move this into Legal, as you may need more detailed advice, and also, because you are deffo NBU.

Accident my bum!

[MaxPepsi]

I don't want to sound harsh but they need reporting for Fraud.

NOW

I'm still boggling at the fact they asked your DH to launder money. Did they get prosecuted for that?

[monsterchild]

eek! I would get on that sooner rather than later.

And as the owner of the account, your DH can close it too. And stop any payment to it as well. Which he may want to do ASAP.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

YANBU and that is really bad. Like you say, it could have massive implications for your DH. He needs to have a word with them and tell them to get it sorted or he will inform the bank. It is quite a rigmarole sometimes opening a new account and at some stage they must have forged his signature - fraud pure and simple.

[Sokmonsta]

Id be going in asking what ID was used (they'll have copies) and close the account immediately, registering with the bank and the credit scoring people that it was opened illegally in your dh's name, family or not.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

actually, no ignore that - he needs to sort it not them...but like now...

[diddl]

Would it be easy to check?

So-how do you open an account in someone elses name (unless a minor)

Don't you need various proofs?

Bloody fraudulent anyway.

Hope you get sorted out.

[cozietoesie]

I would also report them for fraud, no matter how hard it might be for you - they clearly had no compunction about potentially putting you in it and who knows what else they might have done. You need the whole thing on record.

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

Of course they have opened an account in his name. And he needs to deal with it right now. Tax credits will be a problem, yes, but also if he is self employed then what happens when the inland revenue decide all the money going through that account is his and tax him on it?

He should go to the bank, with his ID and close it down. He can't leave it and he can't be bothered about how they feel about it.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

They asked to open an account in his name. He said no. Coincidentally, an account was opened in his name. Umm, no. It's not a mistake. It is illegal, immoral and stupid but not a mistake.

I do some facilitating with low income families and part of that is financial literacy. Every time I say there are two kinds of identity theft. One, your Russian mob, Nigerian 'royalty', internet gangster type. The other is family. The first is much easier to deal with.

[diddl]

That said, if they have-good news for you-they've been shit at covering their arses!

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

He also needs to get a copy of his credit report from experian and equifax, in case there's more to this than the bank account.

[mrsyattering]

I can't see how they could open a new account?? Dh & I just opened a joint account for household stuff, and we had to take passports, a utility bill and show other bank account details. He needs to sort this out sharpish!

[cantreachmytoes]

Agree with all of the above. I'd also call the police fraud number and check it out with them (don't have to give name), because it might be that if he doesn't report it, it could pose problems for him in the future if a credit agency does a check, even if the account was only open 1 week.

I had to call them about a year ago and they were extremely helpful.

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

oh, and re the bankruptcy - there are basic accounts you can open. I think the co op does one for undischarged bankrupts or there's always the post office account, while many banks have basic accounts you can open after discharge.

[carabos]

That's identity theft isn't it? He doesn't need to have it out with them, he needs to let Santander know and leave them to do the rest .

[LIZS]

If he occasionally gets other post to their address maybe they have intercepted something which was used as id . However it is not that easy to open an account in someone else's name without photo id. Agree he goes into Santander branch, tells them it is not legit and ask them to freeze it. If they have done this now , I'd be concerned about what they may have done , undetected, previously.

[sooperdooper]

How have they even managed that, they must've stolen some of his ID to show them?

They need reporting, that's identity fraud - what if they now apply for loans or credit cards in his name too??

[cozietoesie]

What if they already have sooperdooper?

[TigerSwallowTail]

Didn't your dh phone the bank and ask why an account was opened in his name?

[treas]

Get your credit score checked out at the same time. If they've opened this account they may well have got loans out in you DH's name.

[Dannilion]

Well this is the thing, I can't see them taking his i.d at any point, but am thinking it may be possible to have just done it online?

I've brought it up with DH and he agrees that it doesn't seem 'right' and has text MIL about it, I guess giving her a chance to explain before he calls Santander tonight. He doesn't want to believe they would do this though obviously.

[BerthaTheBogCleaner]

Your dh needs to phone Santander and ask about it. And then immediately close the account. You can put the money somewhere safe and quietly wait for the PILs to ask about it. At which point they better have a good explanation!

Although I would be worrying about what ID they used, and what else they've used it for.