Guides › Banking Scams and Fraud › Someone Took Out Credit in My Name
Someone Took Out Credit in My Name
If someone has used your identity, contact your bank and ask it to hold pending transactions, check your credit report for applications you did not make, and report it to the police through Report Fraud. You can also register with Cifas Protective Registration, which costs £30 for 2 years.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
What to Do
First Steps
Signs include bills or invoices for things you have not ordered, or unusual transactions. Contact your bank and ask it to withhold pending transactions. Check your credit report, which is free and will not affect your score. Register with Cifas Protective Registration (£30, lasts 2 years). Report the fraud to the police. source
Fixing Your Records
If You Are Unhappy
If you are unhappy with how a lender treated you, ask it to put things right first. If you are still unhappy, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 13 monthsReport an APP scam or unauthorised paymentWithin 13 months of the payment, but as soon as possible
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Contact your bank straight away.
Step 2 of 5
Get your credit reports and list every account you do not recognise.
Step 3 of 5
Contact each lender and say the account is fraud.
Step 4 of 5
Report it to Report Fraud and keep the reference.
Step 5 of 5
Consider Cifas Protective Registration.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Bank's Complaints Team
Always start here, in writing, once your bank has refused or not replied.
Report Fraud (Police)
Report any scam. Your bank may also ask you to report it.
Financial Ombudsman Service
You are unhappy with your bank's final response. It is free, and its limit is 430,000 pounds.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Change passwords on email and banking first: fraudsters often start there.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- reportfraud.police.uk/identity-fraud-and-identity-theft Checked 13 October 2026
- fca.org.uk/consumers/buy-now-pay-later Checked 12 October 2026
- psr.org.uk/information-for-consumers/app-fraud-reimbursement-protections Checked 13 October 2026
- reportfraud.police.uk Checked 12 October 2026