So I think I've been frauded

[Nage Waza]

Pay it and take Telus to court, they will pay you back promptly. Also, email heads of the company and CC: your alderman. That is usually enough to get a firm fast response. Even if they sold the debt to collections, they don't have clean hands.

[old-fart]

Pm sent.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Update:

Surprise surprise, no call from Telus's anti-fraud department despite calling them for the last 4 days. After a few more phone calls, I finally did get a hold of someone at Telus who said she could send me information about the account opened in my name. Seems ridiculous to me that something with my name and personal information attached is so hard to get a hold of. I've also had a couple of the good folks from CP who work at Telus helping me work through this.

The collections agency also sent me some info via e-mail, but it's essentially useless crap, because it just says I owe money. Doesn't say why, when or where. Completely useless hacks.

I'm still flabbergasted about how difficult it is to file a police report despite being a victim of a crime. I love how all the information I see says "Contact your local police immediately." "Contact your local police immediately". And yet when I do, they're essentially useless. I really do respect individual law enforcement officers, but this process has left me bitter about the lack of protection the police service as a whole provides.

Anyway I think at this point, I have no other choice but to go to the media. Mainly because I want people to know how difficult it has been for me, and how much work I've had to do to have this type of crime addressed.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

Update:

Surprise surprise, no call from Telus's anti-fraud department despite calling them for the last 4 days. After a few more phone calls, I finally did get a hold of someone at Telus who said she could send me information about the account opened in my name. Seems ridiculous to me that something with my name and personal information attached is so hard to get a hold of. I've also had a couple of the good folks from CP who work at Telus helping me work through this.

The collections agency also sent me some info via e-mail, but it's essentially useless crap, because it just says I owe money. Doesn't say why, when or where. Completely useless hacks.

I'm still flabbergasted about how difficult it is to file a police report despite being a victim of a crime. I love how all the information I see says "Contact your local police immediately." "Contact your local police immediately". And yet when I do, they're essentially useless. I really do respect individual law enforcement officers, but this process has left me bitter about the lack of protection the police service as a whole provides.

Anyway I think at this point, I have no other choice but to go to the media. Mainly because I want people to know how difficult it has been for me, and how much work I've had to do to have this type of crime addressed.

I think it would be a great lesson for these companies if you did

[BlackArcher101]

Have you tried creating a report with the RCMP?

When I lost my SIN card, I was directed to file with them as step one to prevent identity theft and because it's a federal issue. I would expect actual identify theft using a SIN would be the same? CPS is useless for things like this.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Have you tried creating a report with the RCMP?

When I lost my SIN card, I was directed to file with them as step one to prevent identity theft and because it's a federal issue. I would expect actual identify theft using a SIN would be the same? CPS is useless for things like this.

Thanks! Calling the RCMP definitely seemed like the right call. FYI their contact info is here:

http://www.antifraudcentre-centreant...portfraud.html

They gave me an RCMP Anti-Fraud file number, which will hopefully be sufficient for the collections agency to at least start the investigation. They also recommended that I call Telus to have them clean my computer, to notify my bank that I have been defrauded, and to call the credit agencies every six years to re-flag my account. Tons of good information.

Edit: Wow. I just called CBV Collection (the agency I've been dealing with) to see if an RCMP file number was enough for them to do an investigation since I don't have a police report yet. This was the first time I've ever gotten a hold of the person assigned to my file. What a b*tch. She basically laughed in my face and said that I needed a police report. I told her I had no police report because I was waiting on info from Telus and then she was like "Well why haven't you gotten the information from Telus?" like I'm some kind of ######. Most of the agents I spoke with before her were at least relatively polite. I sent a complaint to CBV, but I wonder... can I send a report to the BBB for someone being that rude to me? Ugh.

[FlamesAddiction]

I'm always amazed at stories like this where it's impossible to get the help and direction you need. Everyone just cares about their money.

Why on Earth couldn't Telus or the collection agency tell you to call the RCMP? This can't possibly be the first time they experienced a situation of identity theft. They're just hoping that you make things easy for them by shutting up and paying. Just reading this thread makes me want to rip my hair out.

[GP_Matt]

I am guessing that it is in their best interest to be rude and unhelpful to you. From what I hear, if you had called in with a police report they would have asked for an RCMP report. They only get paid if they collect and don't really care if it is fraud or not.
Your best avenue for complaint would likey be Telus or the Obmudsman in Alberta. I don't think he can help you, but he would likely be able to direct you to someone who can help. http://www.ombudsman.ab.ca/

As for the fraud, I wonder if they had your SIN number? Can they even file a report on your credit without it? I assume they can get a phone line without it but maybe not.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Update:

Great success!!!

Special shout out to old-fart for hooking me up with someone in Client Accounts with Telus who investigated my file. They did what appeared to be a thorough investigation (calling me a few times) and decided that there must have been an agent error when someone created the account (possibly with the same name as me). She believed that no fraudulent activity occurred and that my personal details were transferred with a mistaken change of address.

So they're gonna make arrangements to clear the money and my credit.

Thanks again old-fart, and to CP!

Also, let this be a cautionary tale to you all about the trials of being a victim of fraud.

Edit: Don't know how to edit thread titles. Feel free to continue to believe I've been frauded.
Edit 2: De-frauded.

[old-fart]

You are most welcome, happy to be of help.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

Update:

Great success!!!

Special shout out to old-fart for hooking me up with someone in Client Accounts with Telus who investigated my file. They did what appeared to be a thorough investigation (calling me a few times) and decided that there must have been an agent error when someone created the account (possibly with the same name as me). She believed that no fraudulent activity occurred and that my personal details were transferred with a mistaken change of address.

So they're gonna make arrangements to clear the money and my credit.

Thanks again old-fart, and to CP!

Also, let this be a cautionary tale to you all about the trials of being a victim of fraud.

Edit: Don't know how to edit thread titles. Feel free to continue to believe I've been frauded.
Edit 2: De-frauded.

Glad to hear it worked out for you. I had a situation with Rogers a while ago where they put my first name on the account and the last name of the previous tenant, and then wouldn't let me change the name on the account without permission from the fictional person on the account.

It's a different situation than yours, but it shows how easy it is for them to mess stuff up. Someone was being lazy.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Locke

$200 is not going to be causing any irreparable damage.

You would be surprised.

Due to a mix-up by BMO *and* Rogers I ended up with a collections agency coming after me for $125. I paid the $125, but BMO still had an unpaid bill on the ledger. I was turned down credit cards, loans and even had a mortgage application refused because of that $125.

It actually wasn't all bad. I would go to hockey games and fill out those applications for credit cards for a free shirt... knowing full well that my application would be refused. Useful for getting free stuff.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Glad to hear it worked out for you. I had a situation with Rogers a while ago where they put my first name on the account and the last name of the previous tenant, and then wouldn't let me change the name on the account without permission from the fictional person on the account.

It's a different situation than yours, but it shows how easy it is for them to mess stuff up. Someone was being lazy.

Wasn't the fictional person on the hook for the bill then? That could come in handy when it's time to move out. After plenty of shabby service from Rogers, I'd have no problem just walking out the door and letting "Dave Knievel" or whoever he "is" pay, or not pay, as the case may be.

[T@T]

I find the credit system a joke, a phone company can post a negative to the credit bureau and screw your rating but yet you can pay phone bills on time for 20 years and never get a positive report.

[Deegee]

Originally Posted by T@T

I find the credit system a joke, a phone company can post a negative to the credit bureau and screw your rating but yet you can pay phone bills on time for 20 years and never get a positive report.

I've used letters from utility companies verifying good repayment as a way for CMHC to approve mortgages for people with no past credit history.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

WTF?? That sucks! I wonder how they manage to get your SIN. Did you leave your wallet unattended anywhere? Dude that really sucks...

Oh, this is a landline phone? I read Telus and assumed it was mobile.

People should leave their SIN cards at home, no point in ever having one in your wallet.