
Protective Registration is a service offered to consumers by CIFAS to help to protect those who are under threat or risk of identity fraud.
CIFAS charges £12 plus VAT per annum to add a Protection Registration to your file. If not renewed, the Protective Registration lapses.
If you apply for Protective Registration, then any CIFAS member that searches your credit report will be warned that Protective Registration has been placed against your name. CIFAS members will see "CIFAS-DO NOT REJECT-VALIDATION REQUIRED".
CIFAS Members are then required to make additional verification checks to ascertain that the applicant is genuinely you. You may experience delays while your application is verified whilst Protective Registration is recorded at CIFAS.
As Protective Registration is only visible to CIFAS members (approximately 270 of the several thousand lenders in the UK – although all large lenders are CIFAS members), you may also consider placing a Notice of Correction on your credit report, asking lenders to take extra care in authenticating your credit applications. This costs nothing, remains on your credit report until you remove it, and reaches all users of credit reference agencies and not just CIFAS members. You need to submit a suitable Notice of Correction to each of the three credit reference agencies.
See also CIFAS and CIFAS Entry.
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