SAFETY FIRST: CAPITAL ONE LAUNCHES FREE IDENTITY ALERT SERVICE

Capital One today announced the launch of a new free identity alert service available for all its customers.
 

The new Capital One Identity Alert service is the first of its kind to be offered free in the UK. Providing an early warning system, the service will alert Capital One cardholders by email to any key changes on their credit file. The alert includes details of any applications for credit that may have been made in their name with or without their knowledge. The service, provided by Equifax, one of the UK's leading credit reference agencies, is free and available to all Capital One customers - all they need to do is register online.
 

In addition to the email alert service, Capital One customers will also receive two free full credit reports each year of their subscription to the service.
 

Srini Gopalan, UK Senior Vice President of Capital One, said: "We recognise that, although the issue of ID theft is serious, customers don't always have time to regularly check their credit file for unusual activity that might suggest they have been victim to this crime. This new ID alert service gives additional reassurance for our customers and makes our ID theft protection service even more robust and valuable. ID theft is one of the UK's fastest growing crimes so this new, forward thinking service will help our customers protect both their identity and their financial reputation and help them solve any arising problems."
 

The announcement follows research carried out earlier this year by Capital One* that revealed over 42 million adults** in the UK don't know how to discover if they have been a victim of ID theft, while only one in ten knows exactly what do if they suspect their ID has been stolen.
 

By obtaining somebody's personal details an ID fraudster can apply for credit cards, loans and other financial products or obtain mobile phone contracts in their name. The unpaid debts subsequently accrued are then lodged in the innocent person's name. Ultimately, this can lead to encounters with debt collectors, court actions and problems getting a mortgage or even a job.
 

The new Identity Alert service adds to Capital One's existing security measures - including offering advice to help prevent, spot and resolve identity theft and a named adviser to provide confidential help at every stage of the resolution process if a cardholder discovers they have been a victim of ID Theft.
 

For more information on the Capital One Identity Alert service please visit www.capitalone.co.uk or call 0800 0665 825.
 

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*Research conducted by YouGov of a representative sample of 2331 GB adults between 31st May and 4th June 2007.
 

**Based on population stats from ONS and census data
 

Contact:

Sally Camm / Becky Paterson Capital One 0115 843 3676 / 6484

Jess Cross / James Gordon-MacIntosh Fishburn Hedges 020 7893 4321

About Capital One:

Capital One Financial Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange. In 1996 Capital One launched its first overseas operation in the UK offering credit cards, savings and loan products to UK customers. The UK Operations Centre for Capital One Bank (Europe) plc is located in Nottingham, where more than 2,000 Associates are based. Capital One is a top-ten credit card issuer in both the USA and the UK, with more than four million UK customers. Capital One's subsidiaries collectively have approximately 50 million managed accounts and $144 billion in managed loans. The Bank has won numerous industry awards for its products and services as well as accolades for its consistent work within the communities in which it operates.
 

Capital One has consistently provided market-leading consumer-lending products to its customers. In the UK Capital One was among the first credit card issuers to offer a 0% introductory purchase rate, combining this with one of the lowest 'go-to' rates on the market.
 

Capital One is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.