The UK's National Consumer Council (NCC) is calling on companies to set up dedicated helpdesks for customers who have fallen victim to identity fraud.
The NCC says it wants businesses – especially banks, insurance companies, credit providers, phone and utility companies – to set up sector wide supports services for victims of ID theft.
Claire Whyley of the NCC, says: "ID theft has devastating, extremely stressful and often long-term consequences for its victims. They are left struggling on their own to unravel a complex web of knock-on effects across a plethora of companies and organisations."
The group wants companies to set up dedicated ID fraud customer helpdesks where victims would be allocated a named helper to provide practical help, support and reassurance throughout the time it takes until everything is sorted out.
The NCC also wants the government to encourage companies to adopt a minimum standard of service for dealing with ID fraud to make it easier for consumers to prove their identity.
Ultimately that could lead to a national ID theft help point where consumers could go to report ID fraud, says the NCC.
A US bank-backed Identity Theft Assistance Centre (Itac) was establised last year a free service to consumers. The centre helped restore financial IDs to nearly 700 victims of identity theft during a one-year pilot.