The National Lottery Community Fund — CIFAS Marker Removal

Removing a CIFAS marker recorded by The National Lottery Community Fund doesn’t have to be confusing or impossible. This guide breaks down exactly what a CIFAS marker is, how it affects you, and the proven steps to remove yours.

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June 30, 2025

What is CIFAS?

CIFAS (or Cifas) stands for Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System.

It’s an unregulated not-for-profit fraud prevention organisation with over 500 member organisations. CIFAS manages the UK’s largest database of confirmed fraud risk — the National Fraud Database (NFD).

CIFAS members include banks, lenders, telecom companies, and other financial services, including The National Lottery Community Fund, that share information about fraud to help prevent financial crime.

What is a The National Lottery Community Fund CIFAS marker?

If The National Lottery Community Fund believes you’ve been involved in fraudulent activity, they can submit a record about you to the NFD. This record is referred to as a ‘CIFAS marker’.

Once submitted, that marker is then visible to other members. They can use it when detecting, preventing, or investigating fraud.

This is permitted under Principle 2: Purpose Limitation of the National Fraud Database Principles, which outlines the requirement for legitimate and proportionate use of such data.

When you apply for a financial product like a loan, credit card, or even a mobile contract, the company may search the NFD.

Should this search flag a CIFAS marker, they may use it to make a decision. Often, this results in automatic rejection of the application.

In some cases, the presence of a CIFAS marker might even cause existing facilities to be withdraw or closed, including bank accounts, credit cards, or payment platforms.

The impact may also extend to financial employment, particularly in regulated sectors such as banking, accountancy, and legal.

How long does a CIFAS marker recorded by The National Lottery Community Fund remain?

The National Lottery Community Fund may apply different categories which last different durations based on the fraudulent conduct.

1. Protective Registration

A self-requested marker added for precaution when you believe you’re at risk of identity fraud. This remains on file for 2 years.

2. Victim of Impersonation

Can be added by The National Lottery Community Fund when they believe your identity has been used fraudulently to protect you, not to penalise. Lasts for 13 months.

3. First Party Fraud

Involves obtaining goods, services, or credit with no intention to repay. Remains for up to 3 years if you are under at 21 at the time of record, and up to 6 years if over 21.

4. Facility Takeover

Where The National Lottery Community Fund believes you’ve gained access to an existing account and have carried out unauthorised activity. Lasts up to 6 years.

5. Misuse of Facility

Recorded if The National Lottery Community Fund believes you’ve opened an account or service with the intent to defraud. Stays for up to 3 years for under 21’s, or up to 3 years if over 21.

6. Asset Conversion

Selling goods (usually under finance or lease) without legal ownership. Remains for up to 6 years.

7. Application Fraud

This category type is used when The National Lottery Community Fund believes they have evidence that you’ve submitted false information, or altered documentation, as part of a financial application to expedite the likelihood of a successful outcome. Stays for up to 3 years if under 21, or up to 6 years if over 21.

8. Insurance Claims Fraud

Providing false details in an insurance claim to receive a payout. Remains for up to 6 years.

What can a The National Lottery Community Fund CIFAS marker affect?

The National Lottery Community Fund CIFAS markers can influence a wide range of financial implications or existing facilities.

When you apply for a new facility, such as a bank account, any markers on your record may be flagged during automated or manual checks—often leading to delays, restrictions, or even rejections.

Mortgage Applications

Mortgage lenders carry out detailed credit and fraud checks, and CIFAS markers—especially those related to fraud—can raise red flags. While a marker doesn’t guarantee rejection, it can slow down approval, trigger additional scrutiny, or lead to stricter conditions.

Car Insurance

Although CIFAS markers won’t stop you from getting car insurance, they may affect how you’re allowed to pay—depending on the member.

In some cases, insurers may deny credit-based payment plans and require full payment upfront. Markers can also contribute to higher premiums.

Loans, Overdrafts, and Credit Agreements

Personal loans, overdrafts, business finance, and even mobile phone contracts usually involve credit checks. A CIFAS marker—especially one related to application fraud or misuse—can make approval more difficult or lead to outright rejection.

Student Loans

Your credit history doesn’t affect eligibility for student finance. However, if a CIFAS marker causes your account to be frozen or closed, your student loan payments can’t be issued—effectively disrupting your funding access

How to remove a The National Lottery Community Fund CIFAS marker

The National Lottery Community Fund CIFAS markers can absolutely be removed, but only if you do so correctly by knowing your rights and the legalities first. 

Below is a step-by-step guide with graphical representations of each step for accessibility.

Step 1: Submit a Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) to CIFAS

Head to the CIFAS website, fill out the ‘Data Subject Access Request’ form, and verify your identity to complete the DSAR to CIFAS.

Requesting the Data Subject Access Request on CIFAS.org.uk Website
Data Subject Access Request to CIFAS Received Confirmation with Tracking

Step 2: Await Subject Access Response Returned Data (CIFAS Report)

Despite that it states 10 working days on the CIFAS website, it usually takes up to 4 working days for the CIFAS report to be emailed to you.

CIFAS Data Subject Access Request retuned CIFAS report

Step 3: Analyse your CIFAS Report

Once you’ve received the report, analyse it to find and then note down the following:

  1. Filed by The National Lottery Community Fund;
  2. Case type;
  3. Reason(s) for filing; and
  4. Cifas filing.
CIFAS Report Outlining Analysis Requirements
CIFAS Report Outlining Analysis Requirements — Cropped Edition

Step 4: Learn the legalities, and your rights

Prior to adventuring onto complaint production and submission, it is absolutely vital that you learn the following:

  1. CIFAS Principles including:
    • Principle 4: Lawfulness (Standard of Proof);
    • Principle 5: Fairness (Protecting innocent parties);
  2. UK Finance guidelines relating to CIFAS-related complaints; and
  3. Key insights from Financial Ombudsman decisions.

Principle 4: Standard of Proof (Lawfulness)

According to Principle 4: Standard of Proof (Lawfulness), The National Lottery Community Fund, when recording or maintaining a CIFAS marker must adhere to the following evidential requirements:

  • Retain a compact file of evidence showing clearly that you either acted with:
    •  Complicity in fraud; or
    • Deliberate dishonesty with the intent to defraud the institution or someone else.

Without these requirements having been met, the CIFAS marker is unlawful.

Principle 5: Fairness (Protecting innocent parties)

This principle enforces the protecting of innocent parties, including unwitting victims of fraud and financial crime, such as an unwitting money mule, or the victim of a chargeback scam.

If you have been the unwitting victim of fraud or a scam, but have been penalised with a CIFAS marker, this is additionally unlawful.

UK Finance guidelines relating to CIFAS-related complaints

As per guidelines imposed by UK Finance, once a CIFAS marker recorded by any member, including The National Lottery Community Fund, is considered unlawful, it must be removed immediately from the database.

It also states that once a CIFAS marker has served its purpose, it must also be removed. Keep this in mind for describing your implications later.

Key insights from Financial Ombudsman decisions

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) publicly releases a number of their responses to CIFAS-related complaints, some with the decision made favour of the complainant.

You can use these decisions to learn how to position and structure your challenge.

Look at cases specific to The National Lottery Community Fund CIFAS markers, including what the Ombudsman states as there key guidelines and insights in what they say, even from the CIFAS Handbook which isn’t accessible to the public.

Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) Decisions on CIFAS Marker Removal
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) Decisions on CIFAS Marker Removal — Actual Document

Breaches to terms and conditions does not constitute a lawful basis to record nor maintain a CIFAS marker

A number of CIFAS member organisations may attempt to maintain a CIFAS marker simply based on a breach to their terms and conditions.

Breaching The National Lottery Community Fund’s terms and conditions is not a lawful basis to record nor maintain a CIFAS marker.

It simply means, if anything, that they were correct to withdraw or close the facility, or reject the application, but they were not correct to load the CIFAS marker against you. 

Should this basis be used by The National Lottery Community Fund, it can be a good indicator that they lack the evidence to be able to maintain the CIFAS marker lawfully as per the CIFAS National Fraud Database Principles.

Step 5: Start strategising your challenge

Now that you know the relevant legalities and your rights, you can start strategising how you will remove your CIFAS marker.

Think and strategise what it is in your particular case that could make the CIFAS marker unlawful — as that’s all you need to do to get it removed.

Ask yourself: At the time of the fraud, did I know it was fraudulent? Or did I even know about the fraud taking place at all?

If the answer is no, or that you didn’t know about the fraud taking place, then there is your answer.

You weren’t complicit, nor did you have any intent to defraud, therefore meaning that The National Lottery Community Fund cannot have the evidence to meet the required evidential threshold as per Principle 4: Standard of Proof (Lawfulness).

This means that the CIFAS marker is unlawful, and this isn’t just theorising — this is the legality of the record.

Don’t just think. Write it down in a document to come back to later.

Adding initial strategy for version of events resulting in recording of CIFAS Marker to Strategic Planning Document

Step 6: Note down any implications you've faced

CIFAS markers have long lasting implications not just on your financial life, but in relationships, mental health, and in other ways as well.

In the same document/file you are using to write your strategic planning, note down any implications you’ve faced.

Ask yourself the following, and answer them in your document:

  1. Have I lost bank accounts due to the CIFAS marker?
  2. How is my mental health and general wellbeing due to the CIFAS marker?
  3. Has the CIFAS marker stopped me from going to University?
  4. What else has the CIFAS marker stopped me from doing?
  5. Does it make me depressed, suicidal, anxious, or anything else?
  6. Does my family speak to me? If not, is this due to my CIFAS marker?

Add every implication you can think of, regardless of its relevance. This is about proving how this has affected you, and you deserve to be heard.

Remember, you are just planning, so it does not need to sound like a complaint yet.

Adding Implications caused by CIFAS Marker to Strategic Planning Document

Step 7: Locate the CEO email of The National Lottery Community Fund

Unless you must, do not email the standard complaints team. Send your challenge directly to the CEO’s email inbox of The National Lottery Community Fund.

Sending to the CEO’s email address ensures that the challenge is reviewed directly by their executive complaints team — a team that takes your challenge much more seriously.

For the following graphical representation’s, we’ll be finding Lloyds Bank PLC’s CEO email address.

To do this, follow the below steps:

Go to CEOemail.com

Go to the website CEOemail.com.

It contains information relating to all types of companies, even those not in the financial sector. You can use it for other tasks external to removing a CIFAS marker as well.

CEO Email Homepage for locating CEO Email Address for CIFAS Marker Removal Challenge Submission

Locate the search function

Locate the search function and leave ‘Company/Organisation Name begins with‘ as is.

CEO Email Address Locating Search Function for CIFAS Marker Removal Complaint Submission To Executive Complaints Team

Search for The National Lottery Community Fund

Type in The National Lottery Community Fund’s name (without PLC/Ltd/Limited etc) and press ‘Search‘.

CEO Email Address Locating with Search Button Graphic for CIFAS Marker Removal Complaint Submission To Executive Complaints Team

Scroll and select The National Lottery Community Fund

Scroll and select The National Lottery Community Fund’s link in the ‘CEO Name – Telephone – Email Address‘ column.

CEO Email Address Locating for CIFAS Marker Removal Complaint Submission To Executive Complaints Team

Find the CEO's email in the page

Zoom out on that page to see the CEO’s email address — do not be concerned of the name as you won’t address the challenge to the CEO’s name, but to their email.

CEO Email Address Located for CIFAS Marker Removal Complaint Submission To Executive Complaints Team

Unfortunately, if you cannot locate the CEO’s email address, you will have to use their standard complaints team email address instead.

Step 8: Note the CEO's email address in your strategic planning document/file

Head to the document where you’ve been noting your strategy and implications. Note the CEO’s email address here too.

CEO Email Adding Into Strategic Planning Document

Step 9: Produce your CIFAS marker removal challenge

In this step, you will produce the complaint document to be used to challenge the lawfulness of the CIFAS marker, and to, ultimately, get it removed.

CIFAS Marker Removal Templates

You can find some ADVICIFAS CIFAS Marker Removal Template documents in .DOCX format that can be used to start your production below:

Misuse of Facility template

Can be used to challenge any Misuse of Facility CIFAS marker.

Download
Misuse of Facility CIFAS Marker Removal Complaint Document Template Download in DOCX Format
Application Fraud template

Can be used to challenge any False Application CIFAS marker.

Download
False Application (Application Fraud) CIFAS Marker Removal Complaint Document Template Download in DOCX Format
Complaint Production tips

Our complaint production tips document is recommended to be used to strengthen your challenge further.

Download
CIFAS Complaint Tips Document in PDF

Step 10: Submit your challenge to The National Lottery Community Fund

Once you’ve produced and proof-read your challenge, send it off to the CEO email address you obtained earlier, ensuring to explain the urgency — if there is urgency — in it being reviewed as fast as possible.

CIFAS Complaint Submission Step

Step 11: Await further contact from The National Lottery Community Fund

The next stages involve The National Lottery Community Fund contacting you to request either further information, or clarification on the information you’ve provided.

Cooperate fully and be entirely honest. 

Being honest will enable them to hear and feel how this is affecting you, and will help in leveraging a better outcome.

The institution has up to 56 days to respond to a complaint under DISP 1.6.2R of the FCA Handbook.

Step 12: Receive and analyse the Final Response Letter (FRL)

Upon receiving your final response letter (FRL), you will learn as to whether the CIFAS marker was successfully removed or not.

If it was, enjoy the financial freedom, and be more careful next time.

However, if it wasn’t removed, do not lose hope as this is not a bad thing.

Read the response to learn what their reasoning for keeping the marker recorded is, and add this to your strategy file.

Step 13: Request CIFAS intervention

If The National Lottery Community Fund refuses to remove the marker, you can ask CIFAS to conduct an independent review—but only after receiving a Final Response Letter (FRL).

CIFAS must respond within 14 days. However, you don’t have to wait for their response before escalating to the Ombudsman.

Step 14: Complain to the relevant Ombudsman or complaint service

If CIFAS upholds the The National Lottery Community Fund’s decision—or you choose not to wait—you can submit a formal complaint to the relevant Ombudsman.

  • For mobile networks or telecoms: Go to CISAS

Ensure to include all correspondence, your DSAR results, and any refusal letters in your submission.

The CIFAS Marker Removal Templates from Step 8 can be used to assist with this process.

Common mistakes to avoid when removing a The National Lottery Community Fund CIFAS marker

Removing a CIFAS marker is typically a process requiring strategy. It is therefore expected that there are common mistakes to avoid during the process.

Some of the most damaging mistakes include:

  • Submitting false or misleading information;
  • Rushing in without knowing your rights or the CIFAS Principles;
  • Focusing only on emotional impact rather than disproving the allegation; and
  • Using generic templates or Resolver that institutions dismiss instantly.

These mistakes can lead to rejection, delays, or even escalation of suspicion. Learn how to avoid them all — with examples, legal context, and real-world insight — in our dedicated article:

CIFAS Marker Removal: Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case

What banks will accept me with a CIFAS marker?

Unfortunately, you are unable to open new facilities with institutions that are members of the CIFAS NFD.

Fortunately, not all financial institutions are CIFAS members.

This means that there are accounts you can open and use just like any normal day-to-day bank account, referred to as ‘E-Money Accounts’.

Such accounts usually include a sort code, account number, and debit card.

However, funds in these accounts are not typically covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

We’d therefore recommend only using one of these accounts whilst you have your CIFAS marker removed, either by doing it yourself, or with a specialist.

For more information on which bank accounts you can open with a CIFAS marker, visit Bank Accounts That Accept CIFAS Markers.

You can also check out our full CIFAS Marker Removal Guide, here.

Useful links

These pages offer valuable context on how similar cases have been handled and may help you build a stronger case by referencing past Ombudsman decisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Discover answers to our most-common questions regarding The National Lottery Community Fund CIFAS markers.

The National Lottery Community Fund CIFAS markers are a fraud-related warning recorded on a shared database, alerting other members to potential risk connected to a person’s financial conduct or identity.

Most CIFAS markers last up to 6 years, but some, like Protective Registration, stay on for two years, and Victim of Impersonation for 13 months.

Yes a CIFAS marker recorded by The National Lottery Community Fund can be removed, but only if challenged successfully.

You must contact The National Lottery Community Fund and escalate the case if necessary, including complaints to CIFAS and the relevant Ombudsman.

Unfortunately, most banks are CIFAS members—all major banks are members.

However, you are able to open some e-money accounts such as Pockit, Monese, and Wise.

For more information, review our dedicated guide Bank Accounts That Accept CIFAS Markers.

No — you don’t need to provide evidence to have a CIFAS marker removed.

Under CIFAS’ Principles — specifically Principle 4: Standard of Proof (Lawfulness) — the responsibility lies entirely with the institution that placed the marker.

In short, they must prove that the marker is lawful; you don’t need to prove that it isn’t.

If the institution cannot justify the marker with their own evidence, they are expected to remove it. Fortunately, you still have the right to challenge the marker — even if you haven’t provided your own evidence.

Moreover, when an institution refuses to remove a marker despite failing to consider the sufficiency of their own evidence, this can be seen as an unfair handling of your complaint.

In such cases, you’re entitled to escalate the matter to the relevant ombudsman.

Yes. ADVICIFAS provides its Document Package completely free of charge.

This includes templates for:

  • Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) to CIFAS and financial institutions
  • CIFAS marker removal complaint letters you can edit as a Word document and send to the institution that recorded the marker
  • Formal escalation guides (including CEO contact strategies and complaints writing tips)
  • Step-by-step guidance on removing your CIFAS marker

Each template is written to align with CIFAS Principles, the FCA’s DISP rules, and your rights under UK GDPR. They’re designed to strengthen your challenge.

Download It Now