SIRA (Synectics Solutions) marker: practical consequences and common mistakes when challenging the marker

A SIRA marker is a fraud indicator recorded on the National SIRA database operated by Synectics Solutions. It is used by insurers, banks and other financial services providers across the UK to flag individuals linked to suspected fraud. If a SIRA marker has been placed against your name, it can significantly affect your ability to obtain insurance, open bank accounts or access other financial products. This article explains what a SIRA marker is, how it is placed, your rights to challenge it and the practical steps involved in seeking to have it removed.

What is a SIRA marker?

SIRA stands for the Synectics Insurance Register of Anomalies, although today the database extends well beyond insurance and is commonly referred to simply as the National SIRA database. It is operated by Synectics Solutions – a data analytics company based in the UK which manages shared fraud prevention databases on behalf of its member organisations.

When a member organisation, such as an insurance company, bank or lender suspects that an individual has been involved in fraud or has submitted a claim or application that raises fraud concerns, it may record a marker against that individual on the SIRA database. The marker serves as a warning to other member organisations that the individual has been associated with suspected fraudulent activity. Member organisations can then access the database when processing new applications or claims, and the presence of a SIRA marker may lead them to decline cover, refuse a claim or impose special conditions.

How does a SIRA marker affect you in practice?

The practical consequences of a SIRA marker can be severe and far-reaching. Because the National SIRA database is shared across a wide network of financial services providers, a single marker can affect your dealings with multiple organisations. Common impacts include:

• Insurance difficulties: You may be refused home, motor, travel or life insurance, or find that insurers impose significantly higher premiums or restrictive policy terms. Some insurers will decline to provide any cover at all once a SIRA marker is detected.
• Banking and finance: Banks, building societies and lenders may refuse to open accounts, extend credit or process mortgage applications if a SIRA marker is present.
• Reputational harm: Although the SIRA database is not publicly accessible, being flagged as a fraud risk can cause significant personal distress and reputational damage, particularly if it leads to the cancellation of existing policies or the refusal of essential financial products.

Risks and common mistakes when challenging a SIRA marker

Challenging a SIRA marker is possible, but there are a number of pitfalls that individuals commonly encounter:

• Contacting Synectics before the member organisation: Synectics Solutions is the data processor, not the data controller. It holds the data on behalf of the member organisation that placed the marker. As such, it is the member organisation that you should complain to, before making any subsequent complaint to Synectics.
• Failing to make a Subject Access Request (SAR): Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), you have the right to request a copy of all personal data held about you. A SAR to both Synectics Solutions and the member organisation that placed the marker is a critical first step. Without seeing the underlying information from a SAR, it is very difficult to understand the basis for the marker or to mount an effective challenge.
• Not understanding the legal framework: The right to challenge a SIRA marker primarily derives from the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Article 5 of the GDPR, for example, requires that personal data be accurate and kept up-to-date. Many individuals are unaware of these rights or fail to invoke them correctly.
• Delay: SIRA markers can be retained for a number of years. The longer you wait to challenge a marker, the more damage it may cause. If you suspect a marker has been placed against you, it is advisable to act promptly.
• Accepting a refusal at face value: If an insurer or bank refuses your application and cites fraud concerns, this does not necessarily mean the underlying marker is justified. You are entitled to understand the basis for the marker and to challenge it if, for example, the data is inaccurate.

The Gherson Perspective

At Gherson, we are seeing a growing number of clients affected by SIRA markers, often without any awareness that any such marker had been placed. These cases frequently involve individuals who have been wrongly accused of fraud, victims of identity theft whose personal details were misused, and policyholders whose legitimate insurance claims were incorrectly categorised as suspicious.

The key to a successful challenge is a thorough understanding of the data protection framework and a willingness to hold member organisations to account for the accuracy of the data they process. In our view, individuals should not be penalised by a fraud marker unless the organisation that placed it can demonstrate a proper basis for doing so. Where that basis is absent or insufficient, the marker should be removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a SIRA marker be removed?

Yes. If the marker was placed without proper justification, if the underlying data is inaccurate or if the marker is no longer necessary, you may be entitled to have it removed. The process typically involves making a Subject Access Request, reviewing the basis for the marker and then submitting a formal challenge to the member organisation that placed it. If the organisation refuses to remove the marker, you may escalate the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), the ICO or pursue legal action.

How long does a SIRA marker last?

SIRA markers may be retained for a period of six years, although this can vary depending on the member organisation and the nature of the suspected fraud. Even before the retention period expires, you may have grounds to challenge and remove the marker if it was placed without adequate justification.

Will I be told if a SIRA marker has been placed against me?

Not necessarily. There is no automatic obligation on the member organisation or Synectics Solutions to notify you that a marker has been placed. Many individuals only discover the existence of a SIRA marker when they are refused insurance or a financial product. You can proactively check by submitting a Subject Access Request to Synectics Solutions.

Is a SIRA marker the same as a finding of fraud?

No. A SIRA marker does not constitute a criminal conviction or a formal finding of fraud. It is a private-sector fraud indicator placed by a commercial organisation based on its own suspicion of fraud, and the threshold for recording a marker can be significantly lower than the standard of proof required in a court of law. You do not need to have been investigated, charged or convicted of any criminal offence for a marker to be placed against your name.

Can I complain to FOS and/or the ICO about a SIRA marker?

Yes. If you believe that a SIRA marker has been placed or retained in breach of data protection law, you can lodge a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and/or the Information Commissioner’s Office. The FOS and ICO have the power to order organisations to rectify or erase personal data that has been processed unlawfully. In practice, it is usually advisable to attempt to resolve the matter directly with the member organisation first, before escalating it to FOS or the ICO.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s White Collar Crime Team are highly experienced in advising on SIRA markers, fraud database disputes and data protection challenges. If you have any questions arising from this blog,  please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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