Having several credit reference companies working together is expected to ensure victims of identity theft are able to get their finances in order more easily, it has been claimed.

Anna Fielder, senior policy for the National Consumer Council, said consumers are usually expected to "sort the mess out" when their identities are stolen.

The expert said this can mean having to make phone calls to a number of companies in order to clear their credit record, credit card customers may be interested to know.

However, CallCredit, Equifax and Experian have now set up a new service to provide assistance to identity fraud victims.

According to Ms Fielder, the move is "absolutely brilliant", as it will mean people can contact one organisation to deal with the problem.

"It reduces the stress and the work considerably and puts your financial life back on track sooner," she stated.

The Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit recently discovered a factory in Birmingham set up by criminals to produce debit and credit cards, the Financial Times reports.

The investigators also found chip and pin card readers at the site, which were belived to be used by the criminals to commit fraud.