How to handle an "account not mine" situation

[vanillabean]

While people seemingly flock to the CRAs for disputes, a should-be member of the Mod Squad says that "The FCRA dispute processes are not really the way to handle an "account not mine" situation.” He recommends going directly to the lender.

But what if the whole thing started at the lender? What if your AU card status changed to closed, although the owner of the account first requested that you be taken off?

[takeshi74]

I'm no expert on this so do your own due diligence.  As RobertEG states the approach suggested requires that "The consumer need only put their assertion that they did not authorize the account into the form of a sworn police report, which carries penalties for any knowingly false statements you might make."  If you did authorize the account holder to add you as an AU then that does not apply.

[Shogun]

It depends really on how the account is "not mine".  Is it an AU?  Is it identity theft?  Is it just the wrong person's information on your CR?  I agree with RobertEGs suggestion that using the automated dispute system is not the way to go.  

If it is an AU, it should be a simple remedy to remove.  First, I would contact the lender and ask that you be removed from the account.  There shouldn't be a problem.  I think Amex is the only one that does hold the individual AU card holder responsible for debts occurred on  "their" card.

If it is another person's info that's showing on your CR, say you're a JR, they're a SR, or you have similar names and it's shown on your account.  You can do a direct dispute to the CRAs and provide proof.  They must answer the direct dispute, unlike the eOscar watered down version of verifying.

If it is identity theft, fill out a police report, fax it and a filled out fraud affadavit to the CRAs, they have 5 days which to remove.

[Florida1990]

It really is a pain I am dealing with that same situation and I can not get the items removed off my credit report. I even put an alert on my file thinking this would help but this has only caused me additional headache. xkeep fighting to get it removed

[vanillabean]

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@takeshi74 wrote:

If you did authorize the account holder to add you as an AU then that does not apply.

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Correct. It doesn't apply.

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@Shogun wrote:

If it is an AU, it should be a simple remedy to remove.  First, I would contact the lender and ask that you be removed from the account.

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But, as noted, I did already ask the lender for the AU to be removed before having the card closed.

I suppose there's a chance that a second call to the lender may yield a different result, given that customer service individuals too are humans.

[Shogun]

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@Anonymous-own-fico wrote:

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@takeshi74 wrote:

If you did authorize the account holder to add you as an AU then that does not apply.

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Correct. It doesn't apply.

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@Shogun wrote:

If it is an AU, it should be a simple remedy to remove.  First, I would contact the lender and ask that you be removed from the account.

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But, as noted, I did already ask the lender for the AU to be removed before having the card closed.

I suppose there's a chance that a second call to the lender may yield a different result, given that customer service individuals too are humans.

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Did they tell you that they wouldn't remove you?  I've not heard of anyone that has had that problem.  If so, then I would send a direct dispute to the CRA and cite that you are not responsible for this debt.