Mom stole my identity, what to do?

[tbattles12]

Hello All,

I have an all too familiar but rarely reported situation. For the past year, I've been using creditkarma just to keep an eye on things as I try to rebuild my credit. In July of last year I saw a $5700 collection account appear from some place called CCI. I was going through a judgement that I was having a hard time repaying due to a separation, which was around that amount at one point in time. So I just waved it off and didn't think twice about it. Recently, I'd just paid off the judgement and realized that I still had this account on my credit and no idea what it was for. After some digging on google, I found out that this company is a collection agency for utilities. My mother had put the electric bill in my name as a minor and racked up a $5700 bill which went to collections in July. I was told that the only thing that I could do to completely wipe it from my credit file would be to make a police report which would in turn bring up indentity theft charges on my 59 year old mother. My question is, would it be better for me to try and make payments? Try for a PFD? I was hoping to buy a house within the next two years, but that now seems near impossible. All of my own personal baddies have fallen off. I have been considering the police report (I know I'm a terrible person), but probably won't file one.

Thanks for all responses.

[RobertEG]

Filing a police report does not assure that law enforcement will pursue the matter.

Yes, you take your chances that they will, but going after a mom is most likely not high on their investigatory list.

Perhaps you could first get mom to fork over the $$, and then make  a PFD offer to the debt collector, thus both satisfying the debt and removing it from your credit report......

[tbattles12]

Thanks for your reponse. I just know with my mothers luck, she'd be the exception that they would pursue. I know she doesn't have the money to pay but I think paying it back is the only safe option, thanks.

[drkaje]

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@tbattles12 wrote:

Thanks for your reponse. I just know with my mothers luck, she'd be the exception that they would pursue. I know she doesn't have the money to pay but I think paying it back is the only safe option, thanks.

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How do you know there aren't other accounts where she's used your SSN?

Opinions will vary but; unless there's a huge jump in income, a police report is the only way to protect your future credit.

[bahbahd]

File the police report. You want it now before more items start popping up all over the place.

[StartingOver10]

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@bahbahd wrote:

File the police report. You want it now before more items start popping up all over the place.

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^^^Yep.

[ccnewcc]

I just want to make sure that you typed the correct amount: $5,700 and not $570.  Five thousand dollars in electric bills is unheard of to me.  Most electric companies will shut off the power in only a few months.  Was this residential electric bills or for a family business?  So, granted the collection company can add any fees and interest as allowed by law, but I have a hard time accepting that an electric bill can turn into thousands of dollars in debt.  You might want to check the amount.

In any case, aren't companies who enter into agreements with minors left holding the bag on bad debt?  You might want to check into that as well.  I recall from Business Law classes, that in some cases minors are not liable for bad debts and in other cases they are/can be.  So check into that as well.

[Bayswater]

Make your mom accountable and file the report.  The same thing happened to me (except my mom was an addict), and I never filed the report.  I regret it.  Adults, even our moms have to be held accountable for their actions.

My two-cents...good-luck as I know this is so difficult emotionally. 

Create a better life for yourself, do not follow in her footsteps!

[SunriseEarth]

That's a difficult call when you get into someone personal stealing your information.   While we do want to forgive and work with our families, we also don't want to be taken advantage of.   I would agree with the member who suggested asking her directly for the money (I doubt this will be successfull).   I'd recommend filing a police report, despite whatever hard feelings may occur.  Unfortunately, your feelings weren't considered when this action occured. 

I wish you the best in this!

[Taylor4236]

Ummm...forgive me for being stupid, but isn't it the fault of the power company here?  I have never heard of a power utility putting an account in the name of a minor.  You might start there.  Also look into what remedies you might have for something being applied to your credit report before you were even old enough to get credit....right?  The other thing to remember is that if you don't have the money to PFD (or if they won't do it) this will stick with you for 7 years.