topic Re: What to do if you're reported deceased? in General Credit Topics

What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 23:56:30 GMT

AT&T cancelled my service today because they got a report from an outside collection agency that account holder (me) is deceased. I have emailed mobility deceased at ATT for more info as to what agency made the report but what else should I do? I have to go to a retail store tomorrow to show my ID and social security card to prove I am not dead before they will restore my service. I'm in shock. I never thought I would have to prove to anyone I'm not dead.

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

J91605 — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 05:57:02 GMT

I don't mean to laugh at your situation, but lololol. That is absolutely crazy. I am sorry that your service is disconnected, but I'm sure everything will be fine once they see you've made a miraculous recovery. I would find out who reported to them. Follow up with the CA to find out where they got the info from. And so on. It is probably a case of mistaken identity. Good luck in getting this resolved.

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 06:08:33 GMT

I know. Its so crazy that I still can't believe it. I'm worried that this will be happening with more than just ATT. The rep I chatted with that broke the news to me (before doing so, he asked if I was sitting down) said I should find out which agency made the report that I'm deceased and then seek legal counsel to see if I can sue them for this, which is why I emailed them. The rep didn't have that info to give me. The only agency I can think of that would do this is AFNI who had an old ATT account of mine but I settled with them in late July and after paying ATT a deposit, they gave me service again, so I don't know why they would report me as being deceased. I'm just baffled and not sure how I should handle this aside from proving I'm alive and well.

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 13:43:40 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I know. Its so crazy that I still can't believe it. I'm worried that this will be happening with more than just ATT. The rep I chatted with that broke the news to me (before doing so, he asked if I was sitting down) said I should find out which agency made the report that I'm deceased and then seek legal counsel to see if I can sue them for this, which is why I emailed them. The rep didn't have that info to give me. The only agency I can think of that would do this is AFNI who had an old ATT account of mine but I settled with them in late July and after paying ATT a deposit, they gave me service again, so I don't know why they would report me as being deceased. I'm just baffled and not sure how I should handle this aside from proving I'm alive and well.

It's likely that a collections agency reported a deceased debtor who had a similar name and address as yours and it was mistakenly added to your file but it would appear very unprofessional on ATT's part not to verify that report before turning off your service.

Best of luck sorting this out!

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 13:48:33 GMT

I am speechless. Good luck resolving everything!

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 13:50:27 GMT

This is the 2nd thread in 24 hours I have read where a CA reported acperson as deceased. I wonder ifvits the same CA...

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 14:09:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
This is the 2nd thread in 24 hours I have read where a CA reported acperson as deceased. I wonder ifvits the same CA...

a disgruntled CA ex-employee maybe?

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 16:39:25 GMT

I'm sorry that happened to you. I'd say to bring even MORE documents than they are requesting and that should help clear it up. In addition to driver's license and social security card, I'd bring:

Birth certificate

Passport if you have it

Marriage license if applicable to you

Professional license if applicable to you

Copy of current, in-force auto insurance policy and ID card for that policy

Copy of college ID if applicable to you

Photo ID for work or your job if applicable

Credit card or two for good measure -they don't accept these as ID, but the more things you have, the more their assertion that you are deceased starts to look silly

Any recents documents or letters you may have from a government office like Social Security (sometimes people receive benefit estimate letters, etc).

Print off a copy of your credit report showing recent activity (again, this doesn't prove who you are, but now things really start to look silly!)

Letter from your bank verifying your identity -this could be really important

I know it takes forever for a government agency to do anything, but if you can get a letter from Social Security, that doesn't hurt either. Maybe even call the Social Security office while you are there in the At&T office if they refuse to budge and have them verify over the phone if they will do it.

I'd also check your Innovis and Lexis Nexis (which are often wrong), and find out from AT&T exactly how and from where they got information stating that you were deceased. You don't want the same thing to happen by mistake with another creditor.

Also check the Social Security Death Index

https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1202535

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 16:40:06 GMT

I also am wondering if the collection agency is doing this to play games with you and get you to contact them.

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 16:48:05 GMT

also consider getting

Notarized statement in front of notary stating that you are who you say you are (they also check your ID and verify)

Notarized statement from government official (call your local congressman or state representative and get his or her help)

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 16:58:48 GMT

Lol God help us if it is!

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

toi34 — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 17:03:21 GMT

ATT U-Verse is a mess! ...I almost regret having switched over to them from Comcast.

But anyway, I have been fighting a fraudulent service in my name since May. The fraudster was using my middle name and a DIFFERENT address than what is listed on my credit report -- how ATT approved this account is beyond me???? I had to send three different faxes and use my lunch breaks to sit on the phone with them so I wouldn't get a collection on my credit report. It FINALLY got resolved on Thursday! Good luck OP proving your alive!

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Dj4Money — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 19:04:20 GMT

I don't know how people can laugh at ID issues, they only take it serious when money is actually taken out of their accounts or credit card used without authorization.

This can cause lost of money or spend more than you should. It was reported to TU I was deceased and because of that Hyundai Finance couldn't get access to my report. I ended up having to take a sub prime lender and a higher interest rate.

I believe AT&T uses Experian primarly. Find out if that is the case and contact the right CA. Ask them what they need to identify you. Usually just a copy of your Birth Certificate and SSI Card.

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 22:05:58 GMT

My service has been restored but it was a royal pain. I went to the store, showed them my ID and social security card, they had to do another credit check, had to do another deposit waiver.....it ended up taking over an hour to get this sorted out.

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 22:27:00 GMT

texasmommy - Did you have a reason for a CA to be anywhere near your AT&T account info?

If not, it could be difficult to understand why AT&T would accept and believe such a report, if no association.

If yes, that would be the first place I would look to identify the source.

HTH

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 23:05:16 GMT

Nope. AFNI had my ATT account and I settled with them in July. I cannot for the life of me figure out why they or any other CA would tell them I'm dead.

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 23:13:13 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
My service has been restored but it was a royal pain. I went to the store, showed them my ID and social security card, they had to do another credit check, had to do another deposit waiver.....it ended up taking over an hour to get this sorted out.

Thank goodness!

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Revelate — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 02:54:09 GMT

@Dj4Money wrote:
I don't know how people can laugh at ID issues, they only take it serious when money is actually taken out of their accounts or credit card used without authorization.

This can cause lost of money or spend more than you should. It was reported to TU I was deceased and because of that Hyundai Finance couldn't get access to my report. I ended up having to take a sub prime lender and a higher interest rate.

I believe AT&T uses Experian primarly. Find out if that is the case and contact the right CA. Ask them what they need to identify you. Usually just a copy of your Birth Certificate and SSI Card.

Because given the rise of the Zombie Apocalypse books / TV shows / movies / etc in pop culture, it is a little entertaining to see it started by a CA in the state of Texas! It is a little funny when viewing the situation in the third person like so many other things in life.

Admittedly there's nothing funny to the person involved with ID issues and being reported as dead is definitely a non-trivial issue, but it should be straightforward to resolve other than the paperwork mess; in your situation you could've gone to a different lender as well given the way auto loans work that didn't pull TU. Also I'm not so sure with what I know of the auto lending industry that HFS would've extended an offer of credit in your scenario either, that was in no way guarunteed.

Anyway, it's unfortunate but it's not the end of the world.

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Dj4Money — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:23:33 GMT

@Revelate wrote:
@Dj4Money wrote:
I don't know how people can laugh at ID issues, they only take it serious when money is actually taken out of their accounts or credit card used without authorization.

This can cause lost of money or spend more than you should. It was reported to TU I was deceased and because of that Hyundai Finance couldn't get access to my report. I ended up having to take a sub prime lender and a higher interest rate.

I believe AT&T uses Experian primarly. Find out if that is the case and contact the right CA. Ask them what they need to identify you. Usually just a copy of your Birth Certificate and SSI Card.

Because given the rise of the Zombie Apocalypse books / TV shows / movies / etc in pop culture, it is a little entertaining to see it started by a CA in the state of Texas! It is a little funny when viewing the situation in the third person like so many other things in life.

Admittedly there's nothing funny to the person involved with ID issues and being reported as dead is definitely a non-trivial issue, but it should be straightforward to resolve other than the paperwork mess; in your situation you could've gone to a different lender as well given the way auto loans work that didn't pull TU. Also I'm not so sure with what I know of the auto lending industry that HFS would've extended an offer of credit in your scenario either, that was in no way guaranteed.

Anyway, it's unfortunate but it's not the end of the world.

I did get another lender....

But I would have gotten a lower rate from Hyundai because they aren't a sup-prime lender (so to speak). Ford Credit isn't a sup-prime lender but they take down to 589 FICO....

My TU score at the time was about 580 and Hyundai would have given me 14%. But I got a sub-prime lender who uses EX with a higher score of 608 and got 18.65%.

I understand the humor in life's day to day issues, but this had the potential of being serious, say if the OP was in a emergency situation.

Re: What to do if you're reported deceased?

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 01:48:04 GMT

You'd think as long as the bill was paid, they'd keep service on. Or at the very least, verify it.

What a joke. Ill never understand why some things have to be so difficult. Like you're just going through your normal day, and this happens. Crap luck i say.

Im so glad you were able to get this straightened out! What a hassle