Can't get a credit report because of my short name - HELP!

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to ask - I'm starting to freak out and don't know where to search for help about this, everyone seems to not know how to handle my situation.

Me and my wife immigrated to the US about a year ago. She's an American and has an established credit history - but I didn't, so soon after moving here we applied and received a credit card from Citi in her name, and added me as an authorized user.

Fast forward 6 months, and we are researching mortgages for a house. I am able to get her credit reports, no problem. However - I am only able to get a credit report from Experian, which includes all of the Citi card history. TransUnion and Equifax seem to not recognize my existence.

Here's how I tried fixing the problem:

1. I called TransUnion and asked what to do - spoke with someone (Bob). He said to send them a copy of my SS card, bank statement and utility bill. I sent them all of it.

2. Called again, and was told that it actually doesn't matter - they can't do anything for me unless Citi reports to them on me.

3. Called Citi, and explained the situation - you seem to have reported on me to Experian but not the other two bureaus. Can you please report on me to everyone. They said they already do, but that doesn't make much sense because I've had the card for over 6 months and none of the other bureaus have gotten anything from Citi. I ask them to make sure they are reporting and they say they will put in a request.

4. I get in touch with a mortgage broker, who tried to pull my credit and explained that it's ok to have an empty report (he called it NA), but in my case the other two bureaus simply don't seem to know I exist.

5. I call TransUnion and ask what do I need to do to just get an empty report, AKA the NA status. They say to send them SS card, etc. I say I've already sent you that! So they check and indeed they have it and they say they'll put in a request and that in 3-5 days I will be able to pull credit (although it will be empty).

6. A couple days later I get a phone call from a supervisor in TransUnion who explains that because of my name, which is very short (2 letters), things seem to not go through to them. I ask her, so what do I do? And she didn't really know what to say - she suggested I start going by "First initial - last name", which seems ridiculous.

I've been on phone calls with them for about a month and a half, and I'm starting to freak out that we are going to have serious problems with this. If anyone has any insight to give us on how to solve this situation, I would be immensely appreciative. Thank you so much.

TL;DR - TransUnion says they don't get anything reported on me because of my short name.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the states.  Try adopting a middle initial.  Ie: Bob X. Hu 

You did the right thing by calling. 

If it helps,  I have 4 names and it's just as frustrating.  I understand and am sorry.  My name is often messed up. 

[UncleB]

"Stick to your guns" on your name... for years (especially in the '90s) I had major issues because I'm a "Jr".  (I think people who are so narcissistic that they need another human to be named after them should seek professional help, but that's for another thread...)

The "solution" presented by the CSR/supervisor is actually a terrible idea, since it creates an alias, which is a whole 'nother PIA. 

You name is just that - it's your legal name.  As I had to tell the credit bureau reps more than once years ago, their system constraints aren't your responsibility, yet it has become your problem (as it did with me).  It's their job to make their system work with your name, not your job to change your name (or especially report a false one). 

I seldom bring up the CFPB, but if you aren't able to get anywhere with the various CSRs, you might want to look them up, especially if advising you to use an alias is the best solution the credit bureaus can come up with.

Good luck!

[IOBA]

Not having a middle name created problems!

Some companies put in nothing and others put in variations of NMN (No Middle Name).  Yeah, try coming up with government issued ID for (legal) first name, NMN (which doesn't exist), and (legal) last name.  *eye roll*  And trying to correct it?  Even harder!

[greent]

I have the same issue with DH. I can never pull his score but it's the opposite he has two names and two last names. So I can never get it. But I haven't called. I say that the credit bureaus just have to accept the fact that your name is short and they have to provide you a score. I say just keep pushing for that. They have to find the way.