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Child Identity Theft Question...

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Child Identity Theft Question...

When my daughter was 2 (she is almost 13 now), we found out someone had used her SS# to obtain credit for numerous items.  House, cars, CC's, etc.  I filed a police report and had her credit froze until she turns 18.

 

I sent in to check all of my kids SS# recently and all came clean - except hers - of course.  It showed that it had previous (old) activity (that I knew about).  They sent me a copy of her report and the man's name is STILL on it.  It was addressed to him on top and her below him.  I called and the man I spoke to was VERY unhelpful and said to just leave the man's name and my daughter can deal with it when she turns 18.  I explained to him angrly that I DO NOT want this man's name associated with her in any way.  He just blew me off.  I hung up and called again, and the next overseas rep basically told me the same thing. 

 

Can I send in a letter, along with her birth certificate to get this dudes name off??  I don't want her to have any issues with this later.  Also, since I froze her credit, I cannot see anything that can still be on it.  So, I have no clue if everything is still there that he purchased or would the accounts have fallen off in 10 yrs??

 

Thanks in advance for the advice.  

Message 1 of 8
7 REPLIES 7
StartingOver10
Moderator Emerita

Re: Child Identity Theft Question...

If you have all the police reports and the CRA's are so uncooperative, I would contact the CFPB and file a complaint. 

 

You may even have to go so far as to obtain a new SS for your daughter. See this link: https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can-I-change-my-Social-Security-number

 

 

Message 2 of 8
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Child Identity Theft Question...

I encourage you to carefully document what you have done so far.  This would include what organization you contacted, how you contacted it, on what date, and what was accomplished on that date.

 

What you describe so far treats the credit bureaus as if they were a single entity.  But there are three of them, each with different data, each producing its own report on its data (a credit report).  For example, you talk about the fact that you "sent in" and then later "called in", but you don't mention to which bureau you did this with.  Having this kind of carefully documented step-by-step record will help you if you later need to contact the CFPB, but it will also help point you to steps you have perhaps not yet taken.  For example, I would personally not reach out to the CFPB until you have contacted each of the three credit bureaus twice and spoke with a live person each time.

 

When a person freezes his own report, he can still pull it himself.  The act of freezing it doesn't stop him from seeing it -- just unauthorized parties.  Likewise, I would be very surprised if, when a parent freezes the report, he cannot continue to pull it at least once a year -- the parent is acting for the child.  But you seem to feel as though, because it is frozen, you cannot see again.  Actually, the way you describe it is a little confusing, because you say that you froze it, and then later pulled the report -- so it sounds like there is a way for you to pull the report after it was frozen.

 

The way you describe your conversations with the credit bureau reps (assuming it was a CRA rep you spoke with) is worrisome.  You describe yourself as getting angry at the rep and also hanging up on him.  Customer service reps (including those for credit card issuers, phone companies, etc.) are trained to flag in their database customers who get very angry with them and/or who hang up on them.  That can lead to being less able to get help from them moving forward.  Don't get me wrong, I am sure your feelings were justified. It's just that you need to think about this in a cool detached manner -- how can I get this person to do the thing I want them to do for me?  If you get angry you will be reducing the chance that you'll be able to get the thing you want for your daughter, or at the very least increasing the chance that it will become a big extended fight.

 

So my advice is to take a breath, document what you have done thus far, and then make a plan for filling in the gaps moving forward, e.g. by contacting the other two credit bureaus and seeing if you can get some help there.  Once you get help with one bureau, it may be a lot easier to see how to frame the request to the other two.

 

Finally, it's probably helpful to remember that there is no rush on this.  Although she is 13, you still have a few more years before she needs to have this solved.

 

Wishing you all the best with this!

Message 3 of 8
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Child Identity Theft Question...

Since you have proof, why not have the Social Sucrity Administration issue a new number? This will be the best solution....  Here is info.

 

https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can-I-change-my-Social-Security-number

 

EDIT: I just saw @StartingOver10 gave you the same info.  This will be the best recourse.

Message 4 of 8
RobertEG
Legendary Contributor

Re: Child Identity Theft Question...

The CRA is REQUIRED to block any information identified as related to asserted identity theft provided the consumer has sent them each of the required items under FCRA 605B.

The three essential items are a copy of a police report that attests to the alleged identity theft, proof of your identity, and a ststement to the effect that you did not authorize any transaction related to the identity theft.  At least one CRA requires a standard FTC fraud affidavit to meet the third requirement.

 

I would first send each of the required items ot the CRA and formally request block of the information from your (her) credit report.

If they still fail to block, then you have a clear and specific violtion of FCRA 605B upon which to file a complaint to the CFPB.

I would complete the requirements of section 605B before filing a CFPB complaint.

Message 5 of 8
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Child Identity Theft Question...

I apoligize for not clarifying...

 

I sent in Child Identity Theft inquiries to all the CRA.

 

Experian came back saying that they do not retain credit reports for minors. (???)  I never received a response from Equifax.

 

Transunion said that they did have a report for her.  I then sent in more paperwork requesting a copy of her report.  What came back to me was a 2 page "report" with his and her name on it and all the basic first page verbage.  2nd page basically looked like this:

 

Beginning of report

___________________

 

 

___________________

 

End of report

 

 

 

With NOTHING in between.

 

 

 

I THEN called Transunion because I was baffled.  I really had thought they would have this fixed 11 years ago...

 

After dealing with 4 reps transferring me over and over and having to repeat myself and all the required information FOUR TIMES, yes, I was a little tiffed by the time I got to the last rep - who told me just to deal with it and have her fix it on her own later. 

 

I am a very patient person, but this is my child's identity we are talking about here.  The feeling of violation is incomprehendable - seeing a man's name attached to hers.  I feel disgusted.  I cannot even expain it.  Doesn't help he lives a mere 15 minutes from us.  Makes me want to go knock-knock.

 

Thank you to those that responded.  I will definitely be taking the steps mentioned to get this fixed.

 

Adding - I looked into the link about obtaining a new SS#.  It does say that the new number will be attached to the old.  Would that bring up any negative information when she applies for credit?  Or would they just look at the new SS# information and base it off that?

Message 6 of 8
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Child Identity Theft Question...

Sounds awful, bud!  I wish you all the best with this.  You got a lot of people willing to help.  I'll do my best to follow along and hear your progress too.

 

Don't hesitate to reach out specifically to me or to anyone else here.

 

A useful thing in my view would be to get the latest credit report corresponding to your daughter's file -- for each bureau.  Expect in advance that you may get a CSR who doesn't know how to do this (always a sound expectation when dealing with any CSR).  Be prepared to thank them for their time if it looks like you hit a block and be really friendly when you end the call.  Relax and and repeat the call again in a few days.  If you go into each call with the perspective that your daughter still has many MANY months to get this fixed, then it may be easier to spend a couple hours a week on it until it gets fixed.

 

I encourage you to explore in parallel your other options about getting the new SSN.  But very valuable would be to discover exactly what data each bureau has on your child, something any parent should have a right to request.  Right now we don't really know the answer to that question.  I am doubtful (for example) that the EX response is correct -- it might be true in general (that EX has no files for children) but the point is that this file was commandeered by an adult.  Also I just know that some older minors (e.g. 17 year olds) do have credit cards and credit files. 

 

Your daughter is lucky she has such a good dad (or mom -- not sure if I saw which you are).

 

PS.  Be sure to look carefully through this link....

 

https://www.identitytheft.gov/

 

especially where it reads RESOLVE CHILD IDENTITY THEFT.  I;d also google things like how to get my child's credit report etc.

Message 7 of 8
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Child Identity Theft Question...


@Anonymous wrote:

Sounds awful, bud!  I wish you all the best with this.  You got a lot of people willing to help.  I'll do my best to follow along and hear your progress too.

 

Don't hesitate to reach out specifically to me or to anyone else here.

 

A useful thing in my view would be to get the latest credit report corresponding to your daughter's file -- for each bureau.  Expect in advance that you may get a CSR who doesn't know how to do this (always a sound expectation when dealing with any CSR).  Be prepared to thank them for their time if it looks like you hit a block and be really friendly when you end the call.  Relax and and repeat the call again in a few days.  If you go into each call with the perspective that your daughter still has many MANY months to get this fixed, then it may be easier to spend a couple hours a week on it until it gets fixed.

 

I encourage you to explore in parallel your other options about getting the new SSN.  But very valuable would be to discover exactly what data each bureau has on your child, something any parent should have a right to request.  Right now we don't really know the answer to that question.  I am doubtful (for example) that the EX response is correct -- it might be true in general (that EX has no files for children) but the point is that this file was commandeered by an adult.  Also I just know that some older minors (e.g. 17 year olds) do have credit cards and credit files. 

 

Your daughter is lucky she has such a good dad (or mom -- not sure if I saw which you are).

 

PS.  Be sure to look carefully through this link....

 

https://www.identitytheft.gov/

 

especially where it reads RESOLVE CHILD IDENTITY THEFT.  I;d also google things like how to get my child's credit report etc.


Called again (I was friendly!)...  Got another set of instructions on what to send and what to write.  Since they sent me a "suppressed" version of her report last time, in my request do I ask specifically for an un-suppressed version?  How do I go about getting the full version showing all accounts?  I have a feeling they're going to send the same thing as before.  2 pages full of nothing.

 

I also called SS - on hold for 45 mins - only to get a 2 minute response saying it was very rare that they issue new SS#'s, and I would have to provide extensive evidence even in our current circumstance.

 

Ps.  I'm the mom.  :-)  Yes, we do have time... I have read about the horror stories adults are NOW going through because their identity was stolen as a child. It is scary!  Seems like whatever these people do to fix it, nothing helps.  I don't want that for her, obviously.

 

Thanks again!

 

Message 8 of 8
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