Credit fraud question.

[legacys7]

This question is for my girlfriend. She'd found out today after the apartment complex where she plans on renting from, ran a credit check on her, that she had a loan that was falsy co-signed (using my girlfriend's name as the co-signer) by a family member who used both her name and social secuirty number. The collection agency is after her to collect a debt that she wasn't aware or owes. The loan was opened up back during 2007. What is the best approach/solution to resolve this matter? 

[RobertEG]

She can immediately get if blocked from her credit report by following the identity theft process provided under the FCRA for such circumstances.

There is a sticky thread at the top of the General Credit Topics forum that provided details on the process.

It will require that she file a police report as substnatiating basis for her claim, so she must be prepared for possible police investigation of the alleged person.

That will get it blocked from her credit report, but wont prove the ultimte issue that she did not athorize the debt.  To get the issue of the allegation of a debt settled, she would need to convince the creditor and debt collector, which will require some determination of the facts of the case. 

To assist her in that determination, she can also send a copy of the police report to the creditor and obtian all business records related to the openng and transactions under the account.  See FCRA 609(e).

[Anonymous]

If this is fraud, they will remove it from your reports.  Just have to be careful when you get the police involved.  It happened to me.  I couldn't do anything about it.  Other than say it wasn't me.  Hope things work out okay.