Fraud? Inability to verify identity - Chase declined opening Check'g Acct

[Anonymous]

TLDNR: I have a Chase-Amz Prime card and a recent (06/19) Chase Chkg acct, opened online. Both accounts are accessible.

I recvd letter from Chase stating they cannot verify my identity and cannot open account. My concern is someone fraudulently attempting to open another account and the credit pull via Experian.

Background:

Received letter via USPS stating: "Unfortunately, we've decided not to open an account for you because we weren't able to verify your identity".  
It later continues: "We used your credit score in making our decision". 

I called Chase but not very enthused by the response to simply ignore mistaken letter. CSR was evasive when asked about the credit pull.

Do I have other (better, more efficient) options than to contact Experian to find out if my credit was pulled and if so, to have it removed?

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

You can sign up for a trial at www.creditchecktotal.com, for $1. You'll have access to all 3 scores and reports. You can check to see if there was an inquiry.

[Anonymous]

Download the Experian app and sign up for a free account. You’ll get a monthly Experian credit report and FICO 8 score as well as alerts for new accounts, inquiries, score increases and decreases, etc.

[Anonymous]

The letter from Chase directed you to Experian (as required by the FCRA) so that's the first step you should take.  Federal law requires Experian to give you free access to your credit report if you request it within 60 days of the letter's date.

Go to experian.com/reportaccess and complete the requested information and you'll get access to your Experian credit report.  You can then review it and determine whether Chase pulled your credit, anyone attempted to open credit in your name, or if there's anything else that should be disputed.

[Anonymous]

Opened a free version of Experian enabling view of HPs & SPs along with other data.  Thx MaizeandBlue.
The inquiry from Chase was a SP but surrendipitously noticed an errant HP from Discover that I did NOT initiate.

[Remedios]

HPs are almost impossible to dispute directly with CRA. If you believe Discover did something wrong there, you will have to go back to them

Maybe if the call was recorded, they will recode it as SP or remove, but that would depend on circumstances under which hard pull happened. 

As far as Chase, there is always SP when checking/savings accounts are opened. If the date of EX SP matches the date you opened the account, there is no fraud there.  

If your account is open, and remains that way, leave it alone. If you are worried about it being closed, you can always go to the branch with supporting documentation (DL, passport, utility bill, SS card) and put that issue to rest 

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Opened a account at Experian (free w/o the upgrade features) and was able to view HPs (and SPs) along with other data.  (Not sure if that data is ALWAYs viewable/accessible or only because I was denied in the past 60 days). Thx MaizeandBlue.
The inquiry from Chase was a SP but surrendipitously noticed an errant HP from Discover that I did NOT initiate.

Background:

I did inquire (via Phone) about a Discover pre-auth mailer I recvd but SPECIFICALLY told the Discover CSR I did not want to proceed when told it would require a HP. When told that would be necessary.

Bottom line (from my perspective) - they lie(d). 

Exp website does allow you to make simple disputes online (correct phone numbers & addresses). However for my purposes, will have to call. This was the response when attempting to dispute the HP (from Discover):

"This request requires special assistance and cannot be processed online. Please contact us at 1-855-414-6048 so we may better assist you with this item."

---

Your concern about the letter from Chase should now be resolved.  Regarding the Discover hard pull, as previously stated you should start by going back to Discover and requesting its removal.  How many hard pulls are on your credit report?

[Anonymous]

4 HPs on Experian: Amex - Chase - Citi - Discover

[Anonymous]

---

@Remedios wrote:

HPs are almost impossible to dispute directly with CRA. If you believe Discover did something wrong there, you will have to go back to them

Maybe if the call was recorded, they will recode it as SP or remove, but that would depend on circumstances under which hard pull happened. 

As far as Chase, there is always SP when checking/savings accounts are opened. If the date of EX SP matches the date you opened the account, there is no fraud there.  

If your account is open, and remains that way, leave it alone. If you are worried about it being closed, you can always go to the branch with supporting documentation (DL, passport, utility bill, SS card) and put that issue to rest 

---

Great advice!

[Anonymous]

Resolution

A  stray SSN in CR. Per Exp CSR, this stray SSN was not associated/linked w/any accounts hence unlikely fraudulent but would be removed. Experian CSR mentioned this stray SSN likely generated the ID verification issue.

CSR shared her personal observations:

A stray SSN sometimes generates on its own when an entity (in this case, possibly Discover) pulls your credit without a SSN.  I don't know (nor CSR) how such a credit pull is permitted but just sharing her observations/commentary.

As for rectifying the bogus HP by Discover?

I'll leave as-is.   Discover's CSR REQUIRES I verbally provide them w/SSN to investigate/research... so much for security.