Under the FCRA, fraud alerts are only authorized if requested by the consumer or his/her designated representative, and can always be removed simply by request to the CRA. The CRA may require that you provide proof of your identity before removing the fraud alert. First, give it a try over the phone. They may accept proof of identity without having to mail something in.
As an aside, while you may not have asked for the fraud alert, the CRAs take the position (and rightfully so, in my opinion) that any assertion of identity theft is inherrently a request for an initial fraud alert, so they slap one on as your ""rep."" You can always request its removal.
Additionally, the dispute process is not the way to handle identity theft issues.
The creditor can verify the accuracy of their reporting based on whatever documentation they may have showing that you opened the account.
They are not required to conduct a legal investigation to determine whether someone else pilfered your identity when opening the account.
Thus, the FCRA has a searate identity theff process under FCRA 605B which permits block of any such information from your credit report simply by filing a police report and sending it to the CRA along with proof of your identity and a fraud addiidavit.
No creditor disute or approval is needed to get the account blocked.
