Sagestream / Identity Theft

[CoastieScarlett]

I have had identity theft many times after working in Jamaica about 20 years ago and having my wallet stolen, then thieves attacked again while I was in the hospital with Leiomyosarcoma with a very small chance of surviving. Gotta love the lack of humanity.

I had cancer for over 5 years, let my license expire, and used my Passport as my identity document. I went to get my driver license back in Colorado and was told it was suspended in Mississippi. Someone got a driver license in my name and had speeding tickets they did not pay. That did involve hiring an attorney

I finally got my credit reports cleared and received a denial for an Overstock card due to Sagestream stating I have a 336 score on their site. All of my dealings with the FCC, dealing with Identity Theft, and had no idea Sagestream/NexusLexis needed to be pursued. I have been researching and see there are many lawsuits against them and that will be my next course of action. I wanted to check here first for any advise or to learn of anyone else's experience.

In addition, Amazon denied me tonight on my regular Amazon credit card for, "Lack of real estate secured loan information". What? 

Thank you all in advance!

[FinStar]

Hello @CoastieScarlett - welcome to the community.

A variety of issuers tend to use alternate report sources which includes SageStream, Lexis Nexis, etc., for the purpose of identity verification + other review purposes when applying for new accounts.

Comenity and SYNCB tend to use SageStream whenever you apply for new credit. You'd have to examine your SageStream report in its entirety to determine if there are any discrepancies that may need to be rectified (in the event you haven't already done so).

As far as the SYNCB/Amazon CLI denial that you posted on a separate thread in the Applications forum, that decision has nothing to do with SageStream, but rather the information that SYNCB obtained from a TransUnion Vantage 4 scoring model.

[CoastieScarlett]

Hi @FinStar 

Thank you for your helpful response! If the other bureaus or credit granters use Sagestream and similar organizations, shouldn't I have received their information on a denial letter at some point? Perhaps I do not fully understand the process.

My attorney has submitted a request for my credit report from Sagestream. Thank you!

I am closing in on 60 and surprised by the reason given by Amazon for credit denial. My house was in my husband's name and credit, and when he passed away it was paid off. I have no reason for a mortgage. I have thought of moving into a smaller home since the kids are grown. Having the money to pay cash makes me shy away from a mortgage. I understand why it may be needed, but I am taking a few days to think about it. I can work remotely from anywhere and have considered selling the home and purchasing an RV, allowing me to travel to visit kids and grandkids.

I wrongly believed my credit scores were pretty good since I just got the identity theft items cleared.

I had several small loans ($500-$2k) from Tulsa Federal Credit Union, no late payments on any accounts on my bureau reports, my CL usage is usually under 15% (rarely 15-20%), but my oldest account is only 4 years. After adding the other accounts, that average has gone down significantly. Would it help to be added as an AU on a family member's account? I am on my daughter's AMEX, but it has little to help my credit bureau file.

I did recently open an account with Alliant Credit Union. The Identity Theif screwed over NFCU and USAA and we are still working on having that relationship repaired. I  have a thin file and I want to do whatever is needed to build my credit up. 

I just want to be independent and have credit to help me or the kids in case an emergency arises, since my husband of 37 years is no longer with us. No one knows what the future holds. Any idea of how I should proceed from this point forward?

Thank you in Advance!

Scarlett

Rebuild Started 11/16/2021: Comenity Bank/Victorias Secret $300CL, SYNCB/Amazon Credit Card $400CL, Credit One Bank $450CL, OpenSky (Secured) $500CL.

01/29/2022: 649 EQ, 659 TU, 680 EXP

[coldfusion]

Sorry this has been happening to you.

Has your attorney requested copies of your LexisNexis reports?   If not, (s)he should contact Lexis Nexis and request them, specifically requesting all reports available to them including auto insurance and auto claims information and not just your Lexis Nexis Consumer Report.   That should help bring to light identity issues including possible some you weren't yet aware of. 

SageStream is owned by LexisNexis but insofar as service offerings is pretty much independently run. You have to contact both LexisNexis and Sagestream independently of each other to get both your consumer credit and your consumer identity reports. 

[CoastieScarlett]

Hello @coldfusion,  and thank you!

Yes, he did. I know LexisNexis is used for legal research, but I had no idea about Sagestream or that LexisNexis works in the credit reporting arena. Odd, this is on the LexisNexis site, trying to cover their butts from litigation is what I presume.  

"Due to the nature and origin of public record information, the public records and commercially available data sources used in reports may contain errors. The LexisNexis Public Records services are not provided by “consumer reporting agencies,” as that term is defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. §, et seq.) (“FCRA”) and do not constitute “consumer reports,” as that term is defined in the FCRA. Accordingly, these LexisNexis services may not be used in whole or in part as a factor in determining eligibility for credit, insurance, employment or another eligibility purpose in connection with which a consumer report may be used under the FCRA."

I read a post on this site that Corelogic is another company to contact. Is there a list of everyone I should potentially reach out to?

In your experience, do you believe a mortgage or real estate loan should be one of my next steps, to improve my FICO scores? Can you elaborate, please? 

I do not need an auto loan either, but I am considering one to boost my credit. Can you provide any advice on that topic?

Sorry for so many questions, but I am excited to have found this site. I raised our large tribe of children, and my husband took care of all these items. I feel sort of lost now. The good news is, I get quieter during the workweek; I promise.

Thank you,

Scarlett

Rebuild Started 11/16/2021: Comenity Bank/Victorias Secret $300CL, SYNCB/Amazon Credit Card $400CL, Credit One Bank $450CL, OpenSky (Secured) $500CL.

01/29/2022: 649 EQ, 659 TU, 680 EXP

[CoastieScarlett]

@FinStar 

Yes, Amazon did use the Transunion VantageScore 4.0 Model. It is a different issue and the reason I posted it in a different post.

The denial letter from Overstock/Comenity states, "Your request was carefully considered, however, based on information in your credit report, we are unable to approve your application at this time for the following reasons:

Amount of credit available on revolving accounts

Consumer associated with too many phone changes (I bolded this line because I have never seen it on a credit report denial)

Days since most recent inquiry

Too few bank card accounts

Our credit decision was based in whole or in part on information obtained in a report from the consumer reporting agency listed below........

SageStream / LexisNexis Risk Solutions Consumer Center

P. O. Box 105108

Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5108

(888) 395-0277

Web: https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

But, on the LexisNexis site, they state their "services cannot be used in whole or part as a factor in determining eligibility for credit......" That contradicts what Overstock/Comenity states in their denial letter.  

"Due to the nature and origin of public record information, the public records and commercially available data sources used in reports may contain errors. The LexisNexis Public Records services are not provided by “consumer reporting agencies,” as that term is defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. §, et seq.) (“FCRA”) and do not constitute “consumer reports,” as that term is defined in the FCRA. Accordingly, these LexisNexis services may not be used in whole or in part as a factor in determining eligibility for credit, insurance, employment or another eligibility purpose in connection with which a consumer report may be used under the FCRA."

It is confusing to me, or perhaps I am misunderstanding.

Thank you in advance!

Scarlett

[coldfusion]

I think you have more important things to investigate and address before researching installment loans (mortgage, auto loan, or in your case possibly a share secured loan) as a means of potentially boosting your credit scores.  Note that in most cases an installment loan tends to initially depress scores because of the high utilization associated with the loan, and they over the life of the loan really only have at best a moderate (~25 point) positive impact on ones FICO scores.  TL,DR don't take out an auto loan strictly for the purpose of boosting your scores.

I'm not aware of a definitive list of agencies to contact regarding identify-based data.

IMO there are going to be around 4-5 areas for you to address up front, in approximate order:

(I can't emphasize enough that IMO by default you should follow your attorney's advice if it diverges from my comments)

a) Confirm that the information contained in your LexisNexis reports is accurate and take steps to have inaccurate information removed.

b) Confirm your credit reports by the 6 most commonly used CRAs (Experian,Transunion, Equifax, Innovis, ARS, and SageStream) is accurate.  All 6 of them will provide you (or your attorney) with a free written copy of your report upon request.

c) If there is inaccurate information being reported, confirm with the creditor directly that they are reporting accurate information.   Creditors are required to report accurate information,  the CRAs are only required to accurately report the information provided by creditors.  If some of the information being reported is based upon fraudulent activity from others your attorney should be able to address it as well.

d) depending upon the outcomes from c) you either request the creditor update to provide accurate information or the CRA(s) to report the information accurately.

If there are legitimate derogatories that are in fact yours being reported such as late payments or chargeoffs there are ethical ways to address them like for example goodwill letters, but again your attorney can provide more specific guidance here as (s)he is more familiar with your specific history.    You'll do yourself a lot more good following this path in the long run than by immediately looking to take out an installment loan.

[DONZI]

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@coldfusion wrote:

b) Confirm your credit reports by the 6 most commonly used CRAs (Experian,Transunion, Equifax, Innovis, ARS, and SageStream) is accurate.  All 6 of them will provide you (or your attorney) with a free written copy of your report upon request.

..for clarity (I'm not familiar with ARS) could you provide a link?  A quick search turned up "ARS Account Resolution Services" and "ARS National Services Inc." but these seem to be services to help people settle credit issues.. and I didn't see anything on the CFPB consumer reporting agencies list found here.

[SoCalGardener]

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@CoastieScarlett wrote:

In addition, Amazon denied me tonight on my regular Amazon credit card for, "Lack of real estate secured loan information". What? 

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First, let me say that as a fellow "what on earth is life going to hand me next?!" survivor, I really feel for you and I'm sorry that you've had to deal with so much crap.

The bolded line above has me confused! It sounds like you already have an Amazon card...but then it sounds like you applied and got a denial...

At any rate, let me state unequivocally that you do *NOT* need a mortgage, car loan, or any other type of loan in order to improve your credit. Period. End of discussion. How can I be so sure? Because my scores are generally in the 820s, as high as 830--and I haven't had a mortgage or any other kind of loan in DECADES. The last of them fell off my reports many years ago, so they're not helping my score. (Note: I recently accepted a loan offer from Amex; it was pre-approved, there was no hard pull; it has nothing to do with my scores for the last however-many-years being as high as 830.)

Others have given you very good advice, and I don't have much else to add. By all means definitely follow your attorney's advice--and if they tell you something that doesn't make sense to you, there's nothing wrong with getting a second opinion...just like in medical matters!

Take your time, don't do anything in haste, make decisions based on factual input from trusted sources, and hopefully things will work out nicely. Best of luck.

[coldfusion]

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@DONZI wrote:

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@coldfusion wrote:

b) Confirm your credit reports by the 6 most commonly used CRAs (Experian,Transunion, Equifax, Innovis, ARS, and SageStream) is accurate.  All 6 of them will provide you (or your attorney) with a free written copy of your report upon request.

..for clarity (I'm not familiar with ARS) could you provide a link?  A quick search turned up "ARS Account Resolution Services" and "ARS National Services Inc." but these seem to be services to help people settle credit issues.. and I didn't see anything on the CFPB consumer reporting agencies list found here.

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Advanced Resolution Services.  They're joined at the hip with Visa.

https://www.ars-consumeroffice.com/