Credit scores are a joke!

cicy33 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-2006, 06:15 AM

I have had credit problems in the past so not surprised or worried about mine. It is around 600 or so. but anyways, my husband on the other hand has never had a problem but because his name is common gets all this extra stuff put on his report. it is amazing. We paid once to have it all removed and they just put more on. we contacted a lawyer and they said that the only thing we can do is keep requesting to have it removed. and to put a warning on the credit report. As long as it is removed they are doing their job. No they are not! This is not a case of stolen identity (we did check the out though). This is a case of someone at the credit agency not bothering to do their job and just putting stuff on his report whether it is his or not. On his last report that I ran he had over 50 accounts that were not his. For example: 5 citi bank accounts, 5 capital one accounts, 5 mortgage accounts, etc. it was so blatantly obvious. I do need to get that warning on the report but still his score is terrible and he can't even get credit to buy a $200 dryer due to these. They even had him listed as living somewhere else, the name matched but the birthdate did not! And we never even heard of the town. So, while I understand they must have something to look at to determine credit worthyness, perhaps there should be a way to hold the credit agencies accountable. Of course calling them is impossible!

sweeps · #2 (**permalink**) 03-16-2006, 06:48 AM

Have you sent letters (via registered mail) to the credit agency? Based on personal experience and experiences of others on here, calling companies and getting verbal agreements is almost a waste of time. If you send a letter (sample here) to them, they are required to investigate the items in 30 days.

If you're still not getting anywhere, you can file a complaint with the FTC. Or you may have to find another lawyer who will take the case seriously.

cicy33 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2006, 07:17 AM

we have required them to remove all that is not ours but that is only 1/2 the problem. They KEEP doing it. no matter how many times we have it removed. So the problem is that someone is not bothering to check ssn to make sure whose credit they are destroying! I don't know who the FTC is? The lawyer said that as long as they remove what I ask them to they can't do anything. That I don't understand, why can't they get into trouble for this. Our credit report is very important to people. We have actually considered seriously changing his ssn.

cicy33 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-16-2006, 07:20 AM

I did click on your link and I am going to file a complaint. maybe that will get them moving! I just think that maybe our credit worthiness or the way the credit score is determined should be adjusted somehow. It is not always a true indicator of people.

debtfreeme · #5 (**permalink**) 03-20-2006, 03:59 PM

And changing his SSN would do no good as it is a common name issue. You need to put on your credit report that any and all queries through your husbands name or SSN be authorized through you. Send a letter requesting that they mark your husband files that they must contact you before they give out any information. And send this letter about 3 times a year.

Contact the individual bureaus and the FTC in one letter addressed to the FTC and cc'd to NAMES of people at the bureaus. Call and ask to whom you should send a letter with a name, never send a letter to the bureaus with a ‘to whom it may concern’. Names are very important as that can be a tracking device (and register all mail to get a card back with a signature).

In your request to the FTC make it that they work with the bureaus and ensure that until these errors are completely fixed that you should receive a new report each month. (If they cannot do this then I would sign up with one of those monitoring agencies for a while.)

On each incorrect listing on the report, you can contact the individual company and ask them to launch an investigation from their end as well. Send a letter etc and request them to investigate xxx account and find out why it is listed on your account. This will help.

Also if his name is very common (first and last) then have him start using an initial or the entire name, first, middle and last. This can help to cut down on the issues. You can call all your outstanding accounts and have them add his middle name as if it is a part of his first name and this might help. It helped a good friend of mine whose name was xxx Johnson.

This will be hard and a lot of work, but the most important thing is that you track each and every piece of mail you send and always work with the bureaus with mail not phone calls.

cicy33 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2006, 07:31 AM

I appreciate your reply and I am going to try all of these. His name is Michael Smith. Sometimes they use his middle initial but sometimes the other people have different initials than him. First clue it wasn't him. other than the fact we have never heard of these places. How do I actually call the credit bureaus? I have never found a "live" number.

debtfreeme · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2006, 08:22 AM

http://www.bankrate.com/nltrack/news...ve-credit1.asp
article on helping to improve scores.

It lists all three agencies and the FTC.

Equifax customer care: 866-640-2273 I got the equifax number when i tried to log in to the site and i was not recognized.

Experian: Experian (formerly TRW)
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-0949
(888) 397-3742

Trans Union Corp.
760 W. Sproul Rd.
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
(800) 888-4213

If you work through these phone numbers you should reach someone to ask a name and a delivery address for a receipt signature.

Ima saver · #8 (**permalink**) 03-21-2006, 08:23 AM

If I was having that kind of problem, I probably would change my name. My last name is so unusual we never have problems. I am the only one in my state with this last name. (plus my husband of course)

contrary1 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-21-2006, 08:41 AM

I've got a name (first, middle & last) that are as common as white bread. It makes for an interesting credit report, every time. The first time something showed up that wasn't mine, I remember being shocked, sort of assuming it was mine............ Now, I just expect stuff to crop up. I remind people that are assisting with refinances, loans etc, how common my name is, and ask them to let me know if something out of the ordinary is on the report. This past real estate deal, nothing showed up that wasn't mine, first time ever!!!