Identity Theft...Anyone Have Experience With This?

[Verdy]

Hi All!

So I'm currently a student at my local community college, unfortunately for the fall semester I had to take out a student loan to cover my tuition and book fees. That is the ONLY loan I know that exists under my name, or so I thought.

Today I got curious about my credit score, as I am thinking about taking out my first credit card with Apple FCU. I went ahead and filled out all my information for the three credit unions: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. I eventually made it to a security questions page which told me that according to them, I had two other outstanding loans: a mortgage loan from 2009 and a car loan from November 2012. I opted for "None Of The Above" as my answers, as I do not have either of these loans. After hitting "submit" I was told my answers were incorrect and that I should mail them a request for my credit score.

This has sent me into a panic. I cannot understand how this could (if it has) happen to me. I'm 20, the only card I own is my debit card. I never share my social unless it's for school forms or things of that sort. I did call the identity theft hotline and they recommended I mail the request and if I did find activity that did not belong to me to call them back immediately.

Have any of you ever experienced this? It's so frightening. I really just want some peace of mind to know that it was just their security precaution and not an actual case of identity theft.

 

[sonnyjane]

Have your parents ever listed you on any of their accounts?

 

[JewelFreak]

Verdy, I've never had it happen, but dread it. Sometimes credit agencies attribute a loan to the wrong person. It could be this too. First, send in the request & see what they have. Very possibly, especially since you don't have credit card nos., etc., spread all over, it's simply a mistake that can be corrected. But you need to see it first.

I'm sure somebody here has more experience & could give you some ideas. Try googling what to do -- I'm sure there's good advice on steps to take. I don't mean going to places that charge you to fix it; those make me suspicious unless verified, a lot of scammers out there. There are bound to be articles that tell you, first do this, then do that.

Good luck & keep us informed. I want to know how it comes out. Chin up, honey -- don't worry! Everybody I've ever heard of gets it fixed in the end.

--- Laurie

 

[mogster]

This happened to me when I was trying to verify my identity for something work-related. I checked my credit profile with all three companies and everything was normal. I would say don't quite panic yet until you see your credit report.

 

[anne_h]

I don't have experience with identity theft...but do have with an error on my credit report.

A few years ago I applied for an investment loan only to find out that my usually stellar credit had been compromised. It turns out a woman with my name in the area I used to live in had defaulted on a certain store credit card payment. I did have a credit card with the same store briefly.

In the end, it was the store who had made an error, reporting the default on the wrong person's credit report (mine), although we shared the same name.

It took me a few days to clean up with the credit bureau, but once I did, all was well and I got my loan and my credit report went back to normal.

Hope this helps.

Anne

 

[Verdy]

Thanks for the replies everyone I prepared the letter and will be mailing it tomorrow, hopefully this gets sorted out ASAP. Identity theft is a nightmare, it takes so much time to unravel the never ending web of connections. I just hope it's all a small mix up. Definitely will keep you updated on what happens, again, I do appreciate your responses!

Edit: sonnyjane, no, my parents have never put my name on anything, just their tax return forms but it's been over 2 years since that happened.

 

[rubybeth]

I wouldn't immediately assume identity theft. Have you ever googled your own name? If someone has your same name, or a similar name, it could just be an error with reporting their information on your report. Esp. if the mortgage was from 2009--if you're only 20 years old, you'd have been only 17 then! I don't know any 17-year-olds with mortgages. Good luck!