One week ago I was turned down for auto loan because credit report says I'm dead. Have requested my annual credit reports. Should I freeze credit inquiries and how do I do that? Thank you.
It was likely unsettling to read incorrect information on your credit report, especially something as shocking as seeing yourself listed as dead. This reminds me of the story of Mark Twain seeing his obituary printed in the paper. He remarked, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.â€
Your task to have the mistake removed from your credit report will, unfortunately, take more effort that voicing a witty quip.
Before I propose some concrete steps for you to take, I have a few questions for you. Are you able to use any of your active accounts, such as credit cards or your bank account? If you are able to use your current accounts, it means that they have not been notified that you are 'dead.' Do all three credit bureaus show you as deceased? Obviously, the problem is less complicated if only one of the bureaus shows you as deceased.
Here is a suggested course of actions for you to take. If you have not done so already, start by checking the information with all three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. You can obtain a free credit report from each of the three bureaus by visiting the Web site AnnualCreditReport.com You are entitled to one free report from each of the three bureaus every 12 months.
View the reports to see which bureaus are listing you as deceased. If only one bureau is, then you only need to focus on correcting that one error.
Contact the bureaus that show you as deceased and file a dispute with them. The three major consumer credit reporting companies also offer consumers the ability to dispute a credit listing online. See Experian's Disputing Credit Report Errors, TransUnion's Credit Disputes, and Equifax Online Dispute Web pages.
Fill out the form and attach a short letter that explains that you would like to have the incorrect notice of your death removed. Make sure to follow the guidelines of the dispute form and enclose any documents that the form requests.
The credit bureau also must forward all the relevant data you provide about the inaccuracy to the organization that provided them with the information. After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the credit reporting company, it must investigate, review the relevant information, and report the results back to the credit reporting company. If the information provider finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide credit reporting companies so they can correct the information in your file.
You will need to wait for 30 days, after you file your dispute, to allow the bureau(s) time to investigate your case. If you do not receive a response within that time period, write the bureau(s) again. This time, state that you did not receive a timely response, which is a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
You may need to repeat this step, by sending more letters to the offending bureau(s), if you do not see that they have removed the false information you’re your report. If you still are getting nowhere, you may need to threaten legal action against the bureau(s), unless your situation is resolved.
Make sure to keep all of your records in order, including copies of any documents or correspondence that you send them. This allows you to maintain a consistent account of what has transpired and to authoritatively site chapter and verse of the history of your case.
Once the credit dispute is resolved, the credit reporting agency is required to give you the results in writing along with a free copy of your credit report. This report does not count as the free report you are entitled to receive each year. Also, if you want, the credit bureau must contact anyone who has received your credit report in the last six months to notify them of the changes.
Also, if you cannot determine from where the bureau(s) received the bogus information, it may be worthwhile to check with the Social Security Administration to see if they show you as alive. If either Social Security or the IRS show you as deceased, it can be an even more difficult and time consuming effort for you to prove to them the fact that is clear to all who know you, that you are indeed alive.
I filled out a credit application for a Red card credit from Target about a week ago. Received a letter from Target, that i was declined because the Credit Bureau, had me down as deceased. I am very much alive.
It was likely unsettling to read incorrect information on your credit report, especially something as shocking as seeing yourself listed as dead. This reminds me of the story of Mark Twain seeing his obituary printed in the paper. He remarked, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.â€
Your task to have the mistake removed from your credit report will, unfortunately, take more effort that voicing a witty quip.
Before I propose some concrete steps for you to take, I have a few questions for you. Are you able to use any of your active accounts, such as credit cards or your bank account? If you are able to use your current accounts, it means that they have not been notified that you are 'dead.' Do all three credit bureaus show you as deceased? Obviously, the problem is less complicated if only one of the bureaus shows you as deceased.
Here is a suggested course of actions for you to take. If you have not done so already, start by checking the information with all three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. You can obtain a free credit report from each of the three bureaus by visiting the Web site AnnualCreditReport.com You are entitled to one free report from each of the three bureaus every 12 months.
View the reports to see which bureaus are listing you as deceased. If only one bureau is, then you only need to focus on correcting that one error.
Contact the bureaus that show you as deceased and file a dispute with them. The three major consumer credit reporting companies also offer consumers the ability to dispute a credit listing online. See Experian's Disputing Credit Report Errors, TransUnion's Credit Disputes, and Equifax Online Dispute Web pages.
Fill out the form and attach a short letter that explains that you would like to have the incorrect notice of your death removed. Make sure to follow the guidelines of the dispute form and enclose any documents that the form requests.
The credit bureau also must forward all the relevant data you provide about the inaccuracy to the organization that provided them with the information. After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the credit reporting company, it must investigate, review the relevant information, and report the results back to the credit reporting company. If the information provider finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide credit reporting companies so they can correct the information in your file.
You will need to wait for 30 days, after you file your dispute, to allow the bureau(s) time to investigate your case. If you do not receive a response within that time period, write the bureau(s) again. This time, state that you did not receive a timely response, which is a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
You may need to repeat this step, by sending more letters to the offending bureau(s), if you do not see that they have removed the false information you’re your report. If you still are getting nowhere, you may need to threaten legal action against the bureau(s), unless your situation is resolved.
Make sure to keep all of your records in order, including copies of any documents or correspondence that you send them. This allows you to maintain a consistent account of what has transpired and to authoritatively site chapter and verse of the history of your case.
Once the credit dispute is resolved, the credit reporting agency is required to give you the results in writing along with a free copy of your credit report. This report does not count as the free report you are entitled to receive each year. Also, if you want, the credit bureau must contact anyone who has received your credit report in the last six months to notify them of the changes.
Also, if you cannot determine from where the bureau(s) received the bogus information, it may be worthwhile to check with the Social Security Administration to see if they show you as alive. If either Social Security or the IRS show you as deceased, it can be an even more difficult and time consuming effort for you to prove to them the fact that is clear to all who know you, that you are indeed alive.
freeze your credit will not fix this. You need to dispute it with the CRA
credit report
Hi abu,
Yes, you will have to dispute this wrong information with the credit bureaus. Refer to the sample dispute letter available with this community at http://www.creditmagic.org/repair/dispute-letter.html .
Thanks,
Aaron
Credit Report shows that i am deceased.
I filled out a credit application for a Red card credit from Target about a week ago. Received a letter from Target, that i was declined because the Credit Bureau, had me down as deceased. I am very much alive.