When you pull your credit report, you might find that it's full of things that you had no hand in initiating. Sometimes you find that there are many different listings on your report that you had absolutely no knowledge of. This not only hurts your score, but it can really reduce your chances of making major purchases such as a home or a car.
It could be that you're a victim of identity theft, but how do you prove it? Is there any way that you can get your life back and get your credit score back on track?
When you know about the way that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) works, you might find that you can get your identity back and it won't be as hard as you think. If you have debt collectors calling you for bills that you didn't know you had and you're having problems with your credit score because of something that you didn't initiate, it might be time to take some action and clean up your credit report.
* The first thing you should do is talk to the debt collectors when they call. Write down the information that they offer and have them send you a statement in writing regarding the supposed debt that you've incurred. This will give time to find out what's really going on.
* You should also print your credit report and start finding out which debts are yours and which ones were initiated without your knowledge. Often, you can take the next step and call the creditors of the debts that you are sure you didn't initiate and have them send you statements. Remember to get the names, numbers and addresses of the original creditors at this time as well. You can tell these creditors that you think your identity has been stolen and they are required to furnish you with the information you request.
* Next, you might want to consider looking up one of the many reputable fair credit lawyers that are out there. A good one will be well versed in the FCRA and how it can benefit you. In the case of identity theft, they can call the credit bureaus and have them flag the debts that you're investigating. Plus, they will help you take the next step toward fighting your identity theft and cleaning up your credit.
A fair credit lawyer will also be helpful when it comes time to paying the debts that you didn't initiate. The Fair Credit Reporting Act is very clear on what an identity theft victim owes and what they aren't responsible for. Having an attorney on your side will help you to stop debt collectors in their tracks while you sort out your situation.
Ultimately, the Fair Credit Reporting Act was put in place to help you. If you suspect that you are the victim of identity theft, don't waste time worrying about it. Find a fair credit lawyer who is knowledgeable about the FCRA and can help you fix the problem.
It could be that you're a victim of identity theft, but how do you prove it? Is there any way that you can get your life back and get your credit score back on track?
When you know about the way that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) works, you might find that you can get your identity back and it won't be as hard as you think. If you have debt collectors calling you for bills that you didn't know you had and you're having problems with your credit score because of something that you didn't initiate, it might be time to take some action and clean up your credit report.
* The first thing you should do is talk to the debt collectors when they call. Write down the information that they offer and have them send you a statement in writing regarding the supposed debt that you've incurred. This will give time to find out what's really going on.
* You should also print your credit report and start finding out which debts are yours and which ones were initiated without your knowledge. Often, you can take the next step and call the creditors of the debts that you are sure you didn't initiate and have them send you statements. Remember to get the names, numbers and addresses of the original creditors at this time as well. You can tell these creditors that you think your identity has been stolen and they are required to furnish you with the information you request.
* Next, you might want to consider looking up one of the many reputable fair credit lawyers that are out there. A good one will be well versed in the FCRA and how it can benefit you. In the case of identity theft, they can call the credit bureaus and have them flag the debts that you're investigating. Plus, they will help you take the next step toward fighting your identity theft and cleaning up your credit.
A fair credit lawyer will also be helpful when it comes time to paying the debts that you didn't initiate. The Fair Credit Reporting Act is very clear on what an identity theft victim owes and what they aren't responsible for. Having an attorney on your side will help you to stop debt collectors in their tracks while you sort out your situation.
Ultimately, the Fair Credit Reporting Act was put in place to help you. If you suspect that you are the victim of identity theft, don't waste time worrying about it. Find a fair credit lawyer who is knowledgeable about the FCRA and can help you fix the problem.