Are creditors calling you demanding payment on credit card bills or other debts of which you have no recollection? Have you applied for a credit card, lease, or car loan only to find that you were denied credit due to a low credit score or a history of unpaid bills, even though you have paid your bills on time? If this is happening to you, you may be a victim of identity theft. Identity theft can occur in many ways, but it has become a major problem with the widespread use of the Internet and the ease with which many people give out their personal information online.

There are several steps that you can take to avoid identity theft or limit the effect that identity theft has on you, your family, and your credit score.


You Should:

• Report identity theft to the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. The credit bureaus will place a fraud alert on your credit report.
• Write to the credit card company to inform them that someone has stolen your personal information and has made unauthorized charges. Keep a copy for your records.
• Look at your credit card bills carefully, making sure that you or an authorized user have made all the charges that appear on your credit card statement.
• Monitor your credit report frequently utilizing free, reputable online credit reports.
• Close your credit card account as soon as possible if you believe that it was opened illegally through identity theft, lost or stolen.
• Report identity theft to your local police department.
• Use the Internet carefully and only give your personal information, if you must, to reputable online sites. If you question whether a website is reputable, odds are that it is not. Always err on the side of safety when your are giving out your personal information, whether you do so online or in public.
• If a debt collector is trying to collect on a credit card account that you believe was obtained through identity theft, do not pay anything toward it. You should dispute the debt in writing and explain to the credit card company that you did not make the charges and you are a victim of identity theft.

If you want help to stop debt collectors from trying to collect a debt you do not owe, please contact me. I will work hard to resolve your identity theft issues and help you pursue your rights against abusive debt collectors.