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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.
Links on Debt Collection Abuse
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