some type of credit. How do I check to see if someone is committing identity theft? I would like to resolve this before I turn 18 so that my credit won't be scarred for life.
2006-08-05 11:00:58 · 18 answers · asked by minnie_mickey07 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
www.equifax.com, www.transunion.com, both of which should be able to give you a credit rating. You might also want to contact the companies who sent you mail, as it's probably that they just found your name and address somewhere (donation to charity, peition against something etc) and they're using it. Once one company does so, then others buy the name and address and just keep sending it. You can phone them and ask to be removed from their mailing lists - let them know, too, that you are 17.
2006-08-05 11:08:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Jan and bostonianinmo.
You should order your reports and see if there is actually anything going on with them.
Unless there actually is identity theft on your reports, I would strongly suggest NOT placing an ID theft/fraud alert on your reports. While you still will be able to get credit when you apply, it is a huge hassle.
Credit bureaus sell your info, thats where they make their money. Opting out like bostonianinmo said will stop the junk mail. But, if you are just starting out in the credit area, or soon will be, opting out wouldn't be the wisest thing to do. You would possibly be turning away some great offers.
Just toss the subprime offers and wait for the primes.
2006-08-05 21:25:23 · answer #2 · answered by echo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you are under the age of 18, you cannot legally enter a contract, and credit or credit cards is a form of contract.
Call up those bankers and verify that you do not have credit through them and inform them of your age. The mail should stop instantaneously.
You are also entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus every year, so getting that FREE report will also tell you a whole lot.
Good luck!
2006-08-05 18:11:01 · answer #3 · answered by Rebecca 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're getting those credit come-ons probably because your school sold its list of students that are getting ready to graduate to one or more of the credit reporting agencies. The credit card companies place a request for lists of records meeting their credit granting criteria. The criteria in question is probably "credit history of less than 2 years".
You might want to challenge the school district to stop selling lists of graduates to the credit reporting agencies. Make a public stink about it and they'll stop doing it pretty quickly!
Just shred the junk mail. You can also "opt out" of pre-approved credit offers. Each of these sales pitches will have instructions on how to do that. Just follow the instructions.
2006-08-05 19:01:48 · answer #4 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Run a credit check, and by all means stay away from credit cards. The best advice I ever got for financial matters was that there are only two things you should ever go into debt for. A home and your first car, because by the time you need another car you should be able to pay cash for it. The only other justifiable debt that I can see is education.
2006-08-05 18:05:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get your parents to contact the bureaus to see if anything is listed.
The vast majority of the time, the credit card companies will buy lists of names from stores, companies,etc.
If you filled out an entry form for a contest, or email,etc, they could have gotten your name from them.
No harm in having your parents check.
2006-08-05 21:20:04 · answer #6 · answered by Shanan D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask a parent/legal guardian to place a fraud alert on your SSN number and identity. There is no charge for this. It will cut down on the number of offers you get. If you will be applying for student loans for college, or other personal loans, it will require a signature from you to run a background credit check.
I've convinced the schools share this personal information, as we get dozens for military recruitment flyers, credit card offers, even car offers for our teenagers. Very wierd.....
2006-08-05 20:27:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are under 18, you cannot legally get credit without a cosigner. Don't worry about it. They are trying to get you to think about it so you will, when you turn 18, sign up for lots of credit cards and bury yourself in interest. Lots of interest means lots of maney for the credit card companies. If you were smart, you'd never get one.
2006-08-05 18:06:03 · answer #8 · answered by candl91402 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't let the stupid companies scare you. Those credit bureaus are just trying to get you to pay them money. Don't get your credit report unless you get rejected for a credit card or loan, in which case you can get a copy for free and get it taken care of then.
2006-08-05 18:05:28 · answer #9 · answered by Sim S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
credit card companies spend over $8 billion a year mailing out advertising...however you are very wise to be concerned.....there are 3 main credit reporting agencies......you can get a free credit report from each of them once a year and now's a good time for you to start keeping track.....the following link takes you to the site where you can request your free report from each of the 3 agencies
2006-08-05 18:09:33 · answer #10 · answered by Jan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋