What can I do if a fam member used my ss # on a cell phone contract that went deliquent and killed my credit?

Question

I just graduated from college and checked my credit report. My mother (who had access to my ss#) used it to enter into 2 cell phone contracts (Spring PCS + BCS Wireless) and ultimately let both go into delinquency (Sprint=$300+, BCS=$150). So, I have recently seen both delinquencies on my credit report and am wondering what I should do. My mother is also passed away as of earlier this year. I have been reading up on solutions about paying them off, but it still not significantly positively affecting my score (especially if one of the accounts is over 2 years old). So, my inherent option would be to dispute them both, since I didn't incur the expenses myself. I was wondering what someone more informed of credit-related situations might think my chances are in terms of having them removed, given that I have no hard evidence that I did not enter into the contracts myself. One company told me they could'nt do anything since it wouldn't be possible to indict my mother for fraud... Thanks IA

Thank you all for your kind responses... To answer some of the questions, my mother left no estate behind that I would be able to take care of them with...

Also, as a recent college grad on $20,000 worth of loans, if I don't have to pay them (which I shouldn't...) I'd really rather not... In that regard, both companies declined to remove the delinquencies from my report if I paid in full.

Also, as far as I know for the BCS contract, it was done over the phone, no signature required... I'm not sure about Sprint PCS.

Lastly, what I'm ultimately looking to get at is. If I am unsuccessful in my despute with equifax to have both of them removed, would it be better to let them rot out the 7 years or actually pay them. In other words, at this point, will paying them affect my credit score to an extent that will make it worth it (realistically, not morally).

Thank you again for any input in advance.

Answer 1

i was and still am in the same situation.sorry to hear about your mom.when i turned 18 i tried to get cable in my name only to find out that i had a 487.92 bill in my name from when i was 15.my mom did this.i was so pissed.then when i turned 19 i tried to apply for financial aid threw my school and got turned down because of my credit.well i knew why.i pulled my whole credit report and find out that i have 2,149.33 in debts.i can't sue my mom because i was told i waited to late so i was pretty lucky to help from my bank to get me threw school but me and my mom don't talk because of this.so my point is there is nothing you can really do but to pay it like what i have to do.

Answer 2

You have every right to dispute these accounts, since your mother incurred these debts fraudulently. Of course, they cannot indict the deceased. They can't appear to face the charges.

I would ask both Sprint and BCS to provide you copies of the signed contracts for these services, and then dispute that the signatures are yours, which they are not. If you are persistent and successful at this approach, those items MUST be removed from your credit file.

Answer 3

I have had both kinds, and I prefer Pay A You Go if you don't use it alot. Having a contract is expenisve, even for little minutes. I have tmobile right now, you can buy $100 (1000 minutes) and use them over the course of a year. That is like 3 months of a contract, and yes you have less minutes but if you want it for emergencies and not to chat while you are in line at Starbucks that is the way to go.

Answer 4

Your Mother being alive or dead has nothing to do with it. Either they can produce a contract with your signature or they can't.

I would protest both items with the credit bureaus tell them exactly what happened and they have 30-days to prove that the information they have is correct or they have to remove it from your credit report.

Answer 5

My mother was a scumbag and used my ss # on her utilities and phone, and I had to contact the companies, and tell them what happened. You can contact all the companyies, with proper Id and show them that you are the person with this SS, and want them to update there credit reporting. If they do not, you can contact a credit repair agency, and they ill take care of everything for a fee.

Answer 6

I think you are best off paying the $450 or asking them for a settlement and then putting and addendum on your credit report explaining what happend. The problem is that they have no way to verify your story, so they are unlikely to just remove the records all together.

It is affecting your credit score more than you think...

http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/WhatsInYourScore.aspx

Answer 7

I think that's correct. No way to prove a fraud charge. YOu might try refering the bill back to the estate for payment if you can prove the bill is her's not yours; and settle for disputing the bills on the bureau reports and using the estate payment as proof they were her bills.

Answer 8

Dispute them.. they should have done more to verify the identity and should be able to pull the records to see the call log. If you can prove you were not in the area when calls were made you would have a good case to fight.

Answer 9

Presumably mom left some sort of estate; these debts should be settled from it. Ordinarily, SS#'s should be kept secret, but of course in this case that would have been impossible -- she probably got it for you in the first place.

Answer 10

There has to be a contract that your mother signed to get an account, so get that. That will prove it was her, or the handwriting will prove it wasn't you.