Am I financially responsible for credit cards in my name, that I did not open?

Question

if someone got my social security number got out, and someone opened credit cards, and I never found out about it... would I be financially responsible? To my understanding, business credit cards do not show up on credit reports, because I found out I have some through a phone call, even though I never opened them, and they are not on my credit report... so... what do I have to do to be not financially responsible. Thank You.

Answer 1

You are correct in thinking that business credit normally does not show up on "personal" credit reports.
Most report to various business related credit reporting agencies, such as D&B, Experian Business, Equifax Business, etc.

You should file a police report for ID theft.
Then contact each creditor, that you know of, and furnish them with a copy of the police report and dispute the accounts.

You may have to do some legwork and contact the business credit reporting agencies to see if they have anything reporting under your name so you can dispute the tradelines (including the police report with your disputes) and request a contact list of any creditor that is reporting business tradelines under your name.

Answer 2

Very Good and Important question. Quick answer. What you described is very common and it is called ID theft. Someone stole your ID and get money from you. You are responsible for the money spent to an extent. Most of the time ,if you can prove that it was not you who open the account, you can get out of it. But not without spending a lot of time explaining.

One easy way to protect yourself is to check your credit report on a regularly. CA has recently joined other states to give out a free credit report once a year. So get the big 3 report for free. If there are suspicious accounts you will know because they show up on the reports. See the following links. I tried that annually. Good services. Be careful not to use other link come from sources that will charge you money. If you don't trust the web, call the 800 number. This is a .gov link and is FREE. Protect your credit!!!

Answer 3

I'm a little confused. If a credit card is in your name an social security, it should be on your credit report. If the card is in the name of a business, it wouldn't show up on your credit report and you would not be responsible.

Did someone call you to collect for this credit card? Send them a letter saying you did not open the cards and suspect identity theft. Ask them to provided written proof, including the signed agreement that opened the account.

There's something fishy. Like they're trying to con you.

Answer 4

You're not responsible for any credit card account you didn't open. This is identity theft and can be a real pain to get corrected.

Call the bank that issued the fraudulent card. Do that now.

Report this to all 3 credit agencies
- Equifax 800-525-6285
- Experian 888-EXPERIAN (or 888-397-3742)
- TransUnion 800-680-7289
File a fraud report with them. Document the date, time and person you spoke to for every call.

Also contact the FTC - Use their hotline, 1-877-IDTHEFT or 1-877-438-4338

and

the Social Security Administration: Use their hotline [phone]

Answer 5

If you are an entrepreneur or a guarantor, of course, it would show on your credit report because the card is under your social security number.
If someone fraudulently opened an account under your name, you're not responsible. Contact the credit card company immediately. They will ask you for an affidavit. After investigated if they found out it wasn't your charge and the card was sent to someone else's address, you're not responsible. If someone is in your family who lives in the same household opened the account, you have to press charge against that person. Otherwise, you'll be responsible because the account is under your social security number..

Answer 6

FIRST and foremost, contact the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, etc.) and report this to them, by phone AND in writing. Find out what companies contacted them to verify credit status prior to opening the accounts. Contact those companies and inform them. Contact a lawyer for identity theft. Contact the Social Security Administration and find out what, if anything, that can be done to protect your social security number now. In certain cases, it MAY even be possible to change your social security number, so ask them about that as well. COVER YOUR BUTT NOW before this creep ruins your credit!! Document EVERYTHING, and get copies of all your credit reports now, and every month for the next couple years so you can catch unauthorized things that show up on it as soon as it happens. It will cost you about $8 per copy each month, but it is worth it compared to what you will have to do to repair your credit later because someone else messed it up.

Answer 7

You can contact the credit card issuer and inform them about the fraud, they may take some action

Answer 8

Why are you consolidating?!! What a terrible thought. repay YOUR bills, do no longer flow them around. examine Dave Ramsey's e book, or watch his television instruct and give up residing exterior your ability. repay your bills!

Answer 9

My first question is HOW? If they are in your SSN they would be on your credit reports.

So what's up?