Long story short, I checked my credit yesterday for the first time in years, and noticed a closed American Express card that is at collections. Shock to me! In researching, found out that my ex-roommate that I kicked out over a year ago opened this account in my name, and racked up $24,000 in charges! I filed the fraud with Amex, and contacted the colleciton agency that it was turned over to. They said they've been "speaking with me" for months about this. Turns out they were calling him on his cell phone, and he was posing as me, and even told them that my father would use his 401k to pay for these charges! I was advised to immediately file a police report against him, and fax it back to the collection agency. Amex is also working the fraud report. I have always prided myself with paying bills on time and keeping a good name. This could prove to be a huge wrench in that. Should I do anything else right now, and what can I expect in the future to clear my name? Thank you!
2007-09-05 04:59:35 · 12 answers · asked by Kevin P 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
These are correct steps-also maybe have AMEX send you a copy of the original signature etc ppwork and get them all the info on him that you can. Talk with someone about sueing him in civil court for the funds- if he did that I bet there is more and the police should be checking him out. We are in a different type of lawsuit right now, but it is unbelievable how much more gets done if you do it yourself. The internet is a wealth of info-get the goods on him and write everything down-including when and why you kicked him out etc. Good Luck! AMEX is actually quite a good company so at least working with them over an unknown will be easier too-
2007-09-05 05:12:20 · answer #1 · answered by ARTmom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put a fraud alert on your credit report with each credit bureau. Look at all the other credit cards on your report to make sure they all actually belong to you.
It may take a while to fight this out, especially if the debt has been sold to collectors. If Amex is investigating, it sounds like they still own the account. Try to get something in writing acknowledging the results of their investigation. Keep it and a copy of the police report with your important financial papers. These things tend to come back when bad debt portfolios are sold off to collection agencies.
2007-09-05 05:09:59 · answer #2 · answered by bdancer222 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
File police charges against your ex roommate. I think that will make it clear with Amex and your creditors that you are taking care of this too.
You can put an alert on your credit...so nothing can be opened without a proper identification check and a password from you.
Call the credit company you contacted for your report and ask them how to keep this from happening again.
2007-09-05 05:09:03 · answer #3 · answered by GayLF 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fraud is fraud, wether it was against one's parent or a stranger. You might be able to "drop the charges" perhaps, but first I'd be getting her and the credit card people together and settling this. If the CC people were doing their job, she should not have been able to do what she has done. Did she forge a signature also? Crap! There goes trust. Ugh. Sorry, I'm disgusted at reading this. If you and your daughter can work together (and if SHE wants to actually pay off what she's done) then maybe you guys can get this settled before it gets too far out of hand.
2016-05-17 09:03:03 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right now you need to document the name of each person you speak with, the date and time you spoke with them and get copies of every paper involved including the police report. This way if someone drops the ball you always have references. Make sure you contact someone at least once every two weeks to check on their progress. You will also want to contact your father to let him know what is going on and have him check his credit. Chances are he didn't have enough information to tap into your fathers finances but it's best to check.
2007-09-05 05:12:19 · answer #5 · answered by al l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you filed the police report yet?
If you have, then you are really doing everything you can.
My Wife had this done to her a couple of years ago by her Son and the only way we got it cleared up was the police report.
Be sure and send the copies of the police report certified mail return receipt requested and send AMX a copy as well.
2007-09-05 05:07:08 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a very bad thing that your ex-roommate did, but I wouldn't worry too much. As long as you have the right paper work to prove it was him and not you who actually opened up the credit card you should be able to get it taken off your credit report.
2007-09-05 06:35:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should treat this like identity theft because that's exactly what it is. If he did it once, he still has the information and capacity to do it again. You may have to take steps such as filing for a new social security number, changing vital data, etc. Look at this link from the Social Security Administration with information on how to combat identity theft.
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm
2007-09-05 05:53:16 · answer #8 · answered by Jay P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get all the evidence together and press charge against him for Id theft so they can put him in jail. Do it quick.
2007-09-05 05:49:33 · answer #9 · answered by Phoenix 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your name is still clear. But this mess should be taken cared of first. The guy use your name should be put to jail and/or should transfer the debt onto his name. You don't owe anybody anything, but you have to prove it that he is not you. You probably need and Attoryney because this is more that 5,000.00 worth of debt.
2007-09-05 05:07:05 · answer #10 · answered by earth angel 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋