Information about protecting yourself from identity theft.

Dealing with Creditors

Deal with creditors either by phone or in writing...

When dealing with creditors with whom your name has been used fraudulently, do so by phone and in writing. The creditors will likely ask you to fill out a fraud affidavit, which is a form created by the Federal Trade Commission that most creditors accept. Ask the creditors to provide you and the investigating law enforcement with copies of all their documentation relating to the fraudulent account, including records that show the fraudulent transactions and the application forms.

If it is your existing creditors that have been used fraudulently, cancel your old account and have new cards issued with a new account number. Ask the credit company that your old account be processed as closed at your request instead of card lost or stolen.

Continually monitor your mail and bills for evidence of more fraudulent activity-if you find new evidence of fraud, report it immediately as well.

If you need to deal with debt collectors who are likely trying to get you to pay the unpaid bills on fraudulent accounts, ask them for the company name, the name of the person contacting you and the company’s phone number and address. Tell them that you are a victim of identity theft and that you are not responsible for the account. Ensure that you ask for copies of all the pertinent records including the referring creditor, the amount of the debt, account numbers and a statement of charges made on the account. Follow your phone call with a written letter to explain your situation. Ask them to confirm in writing that they are absolving you from being responsible for the debt and that the account has been closed.

One of your first two steps was to report the theft of your identity to your local police or law enforcement agency. If the crime occurred outside your police department’s jurisdiction, you may need to file another police report with the departments where the fraud occurred. Give the law enforcement agencies involved copies of all the documentation you have and ensure you get a copy of their police report to add to your documentation. Keep the name and phone number of your investigator handy to give to creditors or debt collectors who ask for verification of your identity theft charges.

Your law enforcement agency can help you determine if there are any other agencies you need to contact to report the theft of your identity, including the passport office, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Terms & Disclaimers