Identity Theft: Repair Your Credit After Your Identity Has Been Stolen

Added October 17, 2003 by Ilyce R. Glink

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Summary: If you've been the victim of identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission has made it easier for you to repair your credit. The FTC has one form for victims of identity theft to report the crime to your creditors and credit reporting bureaus. The FTC says all three credit reporting agencies and dozens of major creditors have agreed to accept the form from victims of identity theft.

As of February, 2002, the Federal Trade Commission has simplified the process you'll have to go through to repair your credit after your identity has been stolen. You may now use one form (your affidavit) to report the crime to most creditors and credit reporting bureaus. Download the form from www.consumer.com/idtheft or call (877) ID-THEFT and have the form sent to you.

According to the FTC, all three credit reporting agencies and dozens of major creditors have agreed to accept the affidavit. This should help clear your name and restore your credit history much more quickly.

If someone has used your personal identification to fraudulently establish credit, report the incident as quickly as possible to each of the credit reporting agencies and request that a fraud alert be placed on your file.

Experian 888-397-9742

Equifax 800-525-6285

Trans Union 800-680-7289

Next, obtain a copy of your credit report from each of the credit reporting agencies. Check to see whether any additional accounts were opened without your consent or whether unauthorized charges were billed to your accounts. To request copies of your credit reports call:

Experian
888-397-3742

Equifax
800-685-1111

Trans Union
800-916-8800

Contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271 to report the unauthorized use of your personal identification information.

Contact your State Department of Motor Vehicles to see whether the Department has issued an unauthorized license number in your name. If so, notify them that you are a victim of identify theft.

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by contacting the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline in the following ways:

Telephone: 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338)

TTD: 202-326-2502

Mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20590-0001

Online: www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Publication: ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen To Your Good Name

Oct. 17, 2003.

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