Here's my deal... I discovered recently that I have 2 old charge-offs on my reports. I didn't know because I hadn't checked them since 1999 (don't gasp...I know I am stupid). My mother in law lived next door to us and watched our kids, so she picked up the mail. I always got a lot of crappy credit card offers due to past problems, from Providian and Capital One. I ignored them, but guess what? She didn't! She opened 2 cards under my name, took the, charged them to their limit which was thankfully $250 and stayed quiet. She picked up our mail until 2001, so I was clueless. She also put her phone number on the apps, so we didn't get any calls. Before anyone says call the police, this is my Mother in law who screwed up and I have to deal, period...well, she moved in 2001 and I found out in early 2002 about these cards through my sister in law who does her taxes, she confessed it. Neither company has sent me mail or called since I discovered this in 2002, until yesterday. These are listed as charge-offs, but they are not listed as collections or judegements. I just received a settlement offer from Capital One to pay the $250...neither Providian or CA will want to hear the MIL story, so what should I do? What would settling do? How do I want to have it listed on a letter...settled in full, paid in full? I am ignorant, I admit. Not so ignorant that I know I am liable. My scores are exp 630 TA 621 EQ 598 and I'd like to bring up the scores, so please advise. I pay my bills on time, so this is hurting my score. Also, she declared BK7 last year, my mother in law.
Actually, you are not liable for accounts opened by fraud. Contact both issuers and just tell them they are not yours and you've no idea who opened the account. The first contact can be by phone to get some names and numbers. AFter that, everything should be done CRRR. They'll likely send you a fraud affidivat to sign. Go ahead and sign and take it from there. I'd also suggest you get copies of all of your credit reports and see if any other mischief is showing. I'd also suggest you place fraud alerts on your accounts and dispute this as fraud. You can do this with one phone call. If you report fraud to one CRA, they report it to the others. http://www.pirg.org/consumer/credit/bureaus.htm
Thanks... I did sign up for Equifax credit watch, to make sure she doesn't do this again...I am afraid to report it as fraud, because I don't want her to get in trouble. Would it be better to say I had no idea who opened them?
