My Son's Information Is Showing Up on My Credit Report

If your credit history and your son's get mixed up, you may face months of headaches and possibly financial difficulty. Take action to correct your credit history immediately and keep monitoring your credit report until the matter is resolved. You may be able to obtain credit before the credit bureaus fix your problem.

Why It Happened

Any number of reasons can cause the bureaus to mix up your and your son's information, such as a computer glitch or an employee entering wrong information on your accounts. For example, if you and your son have similar names, such as Chris and Christopher Johnson, the bureaus may report data on the same credit report, especially if you live at the same address.

Taking Action

Write a letter to any of the three major credit bureaus explaining the credit file mix-up. Include a copy of your credit report and highlight the accounts you dispute. Furnish evidence of your claim, such as a photocopy of your birth certificate and driver's license. The bureaus normally have 30 days to investigate a claim, but the Fair Credit Reporting Act allows them more time in case of complicated cases, such as mistaken identity. Your son also should send information to the credit bureaus proving his identity and dispute any of your accounts that appear on his credit history.

Suing

Treat all communication with the credit bureaus as if you are preparing for a lawsuit. The bureaus automate their dispute resolution process, which can lead to re-reporting of errors, so you may have to sue one of the bureaus to gain attention. Unusual cases, such as those involving the courts, receive special attention that regular disputes do not, according to Anne Kadet of SmartMoney.

Letter of Explanation

While you resolve your mixed-up credit file, you can leave a 100-word explanation attached to any item on your credit report. An explanation has no effect on your credit score, but a creditor may overlook a negative credit mark if you can offer a good explanation. However, you must ask the creditor to review your credit report manually. Creditors usually use software that automatically pulls your credit report and calculates your credit rating based on data in your report.