Credit reporting after the name change

[Hypatia]

Now that I have my name change court order in my hot little hand, how do I make sure the credit reporting agencies make the change to my account?

And how do I persuade the credit card issuers to issue me cards in my new name? I'm assuming that when they run my application through the system, they will pull information on me from the credit reporting agencies. Then there's the holder of my mortgage, etc. Where do I begin untying this knot of information?

[Lisbeth]

Now that I have my name change court order in my hot little hand, how do I make sure the credit reporting agencies make the change to my account?

And how do I persuade the credit card issuers to issue me cards in my new name? I'm assuming that when they run my application through the system, they will pull information on me from the credit reporting agencies. Then there's the holder of my mortgage, etc. Where do I begin untying this knot of information?

Well, there's no issue about getting the credit cards to be in your name.  They are bound by law to obey a court order.  Getting credit reporting agencies to update their records may be a lost cause.  A lot of us end up with zero credit history.

[Kate]

A lot of us end up with zero credit history.

What? You're kidding me? That's not fair... and doesn't sound legal even.

Do WE call the Big Three credit history places ourselves? Or will the CC companies notify them when we get new CC cards?

~Kate~

[Lisbeth]

A lot of us end up with zero credit history.

What? You're kidding me? That's not fair... and doesn't sound legal even.

Do WE call the Big Three credit history places ourselves? Or will the CC companies notify them when we get new CC cards?

~Kate~

That's totally our responsibility.

[Sheila]

First off, you need to change your social security card. After you have done that then one by one start changing your name on all your credit cards and bank notes. It is easy and by the way most use your SS number which you have changed your name on. I still get asked if I want a credit card and my credit is excellent and it had never waivered. I forgot, make sure your drivers license is changed as some will want to look at that too. This doesn't have anything to do with what state you live in as this is corporate ties and they don't care about states. They have their own laws or they work around existing laws. They have one thing in mind, you pay what you owe on time or we will make your life a living hell.
Sheila

[Mario]

Believe me. They will find you, for thr good or the bad stuff. Yes, though it will be through your social security number.

                                        Marco

[tinkerbell]

You contact all of them (Equifax, Transunion and Experian) and tell them to change your name on their records.  They will ask you for proof (new DL, SSN with new name and the court order).  After your request has been processed, they will send you a confirmation letter certifying the changes.  (at least this is how it used to be years ago; I don't actually know if it works the same now...)

tink

[MeghanAndrews]

I'm in the lending business, so I can probably shed a little light on this subject.

Getting the three credit bureau companies (Equifax, Transunion, Experian (used to be TRW)) to change your info isn't difficult at all. Just use a company like myfico.com or some other credit company or go directly to those three and send them name change info.

The problem is going to be that if you are using the same social security and date of birth, the name will change on the credit bureaus but you will still have your male name listed in the OTHER NAMES section at the end of the credit bureau. I've never seen this be able to be changed by deleting names.

I've done loans for TS people before and seen that on there. I think most lenders are scrupulous enough to follow strict privacy laws concerning that kind of information, but for big purchases like a house, the lender may require what we called a Letter Of Explanation (LOE) if something seems out of the ordinary. In other words, if all of your ID shows one name and the credit report shows another, that might trigger a lender to require a LOE to prevent identity theft.

In the case of TS, I can't imagine that a LOE would be required, and for someone who is deep stealth, that could be a problem, especially on a joint credit application where the partner doesn't know. I've never heard of credit histories being "erased" unless the person is using a different social or DOB.

After 7 - 10 years the OTHER NAMES section will most likely update and remove those other names. If anyone calls one of the three bureaus and gets different information than that, I'd be really interested to know. Keep in mind that with the threat of identity theft all over the place, credit bureau agencies are extremely cautious about altering data, even with sufficient proof. Changing late payments and things like that are not a problem with sufficient proof, but changing PREVIOUS names is not something I've seen before.

[LostInTime]

I went for a loan and filed under my femme name and explained up front what was going on. As the loan officer explained to me my femme name came up and had one set of scores. As mentioned there was a flag showing that there was another name with the ss# and that was the old name. Between the two they had all of my info. They did not see this as a problem or as fraud or as anything, just another chance to sell a loan to someone. Very polite and professional.

[mikke]

I'm having SO much trouble with this right now. I've started receiving mail (credit offers) in my old name and I'm terrified that one of my roommates will get the mail one day and be like "wtf is this???" and out me. That would be bad. But when I call each of the CRAs I just get a long list of automated options that are completely irrelevant to what I need (mostly having to do with getting a credit report). There's no way to actually talk to a human being.

[katia]

I'm having SO much trouble with this right now. I've started receiving mail (credit offers) in my old name and I'm terrified that one of my roommates will get the mail one day and be like "wtf is this???" and out me. That would be bad. But when I call each of the CRAs I just get a long list of automated options that are completely irrelevant to what I need (mostly having to do with getting a credit report). There's no way to actually talk to a human being.

what about writing them a letter? 

[Hypatia]

First off, you need to change your social security card.

I looked at the procedure for that. They ask for one ID in the old name and one currently valid ID in the new name (also the new gender). So a definite sequence takes shape.

I need the F on my ID. Being pre-op, the only reliable way to get this is a passport, when you have a letter from a doctor saying you're on track for GRS. I had the letter and put in my passport application the other day. It will take 6 to 8 weeks.

My old driver's license and my new passport together will get me a new Social Security card. But then it will also be time to get the new DL with the new gender, on the strength of the passport--and this has to be done after the Social Security card.

So--the best I can figure it, the sequence goes:
1. Passport
2. Social Security
3. Driver's license
4. Everything else.

If anyone knows a way to do this quicker than waiting 6 to 8 weeks for the passport, I'd love to know. I just didn't want to spend an extra $60 to expedite the passport, I've had too many other expenses this month and my budget is hurting.


Posted on: October 13, 2007, 11:36:21 PM

Well, there's no issue about getting the credit cards to be in your name.  They are bound by law to obey a court order.

So are you saying I can get credit cards in my new name on the court order alone, without changing Social Security or anything? This all gets complicated. How tangled does it get? When submitting my passport application, the lady at the post office asked to see my ID. When she saw it was in the old name, she fussed a little. Then I explained I need the passport first to get the gender changed on the DL, and she accepted it.

Posted on: October 13, 2007, 11:37:32 PM

Getting the three credit bureau companies (Equifax, Transunion, Experian (used to be TRW)) to change your info isn't difficult at all. Just use a company like myfico.com or some other credit company or go directly to those three and send them name change info.

I've been to look on those three companies' web sites, but found no user-friendly links to anywhere you could submit name change information. What contact do you use for that? Also, I'm guessing I need to have both DL and SS changed before approaching them?

[Lisbeth]

I'm having SO much trouble with this right now. I've started receiving mail (credit offers) in my old name and I'm terrified that one of my roommates will get the mail one day and be like "wtf is this???" and out me. That would be bad. But when I call each of the CRAs I just get a long list of automated options that are completely irrelevant to what I need (mostly having to do with getting a credit report). There's no way to actually talk to a human being.

You can have the post office return them.

Well, there's no issue about getting the credit cards to be in your name.  They are bound by law to obey a court order.

So are you saying I can get credit cards in my new name on the court order alone, without changing Social Security or anything? This all gets complicated. How tangled does it get? When submitting my passport application, the lady at the post office asked to see my ID. When she saw it was in the old name, she fussed a little. Then I explained I need the passport first to get the gender changed on the DL, and she accepted it.

Nobody has to give you a credit card.  But if they do give you one it has to be in the name the court order says.  That's what a court order means; the court is ordering everyone to use that name as your name.

[lisagurl]

I have been through it. Two credit reporting companies will just start a new account with your new name and present accounts, their software cannot combine accounts. The third will carry some of your old accounts over to the new name.  You need to change the name on all your credit accounts first, like mortgage loans and credit cards along with all the bills you pay electric, cable, etc.

[Hypatia]

So is it possible to just change the name on an existing credit card account?

[Lisbeth]

So is it possible to just change the name on an existing credit card account?

Yes.  You will have to provide them with a copy of your court order.

[Stormy]

I'm in the lending business, so I can probably shed a little light on this subject.

Getting the three credit bureau companies (Equifax, Transunion, Experian (used to be TRW)) to change your info isn't difficult at all. Just use a company like myfico.com or some other credit company or go directly to those three and send them name change info.

The problem is going to be that if you are using the same social security and date of birth, the name will change on the credit bureaus but you will still have your male name listed in the OTHER NAMES section at the end of the credit bureau. I've never seen this be able to be changed by deleting names.

I've done loans for TS people before and seen that on there. I think most lenders are scrupulous enough to follow strict privacy laws concerning that kind of information, but for big purchases like a house, the lender may require what we called a Letter Of Explanation (LOE) if something seems out of the ordinary. In other words, if all of your ID shows one name and the credit report shows another, that might trigger a lender to require a LOE to prevent identity theft.

In the case of TS, I can't imagine that a LOE would be required, and for someone who is deep stealth, that could be a problem, especially on a joint credit application where the partner doesn't know. I've never heard of credit histories being "erased" unless the person is using a different social or DOB.

After 7 - 10 years the OTHER NAMES section will most likely update and remove those other names. If anyone calls one of the three bureaus and gets different information than that, I'd be really interested to know. Keep in mind that with the threat of identity theft all over the place, credit bureau agencies are extremely cautious about altering data, even with sufficient proof. Changing late payments and things like that are not a problem with sufficient proof, but changing PREVIOUS names is not something I've seen before.

This has been exactly my experience.  The only way to change the other names is to have that information removed or
changed by the lender.  In my experience, most lenders are not willing to go through the hassle of changing your name
on old records.

I was lucky in that someone in my city had the same name and two of the credit bureaus had our address information
crossed.  In correcting that error, my old name disappeared from two of the three.

Stormy

[Kate]

So is it possible to just change the name on an existing credit card account?

Yes.  You will have to provide them with a copy of your court order.

Faxed or mailed?

~Kate~

[LostInTime]

Mine was good with a fax of my new social security card.

The ONLY place that has demanded a copy of the court order is (drum roll please):

the electric company!

[Lisbeth]

So is it possible to just change the name on an existing credit card account?

Yes.  You will have to provide them with a copy of your court order.

Faxed or mailed?

~Kate~

You will have to ask each one.

Mine was good with a fax of my new social security card.

The ONLY place that has demanded a copy of the court order is (drum roll please):

the electric company!

Yes. Well, the electric company is in such danger of being defrauded by people changing their names.

The one that was the most prissy about it was the college where I got my B.A.  I had to send them a court certified copy.  All of my other schools were satisfied with regular copies or faxed copies.