Credit issues with new name?

[LatrellHK]

So I changed my legal name and even though everything is going great, I'm facing problems.

On Thursday I went to Sprint to get a new phone. When they tried getting me in, they couldn't find me. Like at all, in the credit systems... I have a credit card now and a bank account, so this shouldn't be happening.

Anyway, the associate suggested it might be because I had not updated the credit bureaus on my new name. I got my first and last name changed, as well as gender marker, so I guess that's why.

I should mention that my social security card, ID, bank information, health insurance, car title, and everything else legal is in my new name. I shredded the old social security card and got rid of all old documents once getting new stuff, which might have been stupid now that I think of it. The only thing I have in my old name is my old ID, something I keep because sometimes I get things in my old name and think a semi-legal ID, with the dots in it, should count as verification. Especially considering I look the exact same, minus the hair is a *little* shorter (but nobody can really tell, still a simple buzz).

Either way I'm confused. Is there a way I can contact the credit places and let them know of my name change? I really don't know how or what to do, where to go, and who to exactly contact. I just know it's not matching up now and I need it to. Especially since I am going to try renting an apartment in September.

[Dena]

You may be able to put the phone on your credit card without them running a credit check. Other than that, you may need to talk to the bank and/or the credit reporting agencies to find out the procedure of updating your credit history. My history updated a long time ago and because it was impossible to check in those days, I am not sure how long it took. If you are going to need your credit history, now is the time to start asking questions.

[AnxietyDisord3r]

In the short term, contract phone, Walmart, you know the deal.

Long term, you are entitled to one free credit report from all three credit bureaus once a year. Go to this website (not those scam sites that try to charge you): https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

I recall getting them in the mail but it might be all online now which would be quicker. Once you have the reports you can check them for mistakes and report any and all errors to each of the three individual credit bureaus. Note that retailers usually only contract with one bureau so if Equifax is correct but they're using TransUnion or whatever they're calling themselves then you're out of luck that day. Sometimes you have to correspond with credit bureaus multiple times to get a correction to stick because you are their product, not their customer. However, I think the law has changed on that more recently so if you do run into a super stubborn bureau (and you've corresponded and tried sending scans of your new paperwork in and they still won't budge) then try contacting your member of Congress and explain the situation. This is called "constituent service" and you should call their local office, not the DC office. Hope that helps.

[Dena]

I just ran all mine again because I hadn't run them in a few years to check on some major changes in my finances. It can  now all be done online and you have the option of running one report at a time so they can be spaced out over a year or you can run them all at once. The default free report will not give you your credit score but it will point out problems in your credit report so you can correct them. How complete are they? In 2004 the mortgage company entered my payment information incorrectly moving the decimal point two positions to the left. It took a while for me to figure out what happened because my check was for the correct amount. The only blemish on my record is that payment which is recorded as unknown instead of current. Not worth the trouble to change but everything is there.

[FTMax]

I just updated my name on all my accounts. My credit report this year shows both names. I was told the old name will fall off after a year of the new name with no accounts having the old name. I believe there is a way you can report the name change to the credit bureaus, but I never did it so can't tell you how.

Every new account I've opened since the name change, I've provided them with a copy of my court order as I'm filling out the paperwork. Never had any issues. I've moved into a new apartment, consolidated student loans, and refinanced a car loan all that way.

If you have been with Sprint before, they should just be able to update the name on your account.

[LatrellHK]

Thanks for the advice, I'll try getting in touch first thing Monday morning to see what I can do. I'll try getting the credit score, since it's time for that anyway and I got a cc now, and doing what AnxietyDisord3r said.

In terms of the Sprint thing, it's really an iPhone deal they got going on for new customers but they're having issues verifying my credit. I don't like iPhones but I desperately need a new phone period and this is actually the most cost effective thing I can get (while being updated enough to do everything else I typically do). But to clarify THAT thing, new customers get the activation fee waived. So I'm saving a good $150 to get a 5s. Hopefully installations also means i can give the phone back when I got enough for a Galaxy S7 Edge. Now thats my goal for phones.

[AnxietyDisord3r]

Actually, it's your report, not your score, that you're interested in. It's a maybe 3 page document (but there are three, one from each company--check them all) that has your name, date of birth, address, former addresses, and your credit accounts such as cards, utility bills, basically anything that reports--student loans, car loans--on it and whether you paid your bills on time. You need to scrutinize these reports for errors. It should have both names or all names you've ever been known by on it, so if your new name is missing, that's a mistake.

One of my brothers and I both had a parent's name, DOB, and social listed on our credit reports! Look, it made my score higher because of on-time mortgage payments, but it was flatly incorrect. You'd think they'd see how DOB did not match (neither did name, etc) but I guess not!

[CMD042414]

You can contact all three credit bureaus to have your name changed. That is one of the first things I did. Go to the website of all three; Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. They each have info on name change documentation. Generally you physically mail a copy of your decree and two forms of ID with the new name.

[MysteyV]

Hi All

I had a nightmare in the UK but for those of you here please know that Experian has a dedicated team who will liase with the other 2 agencies to marry your old credit file to your new name.

It can take a couple months.

The agencies here in GB are Equifax, Experian & Callcredit.

PS I found this out the hard way! But it was worth it because in March I could only get guarantor loans with interest rates of 90%/annum + And by May I was able to finance surgery with a normal loan of 9.9%.

Cheers
Victoria x