Quote from: Lisbeth on October 15, 2007, 08:45:55 AM

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

Them and the phone company seem to worry about that sort of thing. I mean everyone knows about the phone cops. Just ask Johnny Fever.

Quote from: Lisbeth on October 12, 2007, 09:13:02 AM

Quote from: Hypatia on October 12, 2007, 06:07:44 AM
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.

Not so. I changed all my accounts by notifying all the credit card companies and the three reporting agencies, I did not have to do any "persuading" I simply told them. Had they not done so, I would have threatened to sue then actually sued them if I had needed to. I kinda wish they had done so. Woulda been a nice way to pay off my surgeries. I have over $100,000 in available credit in my female name. Yes, that is a 1 and five zeroes.

Quote from: melissa90299 on October 20, 2007, 01:59:44 PM

Quote from: Lisbeth on October 12, 2007, 09:13:02 AM

Quote from: Hypatia on October 12, 2007, 06:07:44 AM
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.

Not so. I changed all my accounts by notifying all the credit card companies and the three reporting agencies, I did not have to do any "persuading" I simply told them. Had they not done so, I would have threatened to sue then actually sued them if I had needed to. I kinda wish they had done so. Woulda been a nice way to pay off my surgeries. I have over $100,000 in available credit in my female name. Yes, that is a 1 and five zeroes.

Yep. We did every single credit card this week without any hassle. Just call 'em up and explain. Everyone just wants a copy (or original) of the certified court order and an explanation letter. We initially had a problem with one company where they at first insisted that we close the account entirely, then open it again under the new name. We asked for a manager, and he said that's not correct, just send a letter and the court order like everyone else. Tada! All done. Even got my first card under Kate already

We'll tackle the reporting agencies this week.

~Kate~

How *exactly* do you go about contacting the reporting agencies? I'm having the hardest time finding a way to speak to a real person...

Quote from: Lane on October 20, 2007, 06:17:21 PM
How *exactly* do you go about contacting the reporting agencies? I'm having the hardest time finding a way to speak to a real person...

I found:

      Equifax
      1-800-685-1111

      Transunion
      1-800-916-8800

      Experian
      1-888-397-3742

posted on a CC site. Haven't tried calling though yet. I guess everyone is saying we get automated systems we can't get past?

~Kate~

*nods* that has been my problem when dialing their 800 numbers...Just list after list of "if you want this, press this...if you want this, press this...habla espanol...numero nueve." etc. Then if you don't press anything, it just starts the list over again.

Coincidentally, I called Equifax and talked to someone yesterday. I asked my question and got it answered: If I just give my name change to all my creditors, the credit reporting agencies will get that information. I don't need to notify the credit reporting agencies directly.

Here's how I got to have this conversation: My wallet was apparently stolen the other day. When I made a police report, the cop advised me to contact the credit reporting agencies and make a fraud alert (to prevent identity theft). I got the number for Equifax and called, and using the touch tones entered my information and did this automatically. After that I stayed on the line and a woman spoke with me, she tried to sell me some extra credit protection, I politely declined to buy, but did get that answer out of her.

The timing to have my wallet lost or stolen was perfect. All the ID and cards in it had just become obsolete since I have notified everyone of my name change, and all are in the process of being replaced. So if anyone attempts identity theft, my old data will be no longer valid anyway, hee hee.

Kate, that's interesting you and I are going through this process simultaneously.

I wish I had credit agencies to notify! I have never owned a credit card, but I know I have a credit history of some sort with at least one of them because I still get credit card offers in the mail in my old name. Plus they record every background check and rental history check, and I've had a few of those. So unfortunately, I have to go directly to the source.

What you're saying is to get a person, we have to push the number for reporting a fraud? I guess technically it is, if I use my old name now...

Well, you don't have to file a fraud alert, you can just order your own credit report by calling that number... then likely a live human will come on the line and try to sell you more... I think once you have ordered your report, then you will have an account with them like with any business, and you will be able to contact them directly. I haven't tried it, but that's what the lady was starting to tell me yesterday... then she went and checked, and found out that my creditors will pass along my name change, so I won't have to.

*head implodes*

For some reason this just seems sooo complicated to me. Do you have to pay for your credit report and order it from each of the three? That seems kinda annoying.

They have to give you, for free, a copy of your report once every 12 months or whenever there is a major credit check. After Geico (who was more expensive btw) did my check, they sent me a notification via the mail system that I could request a copy of the reports.