My FreeCreditReport.com is in Someone Else’s Name

I was appalled to find out that not only am I being charged monthly for a service — FreeCreditReport.com (billed as CIC*TRIPLE ADVANTAGE) — that I don’t use but that according to Experian, my SS# and credit history is apparently tied to one ANDREA LAVELLE, also known as Andrew C. Sternberg, and born in 1964 (my actual year of birth is 1975). Only one of three addresses listed are mine and among my supposed debts are a quarter-million dollars in real estate assets (I’ve only rented — never owned).

UPDATE JUNE 6: Finally got thru to Experian (the number for disputes that worked was 1 800 208 9232) and cleared 21 accounts from my credit report that weren’t mine as well as at least a dozen addresses where I never lived. The woman on the phone confirmed that “this happens all the time.” These computers are made by humans, she said. Sounds like you really need some new computers, or an overhaul of your IT staff, I rebutted.

UPDATE: I discovered that indeed one Andrea Lavelle does work at Antioch Tire in Antioch, IL — at the very address listed on MY Experian credit report. Thanks to some Google searching and a call to my purported identity thief’s workplace, I know when she’ll be in the office — but I don’t know who to send (or if there might be a third party involved whose hijacking both of our identities). Guess I’ll call the FTC in the morning.

Upon calling FreeCreditReport.com customer care I was instructed to file a dispute on the website, however, when disputing the first thing listed (the address) i was told that their online disputing system is currently unavailable. I then asked, no, demanded to know why two unknown addresses as well as several assets that aren’t mine are listed on this record which is supposedly based on my social security number. Fill out this form is all I was told. And they will e-mail you. Well the second form didn’t get me anywhere as you can see from the error message below.

So, HOW can I find out what’s up with this BS on my credit report? Is this a bug on Experian’s end (owner of FreeCreditReport.com and issuer of my inaccurate credit report) or has someone who goes by Andrea Lavelle been piggybacking on my credit for better and/or worse? For the record, my credit score according this report is fine, so I have yet to be adversely affected by this mystery (as far as I know).

Has anyone else had issues like this with Experian or other credit history farmers? I can’t find any info about the addresses or identities attached to my profile either (see images below)… To be continued…

UPDATES: Checked out fine on Equifax. Not available via TransUnion online.



Experian:

TransUnion:

Finally, here is a GMap w/ Streetview of the location of the vast property attributed to my credit report as a 15-year real estate loan via Bank of America with a $2,617 monthly mortgage payment.


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Andy Sternberg

Andy Sternberg is a digital strategist and marketing specialist with a focus on enhancing interactive and user experience through content and social media. He's been tweaking content and music-related websites since the '90s and has a Master's in Online Journalism. He's currently the head of Social & Digital Media at Rotary International. Find him on Twitter @andysternberg.

View Comments

  • Wow the same thing happened to me. Some $1500 charge was on my account after checking my credit report for the first time (I was trying to get my first credit card) and realized that the account name was under Sung Kim, while mine is Sun Kim. It also said my birthday was in like 1921 when Im only 19.

  • Wow the same thing happened to me. Some $1500 charge was on my account after checking my credit report for the first time (I was trying to get my first credit card) and realized that the account name was under Sung Kim, while mine is Sun Kim. It also said my birthday was in like 1921 when Im only 19. Did you get the problem fixed and can you give me some tips on how I can fix mine?

  • Thanks, eecue. Yeah -- I tried at annualcreditreport -- but it leads back to teh same FreeCreditReport thing for Experian. I checked out fine with Equifax, but TransUnion is sending me a verification in the mail before they'll let me view my report online. Yes, payments appear to be on time. For now. I'll be speaking with the FTC and my lawyer in the morning to figure out how to proceed.

  • Also as I mentioned over twitter, you should go to annualcreditreport and make sure everything is the same on there. The FTC recommends that one.

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