I have a friend who has an abysmal credit score. One reason is because she has lines opened by her father under her SSN that were opened when she was a minor. They are not on speaking terms (hopefully that's obvious), but I was under the impression that all she has to do is file a written dispute with each rating agency, providing a certified copy of her birth certificate and stating that these lines of credit must be removed from her report as they were opened when she was a minor and since minors can't enter into legal contracts they are invalid.
Now, is this possible? Considering the legality of the situation, it seems like that's all she would need to do.
The next question is, if the above is not possible, can she file the same dispute but including a police report for credit fraud on the same credit lines to get them expunged?
I guess I want to know first off if it's possible to do without filing a fraud report, and second if it's possible to do with filing one, if necessary. I contacted Transunion but they just told me to have her call them (which I'm going to do, but wanted to get an answer to this question first!).
A second issue, if her parents put her on as a secondary signer when she was a minor, and the card charged off, is she responsible for it? I am not sure the legality of this but it seems unfair for her to be responsible for a charged off card her parents opened up because they put her on as a secondary before she was even old enough to comprehend such a thing. Is there a way to get out of this?
Her grandfather is a lawyer and has recommended bankruptcy but I think it is possible to get out of all this without doing so, and want to encourage her to do so at all costs if possible. I'm going to ask her to meet with a debt counselor or attorney that deals specifically with this matter, too.
Now, is this possible? Considering the legality of the situation, it seems like that's all she would need to do.
The next question is, if the above is not possible, can she file the same dispute but including a police report for credit fraud on the same credit lines to get them expunged?
I guess I want to know first off if it's possible to do without filing a fraud report, and second if it's possible to do with filing one, if necessary. I contacted Transunion but they just told me to have her call them (which I'm going to do, but wanted to get an answer to this question first!).
A second issue, if her parents put her on as a secondary signer when she was a minor, and the card charged off, is she responsible for it? I am not sure the legality of this but it seems unfair for her to be responsible for a charged off card her parents opened up because they put her on as a secondary before she was even old enough to comprehend such a thing. Is there a way to get out of this?
Her grandfather is a lawyer and has recommended bankruptcy but I think it is possible to get out of all this without doing so, and want to encourage her to do so at all costs if possible. I'm going to ask her to meet with a debt counselor or attorney that deals specifically with this matter, too.