What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen / Fort Worth ID Theft Help
Maybe you found a surprise list of expenses on your credit card, you saw an account you don’t recognize when you checked your official credit report, or you’ve received a debt lawsuit for an account you didn’t have knowledge of. If any of these sound like you, your identity may have been stolen.
But, your identity may be safe too. I’m James Foley, Fort Worth’s attorney/PLLC, and I’m here to help you sort out which is the case, and make sure you emerge from the situation safely and securely. Call me at 817-738-1633 and we’ll get to work securing your financial information.
Consumers across Fort Worth have found themselves in your position, and while it’s not a perfect situation, it’s not impossible either. Whether you live or do business in Fort Worth, Dallas, Waco, or San Antonio. James Foley is here to help.
If you haven’t already, go to www.annualcreditreport.com, and look for anything that may be out of place. This is what we’ll need to get started with the following guide.
Signs of Stolen Identity / Steps To Resolve Stolen ID -- Fort Worth PLLC
When you see activity on an account that you didn’t perform yourself, that’s an early indicator that something is wrong, but not always a sign of identity theft, so look for the following on a stolen identity case:
-Maxed out credit accounts.
-Large purchases that go beyond credit limits.
-Rapid action that appears reckless.
If you’ve experienced any of the above, you may have had your social security information compromised. Take the following steps if so:
1. File an identity theft report with the Police, if you live in Fort Worth: https://police.fortworthtexas.gov/OnlineServices/identity-theft-fraud-r…
2. File an FTC affidavit, or call me and I can assist you in doing so (at 817-738-1633).
3. Freeze your credit so that future accounts will require increased verification. You will likely need the report number from the police report to do so.
4. Contact me and we’ll begin work on making sure your account receives the corrective attention it deserves.
But What If Your Identity Hasn’t Been Stolen? Signs of Reaging and Computer Error:
In contrast to the signs of identity theft, have you found an account that sounds like any of the following?
-Payments have been made with proper timing or nearly acceptable timing.
-Amounts on credit accounts that you haven’t spent, but were still paid off timely.
-Accounts from before a bankruptcy that have come back from the grave.
Rest easy, Fort Worth! If any of the above sounds like your situation, you either have an identity thief who’s very responsible (unlikely!) or you’ve become the victim of a clerical or computer error on the part of your financial institution or credit reporting agency (i.e. Equifax, TransUnion, Experian).
When I see accounts like these come through my downtown office, the errors can be due to many reasons, especially things like merged accounts, re-aged loans, or incorrect public information. The bad news in a situation like this is that your credit agency may be slow to correct the error, or they might not have enough evidence to do so. That’s where you should call me at 817-738-1633 and they’ll begin to listen.
As in any situation, time is of the essence. And time means money. With interest rates so low, the time is now to take advantage of a healthy credit score.
If you’ve been served a suit notice as well, you’ll need help defending yourself, which is what I do best! That includes suits in the city of Fort Worth, as well as municipalities like Benbrook, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, North Richland Hills, Watauga, Saginaw, Eagle Mountain, and Lake Worth.
Ft. Worth’s Choice in Fair Credit Reporting Act Compliance
Thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you have a right to a fair report, and that includes protection from ID theft, inaccuracy, and incorrect public information, all of which may be causing your present headache. But the statute of limitations can be as little as two years, so the time to act is now.
Ft. Worth, Dallas, Arlington, and Waco, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and give me a call at 817-738-1633. I’ll initiate a dispute on your behalf for as little as the price of postage, and with a notice on my legal letterhead, the agencies will start to listen. I hope this will be the day you remember your issues beginning to resolve!