My husband's ex-wife used his name on credit!?

Question

We found out when we just went to buy a home and get preapproved. She apparently fraudulently put his name on three credit cards and defaulted on them when they were over $7,000 total. They were all opened 2-3 years after they were divorced.

She also apparently signed his name as a guarantor for surgery and then didn't pay the surgical center. Now he has FOUR collection accounts on his credit.

We've never been contacted by any of these people obviously because they've been sending mail to HER house and calling HER phone.

How do we get this removed immediately so we can qualify for a house? He doesn't want to press charges, just have them removed. Is there some way to prove that he didn't have anything to do with them?

Answer 1

He will have to file a police report and be willing to press charges.  Otherwise, the accounts will hold him responsible.

Answer 2

First thing is to file a police report without that your husband has nothing to send to the credit bureaus.

My Wife went through this a few years ago with her Son and the only way she got it cleared up was to file a police report and then send copies to the credit card companies and all 3 credit bureaus.

Answer 3

There is NO way to have it removed immediately. The only way to have them removed is to have her exposed as a fraud artist that stole his identity. If he sends a sworn declaration that those are NOT his signatures, then it may be the credit card companies that will press the charges of Fraud against the ex-wife.  But before any of this there will need to be an investigation, to ensure that everyone is telling the truth.  That's why it will take a while.

I also suggest that you send a letter to each credit  bureau, explaining the situation, while they will not remove the bad marks, they will provide the explanation to anyone who does a credit check

Answer 4

First thing to do to get the mortgage is try for a "rapid rescoring".

To illustrate how rapid rescoring can make a difference -- suppose you have been a victim of identity theft and there is a credit card account you didn't open appearing on your credit report showing a 30 day late payment.  Normally, it would take at least a month (but more realistically, two or three months or longer) to clear this matter up and get the item removed from your credit report.  However, in the meantime, this negative item on your credit report has lowered your credit score to 620, which means you will be approved for a mortgage loan, but at an interest rate of 7 % instead of the 5.7% rate being offered to those with credit scores above 720.  As a result, your monthly mortgage payment is going to be about $130 higher than it would be if that negative item wasn't on your credit reports.  You ask your mortgage lender to contact a rapid rescoring company  and have the credit card account removed from your credit report and  your credit score recalculated. Be advised that there are fees involved, but it is perfectly legal.   Three days later, your credit score is now above 700 and you qualify for a mortgage loan at 5.5%, saving you from paying $46,800 in additional interest over the next 30 years.

Next, file criminal charges against her.  This will provide the evidence you need to get these items permanently removed from his credit report.

Here are some links to help you find out how to do this'

http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel/

CONSUMER FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFTS.

Hope this answers your question

Answer 5

He needs to contact the 3 big credit bureaus and, in writing, dispute the credit cards.  He also should contact the local credit bureau, if your city has one, and again in writing, report the fraud.  Unfortunately, the only way that this may be able to be taken care of is to take her to court.  But....start with the credit bureaus, I would call them and advise them of the problem and ask them exactly what you need to state in your letter to them.  This is not an uncommon problem, so they will be well versed in this.

Answer 6

As the first poster stated, fraud is fraud....call all 3 credit bureaus, report her, have in hand a current credit report, that you can get from www.annualcreditreport.com if you don't already have one, run for all three bureaus and call each of them and dispute everything she has on his report that is false, they will be able to tell you and help you with going after her for the debts and investigating it for you. Once you have done all this, they should be able to help repair this or he will have to press charges. Run his credit report every year! Now that they offer the free reporting each year from all 3 bureaus, he can sign up for the free credit monitoring as well for a small fee, but it will save you later on from going thru this headache again....

If you don't have these websites for the bureaus:

www.transunion.com

www.equifax.com

www.experian.com

All will have contact #'s to report fraud.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 7

Fraud is fraud whether he wants to press charges or not. The only way around this is to dispute with the credit bureaus that are reporting him on the credit reports or for him simply to pay the balances as though he has approved them. The delinquencies will still show whether paid or not unless settled (IN WRITING) for lesser amounts. Personally I'd go after her with a vengence. It's YOUR life and money and reputation she's messing with.

Answer 8

he really need to press charges. maybe hes too nice of a guy.  thats why they get taken advantaged of.