Credit Report Problem -- Need help/advice (1 Viewer)

[gianmarco]

Well, I've about exhausted ideas of what to do, so turning here for any thoughts.

Background: My son is 19, starting 2nd year of college. Almost 3 years ago, when he was a minor, we added him to one of our credit cards. This was so he could get gas, food, etc and start to establish a credit history. No issues at all.

Now, as he's heading off for his sophomore year, decided it was time he got his own card and continue working on his financial independence. Applied for a Discover student card and it was denied. Finally got the reason a couple weeks ago and it was due to not being able to verify his credit report.

Apparently when he was added on our credit card, they never included a SSN for him. And now, none of his credit reports have a SSN on them. In order to do this, we have to submit information such as copy of drivers license, passport, social security card, bank statement. There is no way this can be done over the phone. Experian and Equifax require it gets mailed in. That has been done. Transunion has an email option. All of the above were emailed and the reply was that "We received your identification documents, however due to conflicting information in your credit file, we cannot verify your identity at this time." This is despite all his information clearly included in the email.

When we call the number for Equifax that they provide, there is no person to speak to. Transunion simply said to send this information in, which we did, and now that isn't good either. Equifax, no response after mailing these items in almost 2 weeks ago.

Can't log into any of the 3 sites with his information as it always gives an error message and a number to call, but then can't get anywhere because his SSN isn't listed with his name.

I don't know what else to do. What is the next step to try and get this resolved? Without clearing this up, he can't establish any credit at all. And, of course, now he's back at school so I can't do a lot from here without him present as he's an adult.

Let me have it.....

 

[Dan Lambskin]

What about a Secured Credit Card? If you can get that it would help him show established credit maybe?

 

[gianmarco]

What about a Secured Credit Card? If you can get that it would help him show established credit maybe?

Never heard of it.

Just reading about it now. If he can get one, then sure.

But the underlying issue of fixing his credit report still needs to be addressed.

 

[belljr]

I feel like you are the person to turn too for this info.... lol sorry no help

 

[Runkle]

Adding as an authorized user will report some/all prior credit history depending on the issuing bank. An American Express, for example, tends to only report credit history from the add date forward. A Citibank card, however, will report the entire history of the account. I believe Barclays does as well, and likely Capital One too.

So it depends on the issuing bank, you could re-add him as an authorized user to the same card, or to another card you have, and he'll get the benefit of your entire history. I would lean toward Citibank or Capital One as, if memory serves, they will ask for the SSN to confirm his ID when adding (citi by phone, capital one online). Barclay you can add online but it doesn't ask for SSN so there's a chance it won't report correctly to his credit report.

I've seen cases where 20 year olds have 25+ years of credit history benefiting their credit score by benefit of being an authorized user. You don't have to give him the card. You don't even have to use the card past charging $5-10 on any card in the account (even your own as the primary cardholder) to trigger a statement being generated.

If you can't get the major credit agencies to send a report, maybe Credit Karma can show you what is on his account?

 

[NutterButter]

How about signing up for their credit monitoring service for a month? Maybe once you're an actual customer, they'll figure out this issue so they can actually monitor his credit.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Nothing to add but I sincerely sympathize.

It’s so frustrating.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

sleep with the credit reports wife

 

[Juxtatarot]

@gianmarco Have you talked to the credit card company about adding his social? My guess is they could add it and then it would be transmitted to the bureaus the next time they report on the account. At least, that’s how it would work at my employer.

 

[gianmarco]

@gianmarco Have you talked to the credit card company about adding his social? My guess is they could add it and then it would be transmitted to the bureaus the next time they report on the account. At least, that’s how it would work at my employer.

Yep, thank you. Got the same advice from others.

Called our current card that he's on and they don't add SSN to authorized users.

So, we are adding him onto another one that does. Added him yesterday, then in a month, we can call back and have them add the SSN.

Signed up for CreditKarma. He has a score on TransUnion now, but still can't log into his account. The other 2 still show as unavailable so still having the same issue.

I think we are just going to have to give it a bit of time, let this new card update it, and try again in a few months. It's so frustrating.