BadCreditOutTheWazoo Posted May 8, 2005 Report Share Posted May 8, 2005 First, thank you all for the wonderful advice I've been combing over, printing and reading! I've tried searching for this using keywords DIVORCE and CREDIT CARD, etc. but I'm not getting a good response that fits my situation.I was divorced in 1996. My ex is remarried and they are both high ranking active duty Air Force with excellent credit. I retook my maiden name after the divorce as part of the decree. On my credit report, there are accounts that are theirs and in their name showing up on my report! They have excellent payment status, but their combined income allows them many credit cards and it appears on my credit report that I'm an "authorized user" on their cards and I'm not. I've got Best Buy, Sears, Chase Manhattan, Providian, MNBA and about three others showing up as me being an "authorized user." I called my ex (we do have a very amicable relationship) and he says they did not use my information to obtain the credit (and probably wouldn't have gotten it if they had, my credit is not so hot) and I am not listed as an "authorized user" on the accounts, except for two. Some of this stuff has been on my report since 1997 it appears. They are still using the Best Buy and Sears credit card accounts he and I established almost 15 years ago (both in 1994). My current address hasn't changed for 4 years since I moved to Florida. However, my previous addresses and current addresses on my credit report are all showing as their addresses. My credit report (the only one I've received so far is from Equifax) shows me living at their current address in Texas (I've never ever in my life lived in Texas) and that before that I lived in Oklahoma (I did, but not at their address, I lived in my own house).How do I begin to clear all of this up? My credit score with FICO as of yesterday is 589 and part of the negatives it says "the proportion of balances to credit limits on your revolving accounts is too high." Duh! It's because they have my exes and his wifes stuff on there. Do I need to make copies of my divorce decree and change of name court orders? I don't have utilities where I live now that are in my name for proof of residence purposes, they are all in my boyfriend's name, but my driver's license is correct. How do I get them to even correct my address without a utility bill?Also, the Best Buy credit card and Sears card that they are still using have no delinquents and have excellent pay histories but really high credit lines (Best Buy is at $10k and Sears is at $7,500 according to my Equifax report). Will he have to close those accounts down and reopen new ones in order to get my name off of there? Will that then reflect on my credit report that I don't have a revoloving line of $17k credit to them? I'm also showing up as an "authorized user" on most of the credit cards they have that were opened long after we were divorced. I just don't understand how any of this has happened. My entire credit report is listed in my previous married name, which by order of the court was changed back to my maiden name in 1996. I'm so confused and don't want to screw up my credit any worse than it is. My ex said he would help me any way he could in clearing up the misinformation but we don't know where to start. Before I suggest to him to contact the companies that have me listed as an "authorized user" do I need to dispute the claim with Equifax? I tried calling Sears because I show up as an "authorized user" but they said I am not on the account and they can't give me any information. I told them it was showing up on my credit report and she said she was sorry but she couldn't help me.I'm about to throw up wondering what is going to show up on the reports from the other two big reporting agencies. I want to be able to finance a car without a co-borrower next summer (approximately one year from now) and want to start now in clearing up my reports.Thanks to anyone who read this far!~ Iris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revco Posted May 8, 2005 Report Share Posted May 8, 2005 Definately start writing to the CRA's to clear this up. You'll want to get all 3 CRA's reports on you. The first thing you'll want to do is try to clear up the personal information confusion and explain that you were divorced and that you need to have their personal info cleared from your report. It probably wouldn't hurt to submit copies of the divorce decree and name change documents. This may or may not clear up some of the mixed TL's. You'll then need to write and dispute each one and provide an explanation. I recommend one dispute per letter...it makes it easier for things not to get dropped. They will investigate with the TL lender and find you are not an authorized user and delete the TL. If you're verified as an authorized user, you or your ex will need to contact them to have you removed and then need to redispute w/ dox showing the change.I known when I've changed my address and personal info with all 3 CRA's that I've never needed to send proof. They just take my word for it, I guess. Then again, some how my new address was showing as a previous residence...probably submitted by the leasing company or something.If you're looking to buy a car soon, I'd recommend setting up a secured loan with your bank. Some banks don't do this, but I've found credit unions generally do. You basically loan yourself $1000 or more dollars, put it into a savings account, pay off half the first month, pay off another half the next month, and then pay off the rest in 4-5 equal payments for a total of about 6 months payback. This will show as an installment loan on your CR and looks great for vehicle lenders. The more you can secure, the better.Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recovering Attorney Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 I'd follow revco's suggestion and clear up your personal info first. Then try disputing with the CRAs. If that doesn't totally work, try disputing directly with the OCs, as is your right under the FCRA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadCreditOutTheWazoo Posted May 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Thank you both for replying. I'll start tomorrow with making copies of all of my legal documents (name change and divorce decree). I'll also contact the CRA's and see if they will update my address without proof. I thought I had read some where on here that you needed to provide them with a current utility bill at your current address as proof. I'll double check that information. The only thing in my name here is my cell phone.I'm glad I found this site! I was feeling pretty hopeless that I'd have to wander through this life with horrible credit and not be able to do anything about it. I'm realizing that with time, patience and some work on my part, I may not be as bad off credit wise as I thought I was. I'm thinking I can have a pretty decent credit rating in a year when I want to buy a new car if I work on this stuff now.Thanks again!!! ~ Iris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revco Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Credit repair is somewhat a lengthy process. It doesn't happen overnight...but with due dilligence, recovery does happen. It will be hard and some things will be surprisingly easy. I too have been appreciative of the people here and it took me a long time of reading posts before I felt comfortable taking my credit head on....much less reaching out for help. It's amazing how much lighter you feel when you finally confront the beast and make some progress.Don't be discouraged if your score drops for a bit...which it may as you remove these longer-term TL's from your report. Lord knows, my scores have gone up and down so many times that my long term score charting looks like a wicked roller coaster.One piece of advice I wish I had done before I started my credit repair would be to establish new credit. I thought I had to have great credit to get any kind of credit...not true. Even if it's a secured card through a company like Orchard Bank, it will still go a long ways to help you in six months or a year and you've had that history following you through the repair process. I could have been almost a year ahead of where I'm at if I had done so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadCreditOutTheWazoo Posted May 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Credit repair is somewhat a lengthy process. It doesn't happen overnight...but with due dilligence, recovery does happen....It's amazing how much lighter you feel when you finally confront the beast and make some progress.That's what I'm looking for, some peace of mind in knowing that I'm doing something about it rather than just sitting idly by with all of this incorrect information on there. I do have two negative credit items that I'm going to tackle and try to take care of. I now at least have hope that things will get better and there is light at the end of the credit tunnel that is not an oncoming bill collector. I'm not expecting overnight results. I am hopeful for positive results in due time though. I'm fortunate that I'm not receiving harassing calls or contact of any kind regarding my past credit history. Knock on wood. Thank for all the advice!~ Iris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recovering Attorney Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 If you have 2 negative items, and they are yours, you might want to to the personal info first, then your negative items, then the stuff with the ex , as your score might suffer if the good is deleted, leaving you with some good and the negatives, Just a thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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