Family Forum / Marriage / Divorce / October 2006

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While you should be concerned, this may be as bad as you fear.  First,
she may be defrauding her creditors by claiming that you live with her
-or- it may be that when she reported an address change to one of her
creditors on an account in which you were somehow associated (either
as a co-signer or as an authorized user), they recorded that as a change
for you as well.

Second, she may be defrauding her creditors by using your income to
bolster her credit -but- it does not appear that she's adding or signing
your name to account applications, 'cuz if she were, they'd show up
on your credit report as accounts that you never opened.  To find out
if she's using your ID, you'd need access to her account applications.
IMHO, as long as they do not appear as accounts for which you are
responsible on your credit report, you would not be liable for them.
=R=

I would recommend checking out www.creditboards.com .  It's a very
active and knowledgable source for stuff like this.  Other than being a
regular member, I have no affiliation with them, so it's not like I'm
pushing to gain anything from suggesting.  You do have to sign up if
you want to post, or you can read virtually everything without signing
up.  It's completely free if you do want to sign up.  No leaving a
credit card number on file, or anything like that.  Free as free was
intended to be.

I'm suspicious that, if she did do some of what you suspect, that it
may come back to bite you in the butt later on.  In spite of what they
say, the credit reporting industry isn't always concerned with
accuracy, so some things that should be quick and easy are not always
so.

Hey, kind of like divorce, eh?  :-p

The credit repoting agencies only report what they are told by their
customers. Note: YOU are NOT their customer! Any credit granting
agency IS their customer!

When I went through my divorce, I damn near had to take legal action
against EquiFax to get my file corrected. That were nothing short of
beligerent (sp?) with me.

Here in Canada we only have 2 reporting agencies - EquiFax and
TransUnion. And almost everyone uses EquiFax. They only have one main
office, that office is over 3000 miles away, and the phine numbers
listed have been rigged so you can NEVER talk to a live person. You
only get to talk to a live person if you pay money! And even then, the
pions you  talk to will not do anything. I had to escelate 4 levels up
to a senior manager to get ANYTHING done.

I digress.

I agree with Rog on this. If the creditors thought you were liable,
they would have been knocking on the door demanding payment!

Having said that, as I was saying, the reporting agencies don't have
the level of detail you are seeking. If you want that level of detail
you have no choice but to go to the source of the information.

Write to them, and express your concerns to them about fraud being
perpetrated by your ex. Ask for them to provide wither details, or -
if they wont - to make a satatement that they either agree or disagree
that a fraud has been committed.

As a "slip of the tongue" kicker, I would make sure to mention the
names of ALL possible companies you know of that may have been
defrauded in your letter to all the other companies!

YOU many not have to do anything. However, if these companies get
together, they may provide their eveidence to the local district
attourney - who may then proceed with criminal fraud charges against
your ex!

This is the best sceanrio as it lets the chickens come home to roost
for your ex, and YOU are NOT the one bringing the action against her.
It isolates you, and protects you at the same time, and costs you
virtually nothing. Sounds like a win-win to me! BUT, YOU have to set
the wheels in motion.

And as for your credit file, you are right to be concerned. If I were
you, I would monitor my credit file every three months for the next
year! Also, IIRC, EquiFax USA offers a credit file "watch" service. Of
course it costs money, but I think they will notify you immediately of
ANY change. Sure would be nice to catch the ex "red handed" and with
the smoking gun in her hands!

People have NO IDEA how businesses are misusung Credit Reporting
Agency information these days or they would be ready to spit nails!
So, it PAYS to add an ounce of "prevention" here and make sure that
your credit file is clean as a whistle! Better this than to suffer the
embarassment and hassle of trying to correct your credit file "in a
hurry" because a loan application or a mortgage has be declined!
Worse, the fact that a loan was decline will show up on your report
and make it even worse!

Go get'em kiddo. I had to do a similar thing to my ex - although not
quite the same (if you want details than e-mail me).

And DON'T take any sh.t from the Credit Bureaus!

She will not be able to include debits in a bankruptcy where you are
included after the divorced, legit or not.

Find a lawyer that is knowledgeable in the criminal and civil aspects of
this.