I just submitted my info for a free credit report via Equifax and...

[imported_Tomato]

Step 1 of 3 is a "Personal Information Check".

It says, "Great! We've found your file. Now we just need to make sure that you are really you. These questions are based on information in your file, and only you should know the answers to them."

The question is:

"Your credit file indicates you may have a mortgage loan, opened in or around September 2003. Who is the credit provider for this account?

CITILINES FINANCIAL,INC.
FIRSTMERIT
HUNTINGTON MORTGAGE
IRWIN MORTGAGE
NONE OF THE ABOVE

What is your total scheduled monthly payment for the above-referenced mortgage?

$900 - $999
$1000 - $1099
$1100 - $1199
$1200 - $1299
NONE OF THE ABOVE"

The only problem is... I don't have a mortgage loan and I never have! Could someone have stolen my identity?

 

[pyonir]

Might want to call equifax and ask them.

 

[DaveSimmons]

someone have stolen my identity?

Yes.

But it might be a trick question with "NONE OF THE ABOVE" as the answer to both.

 

[n0cmonkey]

It's possible that someone stole it.

 

[notfred]

Um, answer "none of the above"?

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Tomato
Step 1 of 3 is a "Personal Information Check".

It says, "Great! We've found your file. Now we just need to make sure that you are really you. These questions are based on information in your file, and only you should know the answers to them."

The question is:

"Your credit file indicates you may have a mortgage loan, opened in or around September 2003. Who is the credit provider for this account?

CITILINES FINANCIAL,INC.
FIRSTMERIT
HUNTINGTON MORTGAGE
IRWIN MORTGAGE
NONE OF THE ABOVE

What is your total scheduled monthly payment for the above-referenced mortgage?

$900 - $999
$1000 - $1099
$1100 - $1199
$1200 - $1299
NONE OF THE ABOVE"

The only problem is... I don't have a mortgage loan and I never have! Could someone have stolen my identity?

The key word in the question is "May". You choose none of the above.

 

[Kaervak]

Those questions are the standard ones they always ask. That's how they test to make sure it's really you requesting the report.

 

[Viper GTS]

Good lord people...

Pick none of the above.

All it wants you to do is verify that you know something about your own finances (AKA it's really you).

Viper GTS

 

[Hammer]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Good lord people...

Pick none of the above.

All it wants you to do is verify that you know something about your own finances (AKA it's really you).

Viper GTS

hahahaha :laugh:

winnar!

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Good lord people...

Pick none of the above.

All it wants you to do is verify that you know something about your own finances (AKA it's really you).

Viper GTS

They're going to regret using the trick question when they get 100,000 frantic phone calls, faxes, and emails from panicked site visitors

 

[Smolek]

lol, this is a common question. like the others said, you would just select none of the above

 

[classy]

Maybe, but remember credit reports are based on name.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Smolek
lol, this is a common question. like the others said, you would just select none of the above

Phew! You guys were right, nothing to worry about... it looks like I have 14 (!!!!) credit cards and 10 of them open accounts (I got a little carried away applying for cards in college, they always offered cool free gifts like a t-shirt or something). I only use 2 accounts, so should I cancel the other 8 or keep them open? Some of them have never even been used.

 

[SchrodingersDog]

For some reason "none of the above" seems like the tricky, least likely answer on a test, even though that answer encompasses the entire universe other than the other choices presented.

 

[dquan97]

Tomato, just pick "None of the Above" then shre the good news to us

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: dquan97
Tomato, just pick "None of the Above" then shre the good news to us

It worked out just fine, thank you all for the reassurance.

 

[Smolek]

Originally posted by: Tomato

Originally posted by: Smolek
lol, this is a common question. like the others said, you would just select none of the above

Phew! You guys were right, nothing to worry about... it looks like I have 14 (!!!!) credit cards and 10 of them open accounts (I got a little carried away applying for cards in college, they always offered cool free gifts like a t-shirt or something). I only use 2 accounts, so should I cancel the other 8 or keep them open? Some of them have never even been used.

Keep them open and use them once every few months to buy a pack of gum or something and pay them off just to keep them active.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Smolek

Originally posted by: Tomato

Originally posted by: Smolek
lol, this is a common question. like the others said, you would just select none of the above

Phew! You guys were right, nothing to worry about... it looks like I have 14 (!!!!) credit cards and 10 of them open accounts (I got a little carried away applying for cards in college, they always offered cool free gifts like a t-shirt or something). I only use 2 accounts, so should I cancel the other 8 or keep them open? Some of them have never even been used.

Keep them open and use them once every few months to buy a pack of gum or something and pay them off just to keep them active.

I don't even have them on hand anymore, I think I cut them all up awhile back... should I call and request a new card for those accounts, then?

 

[boomerang]

I would not keep that many cards in my name. Your first mortgage app or large car loan could be in limbo because of too many cards. You would have the potential of running all those cards up in the eyes of the lender.

One or two cards, with consistent on time payments is what you want.

You will have to contact each card issuer and explain that you no longer have the card in your possession and wish to cancel it. The downside is they are of course going to try to convince you to keep the account open.

Be sure to let them know that you want it reported to the credit agencies that the account is no longer active.

I went through this myself about twenty years ago. Maybe longer now that I think of it.

 

[slycat]

lol!!...

dezign=credit n00b.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Just enter NONE OF THE ABOVE and see if you show up. They might have hitsa similar to yours and need to filter it more. I got the same questions (more or less).
This can happen if you haven't got much credit history.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Tomato

Originally posted by: Smolek
lol, this is a common question. like the others said, you would just select none of the above

Phew! You guys were right, nothing to worry about... it looks like I have 14 (!!!!) credit cards and 10 of them open accounts (I got a little carried away applying for cards in college, they always offered cool free gifts like a t-shirt or something). I only use 2 accounts, so should I cancel the other 8 or keep them open? Some of them have never even been used.

WTF!!?
14 credit cards! :Q

Just keep the oldest ones and cancel the rest IMHO.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: boomerang
Be sure to let them know that you want it reported to the credit agencies that the account is no longer active.

Does this keep it from hurting your credit score ?

 

[Gooose]

mine says i have to send in for it?

i am guessing because they dont have anything on me

because i dont have a credit card

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: boomerang
Be sure to let them know that you want it reported to the credit agencies that the account is no longer active.

Does this keep it from hurting your credit score ?

Yes, because these accounts will stay on your report for many years. Once you cancel the account, they should automatically report that the account is no longer active. I just like to make sure that they know, that I know. The CC issuers will try to convince you to leave the account active. I guess they're hoping you'll make a purchase. You want it closed and reported as such.

Also be aware that even though the cards may have been destroyed, they will still wait 60 to 90 days or longer before they report the account as not active. The card may be destroyed, but they are only taking an individuals word on that. They have to cover themselves.