Having your identity stolen
is an ordeal. You don’t realize how important your credit is
until it has been destroyed. Trying to write a check at a
grocery store or rent an apartment becomes difficult, if not
impossible.
The process of reclaiming your stolen identity
can be a very frustrating experience. First, you
need to file a police report. Next, you contact all
three credit bureaus: (1) Equifax, (2) Trans Union and (3)
Experian. This where most consumers have complaints.
Consumers complain that speaking to a real person is the tough
part. When your identity is stolen and you have a pressing
question or questions, it impossible to speak to a customer service
agent. You get transferred and press numerous
extensions only to lead you to a prompt asking you to leave a
voicemail or mail your questions.
Additionally, many consumers experiencing identity theft are
unaware of their rights
under the Fair
Credit Reporting Act. In fact, many do not even realize
they have rights. There must be a greater effort to educate
the public on their rights as consumers under the FCRA.
Another complaint is that consumers are often pressured into
purchasing identity theft monitoring systems. Spending much
needed money on fees for credit monitoring might not be in the best
interests of the consumer experiencing identity theft.
SmithMarco, P.C., has over 30 years of combined experience
practicing law protecting the rights of consumers around the
country. If information about you is inaccurately being reported,
or if you are a victim of identity theft, please contact us for a free case
review.