Identity Theft Solutions: A Walk-Through of Identity Theft Resolution

There are few things as upsetting and personal as having your identity stolen, and resolving the matter as promptly as possible is the first step to a successful recovery. It is always easier to cope with the issue when you know what to expect and have appropriate identity theft solutions at hand.

Catching identity theft early is the ideal method to protecting yourself from the agony and impact of this crime.  If you become a victim, the following identity theft resolution process will place you back where you belong, with a solid financial record and peace of mind.

The first step in identity theft resolution is to request a copy of each of your free credit reports from the three consumer reporting companies:  Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.  When the reports are received, inspect each one thoroughly to identify any fraudulent activity.

Next you must be able to identify where the ID theft occurred, based on the reports.  The reports should depict what city and state, and also establishment where the ID theft took place.  At this point, you will be given guidance on how to properly file the police report that will be required by your creditors.

At the same time that you are filing your police report, it is necessary to close the fraudulent accounts, and alert your creditor.  Notify your creditor to place a “fraud alert” on your file, so that they may take the appropriate actions to prevent further damage to your accounts.

The creditor will require a copy of your police report for your claim, that is why it is so important to have all of the details in order.  They will then take further steps to identify which transactions were fraudulent.

After you have ordered your reports, contacted your creditor and filed your police report, you will then begin the process of sending the appropriate letters, faxes and making phone calls to your creditors to ensure that your credit record is restored to clear your good name.

The length of time it takes to have the fraudulent information removed from your credit reports depends on the amount of theft that has occurred.  If you have one incident, the identity theft solutions may be easier to correct.  There are some who are hit repeatedly with identity theft before they catch it, and it can become time consuming to correct.

Your communications with your creditors will request that the three credit reporting agencies and the creditors to remove the fraudulent data present on your credit reports.  Once this goal is achieved, you can then request that the credit reporting agencies send copies of your clean reports directly to you.

The end result is that all of the fraudulent activity previously appearing on your credit reports and tarnishing your good name will be wiped clean, essentially resolved. 

Once your credit reports are rendered spotless and you are back on your feet, remember to continue to monitor your accounts, and to request new credit reports annually from all three credit reporting agencies to ensure that you do not fall victim in the future to a repeat occurrence identity theft.