I am a victim of identity theft. I cannot open a bank account. What can I do to get my name in good standing?

Answer
you can once its all been cleared up, and that will take some time.

even if you DID open a bank account right now, your creditors would put a lien on it until you proved you were a victim.

just straiten it out; it takes time.. and lots of it, but its got to be done... i know. these links will tell you step by step what you need to do.

--10 MILLION people per year are victims of Identity Theft.

--Todays target for criminals; children and teens identities (SS#). Why? Because parents never think to check/protect their childrens reports.

1) run a free credit report from each agency (your allowed one free one per year, per agency). you need to know, so you need to get them.
2) Check your childrens also.
2) if ID Theft has occurred, you need to make a police report first. the rest of what you need to do, is listed in the links below (with GREAT info too).
3) some states allow you to 'lock' or 'freeze' credit reports; to protect against theft. if your state allows it, lock 'em down. that way, no one can open an account on them.
4) once you discover their credit reports have activity on them, then contact each credit reporting agency (the 3 major ones) and report the ID Theft... and request they lock the reports (usually they automatically do it, but ask for it anyway).

ID THEFT HELP/ INFO
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.shtml
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html
http://www.fraudguides.com/consumer-identity-theft-children.asp
http://www.ripoffreport.com/
http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/
http://www.ncpc.org/media/current.php
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03
http://www.myidfix.com/

FAIR DEBT COLLECTION
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations-explained.html
EACH STATES SoL
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations.html
http://www.fair-credit-reporting.com/credit-laws/credit-reporting-periods.html

CAPITAL ONE
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/WeirdStuffThatHurtsYourCredit.aspx?GT1=8885
Capital One refuses to report its customers' credit limits to the three major credit bureaus. Instead, the bureaus use the highest balance a customer has charged as a proxy for the limit.

As a result, the customers' all-important "debt utilization ratios" -- the portion of their available credit these borrowers are actually using -- can appear artificially high. That can depress borrowers' credit scores, the three-digit numbers lenders use to help determine creditworthiness.

Lower credit scores can mean higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans and other borrowing, as well as potentially higher insurance premiums, since many insurers also use credit-scoring systems to help gauge risk.


CREDIT REPORT INFO / REPAIRS / DISPUTES
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre21.htm
http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/2007/st0221.htm
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20040116b1.asp
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.asp
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/bankruptcy/20070313_credit_report_stains_a1.asp
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.txt
http://bankrate.com/
http://www.occ.treas.gov/customer.htm

TO ORDER A FREE CREDIT REPORT
(all three are free once a year)

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
www.equifax.com
1-800-685-1111
_______________
Experian
P.O. Box 19719
Irvine, CA 92623
www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742
_______________
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
www.transunion.com
1-800-916-8800


FIND YOUR REPS
http://www.usa.gov/
http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml
http://www.nga.org
http://www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php
http://judiciary.senate.gov/

My apartments complex is filing bankruptcy. What does that mean for me?

I got a letter in the mail from an attorney office stating the complex I live in has filed chapter 11. Actually it's a copy from the US Bankruptcy Court "Notice of chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case, Meeting of Creditors, & Deadlines" Has the case number, tax Id # and Attorney's name in Irvine CA.

There is a Proof of Claim form for me to fill out. They want to know if I have a claim. I don't understand.

Does this mean everyone has to move out? What about my lease?

Thanks.

Answer
A Proof of Claim is to be filed if your apartment complex owes you any money. Clearly they don't. It's just a formality the court sends out to creditors, you're not a creditor, the court clerks just followed their rote instructions to send it out.

A Chapter 11 is not a full bankruptcy as an individual would do...Instead, a Chapter 11 is a "reorganization" and the court sets up a payment schedule for them to repay their debts and chops off the interest so they can make payment.

It does not have anything to do with your lease. Your lease will continue as before.