Identity Problem

[cherrylinn]

In November I had just moved into an apartment and the same night as I moved in I was hit with a summons, due to my job I did not know where to turn to. I called the law firm and they told me that I was being sued by a credit card company with two accounts, I explained to them that I had not had any credit cards since 2003 when I filed bankruptcy, I gave them the information and they still proceeded to garnish my wages, I made arrangements with them and had been making payments because I had no proof that this was not mine and already pretty much having to start my life over, and now another law firm has contacted me stating another credit card is charged up. What can I do? I have not opened any credit cards with anyone since my bankruptcy in 2003 I just have a debit card.

 

[Theresagail]

Time for you to take control and pull your credit report to see what is going on here- from that report you will get your answers. Always be proactive on your credit -- it may be someone has stolen your identity or it may be old debts that have been discharged under Bankruptcy -- you need to arm yourself of knowledge about your credit ASAP

 

[Michael Wechsler]

Theresagail gives good advice - in addition, you want to pull a copy of the judgment - get one! The law offices aren't seeking to sue you - they are claiming that there were lawsuits brought years ago and they are trying to get paid on judgments. If you didn't show up in court, it could be a 'default judgment' where the judge ruled that there was enough evidence to show that the debt shown by the plaintiff was yours and your absence was unexplained after service to you was done properly. Before you can contest these debts as not being yours you first need to pull the judgment and see whether they were obtained as a result of fraud - the judgment and the potential judgment against you that may have been the result of identity theft. I'd find this very unusual but it's possible. Good luck.