Monique X. is trying to get a loan to consolidate her debts into a more affordable payment. She writes that she’s been careful with her credit history and knew that her credit score was adequate to get approved at her bank, “even with the economy the way it is.” That’s when she discovered that someone else’s accounts had been folded into hers, and that Experian’s solution to their error was as bad as the problem.

Recently, I went to a bank for a loan. I have a brand new truck that needs very little to be paid off. I’ve strived to make sure that my credit stayed at a fair or better score. I knew that even with the economy the way it is, I would be approved. Until I went to the bank, that is.

This bank pulls credit scores and reports from Experian. I sat in the Personal Banker’s office in shock as I reviewed the report. Out of everything on the report, 90% of it wasn’t my debt!! I immediately began calling the creditors. Most of what was on my report belonged to a Monique Y. Ok, we have the same first name, we both live in a small town. I thought it was a mistake on the credit bureau’s side.

Nine days later, on November 11th, I realized that several of the accounts held her name, but my social! I filed a police report that day. After fighting with creditors, I finally got someone at Experian to remove everything that wasn’t mine. I have the report. Everything that was placed by Y. was removed. This was done on the 27th of November.

After verifying that when the bank pulled my credit report again, these items wouldn’t show up, I applied for the loan. Now I don’t exist AT ALL on Experian’s radar! I have NO CREDIT! After talking to a girl at Experian today (didn’t get a name, apparently none that work there have one) I was informed that it would be 2 weeks before it would be settled. My information was deleted and would have to be re-keyed in.

I don’t have two weeks! The whole purpose for getting the loan was to consolidate bills. I have spinal surgery scheduled very soon, and I am trying to make sure we are financially sound before undergoing the knife. I was also hoping to be able to put food in our house and get my 4-year-old daughter a Christmas tree! Now I’m being told things will get done too late! If they are even done properly at all!

I asked the girl if it showed which of her co-workers deleted the information. Apparently nothing is time-stamped with a log-on name. I work in the I.T. Department of a company and everything that I touch is time-stamped with my name! How is it that someone with power like this remains anonymous in the system? The girl told me my request would be expedited, but nothing is ever expedited with credit bureaus. I need this loan. NOW! But apparently I don’t exist! What do I do now? I can’t spend my work day on the phone fixing this. I have to work. And this surgery cannot be postponed.

Below is some contact info for Experian in case you want to send a snail-mail version of an EECB to them, but unless someone can provide the private email address or office phone of an executive, your file may be back to normal before you hear back from anyone.

In the meantime, I would suggest first asking your bank if they’ll use one of the other two agencies for your credit history, especially if it’s obvious that the Experian one is defective. If they refuse, you might want to call local banks or credit unions and explain that your Experian credit report is blank, but the other two are valid, and try to find someone willing to lend to you.

Also, do any readers know about the legal issues around signing for a loan from a recovery bed? Can Monique talk to the bank and arrange for a Power of Attorney agreement or something in order to move ahead with the loan as soon as Experian has corrected its mistake?

Experian
701 Experian Parkway
Allen TX 75013
    – or –
475 Anton Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
+1-714-830-7000 (Phone)
714-830-2449 (Fax)

Donald A. (Don) Robert, CEO, Experian Group
Paul Brooks, CFO
Donald Girard, VP Public Affairs

Note that credit bureaus deliberately hide, remove, or change addresses in order to force customers to contact them over the phone or through their websites. MyFairCredit.com suggests you try sending them a letter through snail mail to their physical location in Allen, Texas, while Google Finance repeats the California address that Experian prints on their website.

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