Mistaken identification

[grasshopper]

So Ms G wanted a retail credit card that provided free shipping on all her online orders. I had not applied for any credit for a long time, so I say let me apply. Deed done, I get a rejected letter.

Them: Letter states credit is fine we couldn’t verify that it was you who applied for the credit.
Grasshopper: What you have my name, social security number, drivers license number, date of birth, address and phone number.

Them: Well yea you did not pass the security questions.

1. If you had a mortgage in 2008 who serviced the mortgage?
2. What was the amount of the mortgage?
3. Who is Todd Whatshisname?
4. What is his relationship to you?

Grasshopper: No mortgage since 2003, never heard of Todd Whatshisname, you must be looking at someone else with my name.
Them: Oh no, we received the information for these identifying questions from public records, not from a credit report.
Grasshopper: Well ask me some new questions and lets try again.
Them: No can do, but if you mail us copies of your SS # DL, we will look again.
Grasshopper: Wait if I was making up some phony stuff, wouldn’t I have phony ID too.
Grasshopper: Click.

Now for 10 years I have written down every question asked on my three free annual reports. Truck loans made and paid off. Mortgage dates and amounts, especially because banks changed names or were serviced by other banks. Where I lived and when, what street, you name it, just for this reason.

I did Whitepage me, and they have me living in New Mexico.

[JoeWras]

This rings a bell.

I'm helping Dad out with his finances, and when we signed on for an online account, we got almost the exact same questions (car loan instead of mortgage). Actually, I did it when Dad was out of the room.

So I knew Dad never had a loan and Todd Whathisname was nobody he knew. I actually panicked a bit thinking he was hacked, but instead I answered those two questions as "Not applicable" or something similar, which was a choice.

We passed the test. They seemed to be intentionally bogus questions.

Not sure that was the case with you.

[MichaelB]

I have this problem with Experion, failing a question. They insist I am someone different and won't give me my free credit report, and also got locked out of the SSA online account set-up.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB I have this problem with Experion, failing a question. They insist I am someone different and won't give me my free credit report, and also got locked out of the SSA online account set-up.

Sounds awful! Will you have to go down to the local SS office and stand in line, then? My understanding is that that would not be a pleasant way to spend the day, at all.

[grasshopper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWras This rings a bell. I'm helping Dad out with his finances, and when we signed on for an online account, we got almost the exact same questions (car loan instead of mortgage). Actually, I did it when Dad was out of the room. So I knew Dad never had a loan and Todd Whathisname was nobody he knew. I actually panicked a bit thinking he was hacked, but instead I answered those two questions as "Not applicable" or something similar, which was a choice. We passed the test. They seemed to be intentionally bogus questions. Not sure that was the case with you.

Whenever I get my freeannualcreditreport.com I always seem to get one that applies to me. These weren't even close. If you do a people search they will show names, parents, siblings, SO, sometimes if they use the same address. Ms G shows up as Ms G when really she uses her given name Ms Butterfly.

[JoeWras]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grasshopper Whenever I get my freeannualcreditreport.com I always seem to get one that applies to me. These weren't even close. If you do a people search they will show names, parents, siblings, SO, sometimes if they use the same address. Ms G shows up as Ms G when really she uses her given name Ms Butterfly.

Oh yeah, I'm sorry if I was confusing. The other two questions were spot on. There were just two completely bogus ones in there too.

I see now out of your 4 questions, it is really just two with a secondary question. If the two main questions (mortgage place and mr. whn) are bogus, you can't even answer the secondary question.

OK, so my situation was different.

[Tyro]

I'm just not the man I used to be...

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R Sounds awful! Will you have to go down to the local SS office and stand in line, then? My understanding is that that would not be a pleasant way to spend the day, at all.

Yes, I called to explain and the only option they have available was that. If this hasn't been resolved by my 65th birthday I guess that's what I'll do.

[marko]

I've used some similar sites where they deliberately use bogus questions to hone down who you really are.

Is this something different?