SickofEx
recently joined
Reged: 06/08/06
Posts: 2
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Had a girlfriend who made my life miserable. She lied all the time we were together. She was on the run from the law and I never knew until she was arrested (for her 4th felony as I found out later).
This was back in 2001. She went to prison in 2002 for a year. I broke off the relationship but was stupid enough to feel sorry for her. Her family disowned her and I felt that if I helped her she would get better and find her way. HUGE mistake.
Fast forward to today. I met a wonderful woman and we married recently. I have been so happy and never felt free like I do now. We found a great place to buy but when we tried the nightmare began. I never thought to check my credit. The ex opened many accounts using my name and personal information, then ran up the charges and didn't pay. I had no idea. I never received one bill. All bills were sent to her address.
I called the police and told the credit people that it was fraud. My wife and I live in a small town. The "hick" cop told us that because I had once lived with that woman I am responsible for the bills! He told the same thing to the companies and now they are hounding me for payments.
I had no idea what was going on until trying to buy a house. How can my credit be ruined? I never married that woman or wanted to marry her. We never used the same last name. Never had any bills in both the same last name. Never filed income taxes with her, and always filed as a single person. Why won't the cops do anything? Why are they making it out like I did something wrong?
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Buckeye
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 12/08/05
Posts: 7857
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You need to get a lawyer - right away.
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rocketgirl
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/24/04
Posts: 8562
Loc: On the beach in 14 years...
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It's called identity theft, and being a victim myself, I understand the complete nightmare you are about to enter. Please call a credit bureau (Transunion, Experian or Equifax) and put a fraud alert on your account (you only have to call one and it will be put on all three). Go through your credit report CAREFULLY... you would be amazed at what is on there. My first one was 48 pages long. It is now down to 5 pages.. took me 2 1/2 years to get it that way though.
If you get a lawyer, you will have to have one that is familiar with identity theft. There are not many of them, but it is becoming such a prevalent problem that many lawyers are now dealing with this type of fraud.
When you call the credit card companies, ask immediately to speak to their fraud department. You will not have to tell you story to as many people and they are the ones equipped with the knowledge to help you.
Go file a police report. Most of the CC companies require this before they will even listen to you. Go file a fraud report with the Postal Service. If she mailed in the applications, then she committed interstate fraud, just don't expect much out of them.
This journey will be one of the most frustrating ones you will ever have in your life. Don't expect things to happen quickly. It has been 2 1/2 years and the person who did it to me just got sentenced for 2 felony accounts in January. No jail time, a slap on the wrist, restitution of over $10k to the CC companies, none to me, and community service.
Start a journal TODAY and write every single thing down, even if you don't think it is important. Make sure you log every minute you spend on this, every name of the people you talk to, their position in the company, what they have said they will do for you, phone numbers, dates, etc... if you decide to sue this person civilly later on, this is the only way you will have a case.
I'm really sorry you are going through this. I know how devastating it is when you first see that credit report.
Tell that cop he's a moron from me.....
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Lisa
Diplomacy - the art of telling someone to go to hell, and them looking forward to the trip.
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Gecko
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 19802
Loc: Third rock from the sun
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The "hick" cop told us that because I had once lived with that woman I am responsible for the bills! He told the same thing to the companies and now they are hounding me for payments.
---> The cop is wrong and you need to speak to his supervisor.
---> Like RG, I am also a victim of Identity Theft, except that I had the nightmare of dealing with the IRS, Department of Revenue and CSE because the people had used my SS# for employment.
---> Note about filing a resport with your local police. They may tell you that they don't take those kind of reports, but tell them that the US Attorney General's Office requires that you have a case number so that if when the person or persons are caught, proper charges can be filed.
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If you air your dirty linen in public, expect people to comment on the skid marks!
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hippie1981
veteran
Reged: 09/27/05
Posts: 1304
Loc: Wisconsin
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Do you have renters insurance? A lot of insurance companies offer identity theft coverage. It usually only covers up to $10000, but there's that. Also they have free identity theft services to help you sort through everything. This all depends on the company you may have and if you have that coverage. At the insurance office I work in we add identity theft coverage on to all new home and renters policies we write, just b/c it is becoming such a wide-spread problem. Some auto insurance companies are starting to provide identity theft coverage as well.
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Maury
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/02/04
Posts: 8146
Loc: This Asylum --->
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They will likely view it as a civil issue and you will have to sue in civil court.
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SickofEx
recently joined
Reged: 06/08/06
Posts: 2
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I don't get to this site very often. I do appreciate every reply. I have tried, over and over, to get the local police to do something about the woman who likes to make my life really hard, but they won't do anything. Their latest comments indicate that I shouldn't worry about her because she will end up back in prison soon than later. It seems they might be right. If I can't get the last of the bad marks off my credit history soon we will have to look into civil action against her. I hate spending one more moment dealing with her stuff much less another penny. At this point anything that will bring relief will be worth it to me.
For any of you out there thinking about living with someone, the best advice I can give comes from my dog. He always circles the bed where he is going to sleep three times before laying down. I believe firmly that all humans can learn a very valuable lesson from the simple life of my dog.
Thanks again for all of the input. Cheers to all...
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LinusluvsSally
addict
Reged: 08/23/06
Posts: 441
Loc: South Florida
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I like the dog reference. It rings true in several ways.
My dog also likes to circle several times around the place he's going to poop. Perhaps there's some meaning in that as well.
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