identity theft? How 'bout just when the credit bureau can't keep things straight

[MissMillie]

I have a twin sister. She and I have the same first name (and yes, I know that's strange, but it's not all that strange). It happens to be probably the most common name for women in North America over all North American history.

My last name is not unusual. So besides my sister and I, I'll bet there are a lot of people who have the same name.

Middle initials and social security numbers work wonders in identifying people. We do have different middle names and the last 4 digits of our SSNs are different.

As my sister was buying a car this week, the finance people would plug her SSN into their computer and it would spit out MY credit report.

We sent all 3 major credit bureaus letters 2 years ago to clear this up. We each took credit for the items on the report that belonged us.

My sis is actually worried that Social Security might not have us straight. It would be pretty terrible if only one of us were able to collect...(speculating, of course, that when we retire there will be Social Security to collect from).


I guess I just don't understand what is so difficult about differentiating middle initials and SSNs. It's not like the initials or SSN digits are anywhere near each other on a keyboard....

It looks like one of us will have to change our name in order to get and keep this straightened out.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

1. Well, it's important to remember

that credit bureaus make mistakes all the time. They are a business and their business can only grow (read: reap more revenue) if mistakes are made and cause higher interest rates, more fees, etc. In other words, it's all a big scheme to make more money.

Social security also makes mistakes, but it is perhaps more likely that the credit bureaus have messed up somewhere. You should be able to see your respective credit reports to check for any problems.

[MissMillie]

6. the mistakes really don't raise our interest rates

we both have very good credit.

[Pierre.Suave]

2. you have a twin sister

with the same name as you? :wtf:

[MissMillie]

3. different middle names

and it really isn't that uncommon. In canada, when my grandmother was a girl, ALL girls were named Mary and all boys were named Joseph. Middle names are what differentiated people.

Heck, George Foreman named all his boys George.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Growing up, I had a friend with five sisters and they were all

named Mary. We called them by their respective middle names.

I think it's kind of cool, actually. Sort of a bond beyond a bond.

[MissMillie]

5. well there you have it

my first name is Mary

[Pierre.Suave]

7. That is weird

I have NEVER even heard of this before.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Were you raised Catholic?

It was very common among Catholic families.

[Pierre.Suave]

9. I was raised in St. Cloud MN

A town founded my Benedictine Monks, and a very Catholic area of MN and I have NEVER heard this before.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. Wow! My mother was raised in LaCrosse, WI.

Her mother was one of three daughters; Mary Elizabeth, Mary Celeste and Mary Margaret.

[MissMillie]

11. UPDATE: It looks like it's just one of the 3 bureaus

Experian's got it wrong. Equifax has it right.