Monitoring your credit report is essential for financial health, but one issue many people overlook is checking whether they have been mistakenly listed as deceased.
How Does This Happen?
Unfortunately, fraudsters often exploit situations involving deceased individuals to commit identity theft. In some cases, errors can occur when a spouse or co-signer on an account passes away, leading creditors to mistakenly report the surviving account holder as deceased.
How to Find Out If You’re Listed as Deceased
According to Experian, a creditor may mistakenly associate your credit account with someone who has passed away. This can affect either individual accounts or your entire credit report.
There are two ways to check:
- Individual Accounts: If only one account is affected, it means a specific lender has incorrectly marked your status.
- Entire Credit Report: If all accounts are flagged as deceased, it could be due to an error in official records.
What to Do If You’re Incorrectly Listed as Deceased
If you discover this issue, you’ll need to contact Experian to correct your credit report. Send a letter with the following details:
- Full name
- Current mailing address
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- A statement confirming you are alive
You can submit this documentation online or mail it to:
Experian, P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013
Experian may request a notarized letter to verify your identity. Once confirmed, they will update your report and notify the data provider.
What If a Lender Reports You as Deceased?
If a lender has mistakenly marked an account as belonging to a deceased person, it only affects that particular account, not your full credit history. Contact the lender directly to correct the mistake.
What If the Social Security Administration Reports You as Deceased?
If your Social Security number is mistakenly reported as deceased, it can impact your entire credit report. In this case, you must contact your local Social Security office to correct the error.
Once the Social Security Administration updates their records, request a confirmation letter and submit it to Experian, either online or by mail.
You will also need to include:
- A copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license, state ID, or military ID)
- A recent utility bill, bank statement, or insurance statement to verify your identity
After receiving and verifying the documents, Experian will remove the deceased status from your credit history.
Texas Times will continue to provide updates on consumer protection and financial well-being.
