Mistakenly Reported as Deceased?
In Chicago, as with all other places, it's essential to annually check your credit report from the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). But what happens if you discover that your file has been incorrectly marked as deceased? Regular checks can help you catch such mistakes before they interrupt significant life events like moving or job searching in the city of Chicago.
Did you know...
Every year, nearly 14,000 US citizens, including residents of Chicago, are mistakenly declared dead on the Social Security Administration's Death Master File (DMF). This mistake often occurs when a funeral home, hospital, hospice, or creditor wrongly reports an account associated with your social security number as deceased.
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This could happen due to a typographical error or an incorrect selection from an address on a shared account. If you're a resident of Chicago and have been wrongly reported as deceased on your credit report, get in touch with us today.
Have You Been Mistakenly Reported as Dead on Your Credit Report?
Once you discover that you have been mistakenly reported as deceased, the first thing you need to do is contact Cook Law, LLC! The sooner you contact Cook Law the better, as the entire process can take months or even years to clear up and can become more difficult to clear up as time passes. Simply click one of the buttons below to get in touch with an attorney near you!
CHICAGO, IL
2800 N Lake Shore Dr UNIT 4115 Chicago, IL 60657
Work With A Dedicate Law Firm
Turn to a Chicago-focused law firm at Cook Law, we're dedicated to helping Chicago residents secure compensation for credit cases like these. We can assist you in suing the credit reporting agencies for negligence if you suffer job loss, home loan denial, or apartment lease cancellation due to being listed on the DMF. The Death Master File (DMF) is a database maintained by the Social Security Administration that contains information about deceased individuals, crucial for preventing fraud and ensuring accurate credit reporting.
Our very own Chicago lawyer, Matt Cook, will help you get copies of your credit reports from all three major credit reporting agencies. We will also liaise with the Social Security Office on your behalf.
To verify your identity, you'll need to provide one of the following current and original identification documents:
- Passport
- Driver’s License
- Employee ID Card
- Military Record
- School ID Card, Record, or Report Card
- Marriage or Divorce Record
- Adoption Record
- Health Insurance Card; (not including Medicare)
- Certified Copy of Medical Record
- Life Insurance Policy
- Life Insurance Policy
- Court Order for Name Change
- Church Membership
Contact A Dedicated Credit Lawyer
Free Consultations 24/7
If you or a loved one are one of the thousands of people in the U.S. that have been mistakenly reported as deceased, the credit dispute lawyers at Cook Law, LLC have you covered! Get in touch with an attorney today to receive your free consultation. Simply click one of the buttons below to contact a credit report attorney near you!
CHICAGO, IL
2800 N Lake Shore Dr UNIT 4115 Chicago, IL 60657
Have You Been Mistakenly Reported Dead on Your Equifax Credit Report?
Once the error in your file has been corrected, the Social Security office will provide you with a letter titled "Erroneous Death Case- Third Party Contact Notice". This document is crucial for Chicago residents to present to local banks, healthcare providers, or any other parties that have denied services due to the incorrect death report.
It's recommended that you keep several copies of this notice in a secure place for about a year following the date on the letter. This is a precautionary measure in case certain organizations in Chicago continue to have you mistakenly listed as deceased. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit bureaus are required to cover the cost of correcting your file and restoring your credit.
After the correction, it's crucial to regularly review their credit reports to confirm that their credit score has been reinstated and they are no longer erroneously reported as deceased. It would also be a suitable time to terminate any accounts that are dormant and consider enrolling in a credit protection or fraud detection plan for added security.
We as a comprehensive consumer law firm serving the Chicago community, is here to guide you through these decisions and any other choices you may need to make in this process.