Mistakenly Reported as Deceased?
In St. Louis, just like anywhere else, it's crucial to review your credit report from the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) annually. But what if you find out that your file is mistakenly marked as deceased? Regular checks can help you spot such errors before they disrupt significant life events like relocating or job hunting in the city of St. Louis.
Did you know...
Every year, nearly 14,000 US citizens, including residents of St. Louis, are erroneously listed as deceased on the Social Security Administration's Death Master File (DMF). This error typically happens when a funeral home, hospital, hospice, or creditor incorrectly reports an account linked to your social security number as deceased.
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This can occur due to a typing error or the wrong selection from an address on a shared account. If you're a resident of St. Louis and have been mistakenly reported as deceased on your credit report, reach out to us today.
Contact A Dedicated Credit Lawyer
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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!
St. Louis, MO
2025 S Brentwood Blvd Ste 201 Brentwood, MO 63144
When Do You Know Something Is Wrong?
Typically, individuals who receive Medicare, Social Security, or disability benefits are the first to realize the mistake because their insurance coverage and checks stop if they're marked as deceased. Sometimes, a condolence letter from the Social Security Administration or your bank might alert you to the error.
Such mistakes not only violate the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act Section 1681e(b), which mandates accurate consumer report preparation, but they also reset your credit score to zero. This can hinder you from opening a bank account, securing a credit card or mortgage, renewing your driver’s license, obtaining health insurance, finding employment or an apartment, or receiving personal or student loans in St. Louis.
Moreover, creditors, sellers, and landlords might not inform you about the mistake and could even suspect you of using a deceased person's social security number. You also won't be able to file your taxes or receive your refund if the error occurred after filing.
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!
St. Louis, MO
2025 S Brentwood Blvd Ste 201 Brentwood, MO 63144
Turn to a St. Louis-focused Law Firm
At Cook Law, we're committed to assisting St. Louis residents secure compensation for credit cases like these. We can help you sue 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 St. Louis attorneys will assist you in obtaining copies of your credit reports from all three major credit reporting agencies. They will also liaise with the Social Security Office on your behalf.
To prove your identity, you'll need to provide one of these 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
St. Louis Residents, Are You Incorrectly Declared Dead on Your Equifax Credit Report?
Once the error in your file has been rectified, the Social Security office will provide you with a letter titled “Erroneous Death Case- Third Party Contact Notice". This document is essential for St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 for St. Louis residents 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.
Cook Law, a comprehensive consumer law firm serving the St. Louis community, is here to guide you through these decisions and any other choices you may need to make in this process.