Legal Question Regarding New Identity

[Guest Jaded1]

My s/o and I were talking last night and she had a question that I couldn't answer.

If this is in the wrong forum, I apologize.

So basically if I completely transition along with SRS and get all new documents (social, birth certificate, passport, ID, etc) what happens to my credit history with my old identity? Does it carry over? Does it start anew? If I had a long and good credit history, do I kiss it goodbye?

I know this a very small facet of the transition process, but I scoured the net trying to find an answer and I thought, this would be the best place to find out from the girls and guys that have already taken these steps.

Thanks.

[Guest Donna Jean]

So basically if I completely transition along with SRS and get all new documents (social, birth certificate, passport, ID, etc)

Thanks.

If you do all of that....your credit history should follow....

Donna Jean

[Guest MonikaC]

Your credit follows your social security number, not your name. It's one of those things you can't change.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

You get a court order for the name change, make copies, and send it to all the credit card companies, banks, and department stores. The SSN stays with you anyway - that is what they generally use to identify you.

Lizzy

[Guest Jaded1]

Interesting. I thought they issued a new social. Makes sense though. Thanks for the super fast responses!

[Guest Donna Jean]

Interesting. I thought they issued a new social. Makes sense though. Thanks for the super fast responses!

Now......send your S/S: number to....

Donna Jean

Moderator's Hut

Laura's Playground

[Carolyn Marie]

I bought a car for my son within 30 days of going full time and having my name changed with Social Security, my credit cards and bank. I applied for credit with Honda, and had no problems. They told me my credit score was excellent, so yes, it did carry over. Either that, or Carolyn has better credit than "he" did.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Jaded1]

Now......send your S/S: number to....

Donna Jean

Moderator's Hut

Laura's Playground

Sorry, the Nigerian Prince already called dibs.

[Guest John Chiv]

What Monika said.

When you do a legal name change,they specifically ask if you are doing this to avoid debts. At least in CA, and you have to publish your name change before it is granted in the court so people know.

Carolyn, LOL.

Jaded, awesome response to Dee Jay. Just for your humor, I think you should be given a brand new credit history. If only I had that power.

John

[Guest Ann Onymous]

Few lenders issue new account numbers simply for a name change. So, as the names are updated with the lenders, the new name will follow to the credit report. History will remain in place. Once everything has been changed that you need to keep up with, you can either wait for anything with the old name to just fall off at the seven year mark or you can submit the dispute to the four major bureaus...

The only way that the bureaus know that you are you is when the furnishers update their tradelines...changes to the SS card, DL, passport or birth certificate will not have anything to do with the reports.

[Guest Jaded1]

What Monika said.

When you do a legal name change,they specifically ask if you are doing this to avoid debts. At least in CA, and you have to publish your name change before it is granted in the court so people know.

Carolyn, LOL.

Jaded, awesome response to Dee Jay. Just for your humor, I think you should be given a brand new credit history. If only I had that power.

John

LOL, thanks.

Fortunately my credit history already got it's reboot a couple of years ago where due to an amazingly shady former business partner I found myself well over my head so all that is behind me. I just wanted to make sure that what I have built since then doesn't go the way of the dodo.

[Guest (Lightsider)]

While working for a dealership some years ago I learned something interesting. This old lady came in with a bundle of money. Her husband had passed away and left it to her. She never had credit before. But we were required to run a credit report on her anyway regardless if she could pay in full or not.

I went to the back room and input her b-day, ss and name. It came up blank. I was told to try again and it came back that she had a report request from my dealership. Her credit history was born that day.

On to a different story, My sisters credit was hijacked by my sister in law. When my sister went to buy a home it was found through "discovery". This could have gone on for years.

I had my credit run at a bank and it came back that I worked at Boeing. I never worked a day in my life there. My identity had not been stolen because I checked.

The bottom line is credit reporting agencies are full of errors and that you do not need to notify of them of your name change. Is it a good idea? Yes. Is it going to stop you from renting an apartment, getting a phone, utilities, and other things? No. About the only thing it will foul up is if you go to buy a new home because they do a full discovery and go over that with a fine tooth comb.

Did you know that your Social Security Number was NEVER intended to be a way of tracking you? But we sheeple let it happen.

[Drea]

Your credit follows your social security number, not your name. It's one of those things you can't change.

Yes, sort of. I've known of instances were individuals who using a stolen SSN, but didn't use the name of the SSN owner showed up separatly. Laws may have changed or improved that situation however.

As Ann said, it is the creditors who give the credit bureaus information. In fact it is only from the creditors they seem to trust. Updating the name on your existing credit accounts will identify you under your new name to the credit agencies. The credit agencies will then know both are the same and your report will list all your names you have gone under as well.

If your worried about the old name appearing, it is no big deal. The average person has some misspellings appearing and it is not uncommon for a spouses name to get mixed in there. So showing a name witht he wrong apparent gender is usually assumed to be the spouse. At least that is my experience.

[Guest Jaded1]

All good info. Thank you!!!