Credit reports coming back saying Social Security Number not matching

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

This just happened to us. I read about it before on here happening with background checks with new immigrants going to apply for jobs. Link to related Thread.

Ours happened when my husband went to switch our internet provider from Century Link to Comcast. He was filling out forms online when Century Link popped up with a message saying that a large amount of personal account information had recently be compromised and leaked on the internet. At the same time the Comcast forms came back saying his social security number was rejected because it didn't match the credit report. So we called Comcast and they want a $50 deposit to restart an account with them. We had recently had service with Comcast for 6 months prior to switching to Century Link. We asked for a copy of the credit report because I thought we were entitled to a copy anytime someone runs one on you. They refused to give us a copy and instead gave us the number to call Equifax. So now we have to call Equifax and the Social Security office to get this sorted out.

I'm not finding anything online about a recent security leak for Century Link or Comcast but this is a link to the message that popped up. Link It seems like a spam but also seems legit with the Century Link and Equifax and other credit company's info.

I'm wondering if this is just happening to new immigrants or if it's because of the recent security leak and this might be happening to other people? Anybody else have experience or knowledge about this?

Edited December 10, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

An update on what's happened so far. We called Equifax and they verified my husband's information. We didn't have to send forms or anything. They said the reason for the rejection is they have no credit history on my husband since he's been here, and it's not because his social security number was rejected. He's built a payment history with Comcast and Century link and our Cell Phone bills which are all in his name. We don't have credit cards but he should at least have a payment history with Comcast since he held the account with them prior. He's always made the payments on time too.

So we think Comcast is jerking us around. When we cancelled with them last time they tried to charge us $500 for a modem we never received. They even had a serial number assigned to it. We disputed the claim and it was taken care of. Anyways we called Century Link back and he asked about the promotion deal expiring and if there was anything else we could afford on our budget. Otherwise we'd like to cancel. They tried to sell us bundles but we don't need a TV, or phone, or anything else, just the internet. Finally they gave us the same deal we had but with the agreement we'd stick with them for a year. So yah we all win and we don't have to worry about higher internet prices and having to switch companies for another year!

My husband is still going to go down the social security office in person to verify his information is correct to be sure due to the frequency with which this seems to be occurring with background checks and credit checks on others. Online and over the phone Comcast gave us the reason was the credit check said his social security number didn't match. I saw the online warning myself and his social security number and information was typed in correctly.

I can't be sure there isn't some glitch in Credit checks and background checks with these companies, or if they're practicing trickery, or if his information has be compromised.

[FoundMy#1 9]

They're not jerking you around... The $50 is beginning to be the "in thing" from all companies.

The phone bills and cable bills don't help your credit score much- you really need a credit card even if it is secured card.

When I moved a year ago, deposit was required for EVERYTHING! And I have a score of about 700

[Darnell 8,478]

payment history on a utility bill doesn't make it into your credit history report

unless you are late 90 to 180 days or

there was a charge-off after disconnection.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Two good things came out of this. One that Century Link gave us a year long deal at the special rate and two that we're discussing getting a credit card together to build credit so we can buy a house in two years. We just spend what we can afford and haven't done credit otherwise. We looked at buying a better used car, but we're waiting until after all his medical exams are over, because they're taking the most money right now since we're on a single income so he can study full-time for them.

Should Comcast at least have a record of prior payment history since we held an account with them? I've never encountered this deposit thing before other than renting apartments or storage units. So is this becoming the new thing for all the companies now?

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Two good things came out of this. One that Century Link gave us a year long deal at the special rate and two that we're discussing getting a credit card together to build credit so we can buy a house in two years. We just spend what we can afford and haven't done credit otherwise. We looked at buying a better used car, but we're waiting until after all his medical exams are over, because they're taking the most money right now since we're on a single income so he can study full-time for them.

Should Comcast at least have a record of prior payment history since we held an account with them? I've never encountered this deposit thing before other than renting apartments or storage units. So is this becoming the new thing for all the companies now?

Yes, it is kind of a normal thing in this day and age.

I would get a low limit credit card, spend a little each month and pay it off at the end of each month. That is what I did to rebuild my credit rating after some issues with the utilities at my first apartment. My credit is pretty good now.

[Mithra 1,185]

Yeah it's normal. I had to put a deposit down when I first got cell service (in my name) several years ago. They refunded my deposit after I had the service for about a year.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Hmm. We haven't had that experience with any land lines, cell phones, utilities, internet, or other regular bills we pay in our name until that deal with Comcast this week. I just find it really odd coming from them since the first time we signed up there wasn't a deposit required, he didn't have any credit establish, and we had good payment history with them, and now they want a deposit to come back to them? Oh well Century Link has been good to us and gave us more than we wanted.

The Social Security office today was all in order too. So there is no funny business there and we're left wondering what was the deal with the Comcast online and over the telephone bit about the rejection of the Social Security not matching with the credit check? Even Equifax said it wasn't that and so that leaves only Comcast saying that was the case. We saw it online and we were told twice the same thing by two different reps over the phone. Weird?

We're having interesting conversations about Islam and interest with the financial planner at the bank. A secured credit card seems like the preferred option. It sounds like a pay as you go where you put money down like a deposit of $300 - $500 and then you use it to pay your regular bills. Then you pay that money back to yourself (aka secured credit card) like making a credit card payment each month in order for the balance to remain whatever you originally put down $300 - $500. It's all your money but it still acts like a credit card building credit and if you take out more than you can pay back or if you miss a payment the interest and late fees goes to the bank, ect. He likes that option best because you can avoid interest by making payments that pay it off each month and we'd use it only to pay our bills like normal to build credit.

If the bank isn't making much money off of you on these secured credit cards is that going to hurt your credit or will this still help build your credit? I didn't want to ask the bank that but I am wondering.

Also does anyone know if we'll need to do more than that to build enough credit to look at buying a house in around two years? I don't know if that will really be an option since around that time we'll have just moved to where ever he'll be doing his medical residency so we'll be new to the area and starting fresh employment I assume. Don't they want a longer employment history or do they just look at credit and salaries? I hadn't considered buying a house but it was his idea because we'll be living there from anywhere between 3-7 years depending on the residency he gets and he doesn't want us to do apartment living anymore when he starts residency. I'd love to have a home of our own together.

Edited December 13, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Hmm. We haven't had that experience with any land lines, cell phones, utilities, internet, or other regular bills we pay in our name until that deal with Comcast this week. I just find it really odd coming from them since the first time we signed up there wasn't a deposit required, he didn't have any credit establish, and we had good payment history with them, and now they want a deposit to come back to them? Oh well Century Link has been good to us and gave us more than we wanted.

The Social Security office today was all in order too. So there is no funny business there and we're left wondering what was the deal with the Comcast online and over the telephone bit about the rejection of the Social Security not matching with the credit check? Even Equifax said it wasn't that and so that leaves only Comcast saying that was the case. We saw it online and we were told twice the same thing by two different reps over the phone. Weird?

We're having interesting conversations about Islam and interest with the financial planner at the bank. A secured credit card seems like the preferred option. It sounds like a pay as you go where you put money down like a deposit of $300 - $500 and then you use it to pay your regular bills. Then you pay that money back to yourself (aka secured credit card) like making a credit card payment each month in order for the balance to remain whatever you originally put down $300 - $500. It's all your money but it still acts like a credit card building credit and if you take out more than you can pay back or if you miss a payment the interest and late fees goes to the bank, ect. He likes that option best because you can avoid interest by making payments that pay it off each month and we'd use it only to pay our bills like normal to build credit.

If the bank isn't making much money off of you on these secured credit cards is that going to hurt your credit or will this still help build your credit? I didn't want to ask the bank that but I am wondering.

Also does anyone know if we'll need to do more than that to build enough credit to look at buying a house in around two years? I don't know if that will really be an option since around that time we'll have just moved to where ever he'll be doing his medical residency so we'll be new to the area and starting fresh employment I assume. Don't they want a longer employment history or do they just look at credit and salaries? I hadn't considered buying a house but it was his idea because we'll be living there from anywhere between 3-7 years depending on the residency he gets and he doesn't want us to do apartment living anymore when he starts residency. I'd love to have a home of our own together.

I have some university friends who were able to buy houses within a year of working good jobs. They take a lot of things into consideration in the mortgage process and are much stricter than they used to be. I do not if you've put much thought into it, but the larger the down payment, the more likely that it will go without a hitch. I've only seen people buy houses who have more than enough in the bank to afford the house many times over, so I don't know the real process for someone who is only relying on income. When we move back to America, we'll be buying our house with mostly cash (and keeping a lot in the bank). I suppose that makes it less stringent.

I don't think you need a secured credit card, there are a couple than you can apply for online through places like capital one that have a small yearly fee and a $300 credit limit, for instance. That is the one I got and since then I was offered ones with like $9000 credit limits (which I turn down).

You can also piggy back on your parents, if they are comfortable with that. My mother put one of her credit cards in my name and that has done miracles for the credit report.

[Mithra 1,185]

When we (well I since my husband has no credit history) bought our house about 3 years ago the process went quickly (from finding a house to closing took about a month) and was pretty painless. The important factors, from what I was told, is decent credit history (having a few credit cards and using them) and good work history (at the time I had been at my job for 5 yrs). My mortgage lady told me that she normally advises people to have 4-5 credit cards and use them regularly for at least a year before applying for a mortgage. I had several credit cards that I use regularly by the time I applied for my mortgage so that helped a lot. I'm sure the same would work with less credit cards but with other forms of established credit. Also, if you have any collections on your report, try to clean those up prior to applying for a mortgage.

[damulag 26]

The secured credit cards work like this:

You place the amount you would like your credit limit to be , say $500 in an account held by the bank in your name. You can not access it but the money will be returned to you if you cancel the card or it gets converted to a regular non secured card.

You can then use the secured card like any other credit card up to your limit. You then can pay it off each month in full if you like but the money to pay it off does not come from the inital $500 in the account but from money you have in your personal checking/savings account.

If you choose not to pay the card in full each month then you will accrue interest on the account.

The initial deposit is in case you use the card and do not pay it off or make payments then the bank can take the money in the account to settle the credit card and cancel it.

With some secured credit cards after you have used the card and payed on time for a year (depends on the bank) they sometimes convert it to a regular credit card that is not tied to the money in the seperate account and then give you back your "security deposit".

Some secured cards charge a monthly fee to use it so check this. The bank either makes money on the monthly fee or it also makes money on each transaction (payed by the merchant)

You can visit a web site creditboards.com and read all about different types of credit.

[hikergirl 277]

I really like reading articles by MoneyTalk News (I subscribe to their facebook page).

Anyways, I remembered a recent article and it may help you guys out: http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2012/11/29/8-little-known-ways-to-raise-your-credit-score/

They also have articles on comparing the different cards and such.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Holy #######! I think something must be wrong with Comcast. Our mailbox exploded with 12 automated letters from them today. We're checking them all and it looks like they're just the same thing over and over.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

It all came from the same office.

What a waste of time, resources and paper.

On a side note we did learn hat we can get a free credit report from them if we write in a letter of request within 60 days.

Edited December 17, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[lbounds 16]

You can get a free credit report from all 3 credit reporting agencies once a year here: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

It shows your credit history but you will need to pay something extra to see your credit score number from each of them I think. I just got my free yearly report from them the other day. You can print or download the reports online.