How to Remove a Fraud Alert from Your Credit Report

If you’ve ever searched “how to repair credit after identity theft,” you’re not alone. Unfortunately, millions fall victim to identity theft and fraud every year. If you are among them, the road to recovery can be tough, but there are strategic steps you can take to repair your credit. In this article, we share what you can do to jump-start your credit repair journey and how to remove a fraud alert from your credit report when necessary. Additionally, we explain how to dispute and remove identity theft from your credit report.

How to Dispute and Remove Identity Theft from Your Credit Report

When there are accounts on your credit report resulting from identity theft, you need to complete the dispute process to remove them. 

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumer reporting agencies, including the credit bureaus, must conduct a reasonable investigation into disputed items. They will contact banks and other companies reporting unauthorized accounts to confirm their validity. If the accounts are proven fraudulent, the bureaus will delete them from your credit file, usually restoring your credit to its pre-theft state.

Challenging fraudulent claims with the three credit bureaus is crucial. Below is an overview of how to get fraud off your credit report.

1. Contact an attorney. Start the dispute process by contacting a consumer protection attorney with ID theft experience. An attorney will assist you during the dispute process by helping you avoid unnecessary delays and mistakes along the way.
2. Get copies of your credit reports. Visit annualcreditreport.com and request credit reports from all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Examine all the accounts listed and document any suspicious accounts or inquiries.
3. Report fraud. After getting copies of your credit reports, be sure to report fraudulent accounts to your local authorities (police) and obtain a copy of the police report.
4. Contact your financial institutions. If you suspect fraud, it’s a good idea to contact your financial institutions for assistance. They should be able to cancel your current cards and issue new ones.
5. Inform the credit bureaus. Be sure to inform the credit bureaus of the fraud. They will be able to guide you with next steps which can include locking or freezing your credit profile. Doing so will make it more difficult for ID scammers to open more credit accounts with your name and personal details.
6. Draft dispute letters. Write dispute letters to the bureaus and companies reporting the fraudulent activity. Explain why the accounts do not belong to you and why they should be removed. Be prepared to present supporting documents to prove your case.
7. Mail the dispute letters. We recommend using certified mail to file disputes as opposed to disputing online. Certified mail allows you to get a return receipt to confirm that your dispute letters were received. Additionally, filing via certified mail doesn’t require you to waive important rights that filing online requires you to waive.
8. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If you suspect fraud or identity theft, you have a right to report it to the FTC. The FTC may ask you to provide documents and information that support your claim.
9. Document, Document, and DOCUMENT! Document, every action you take to challenge the fraudulent accounts. Keeping up with all correspondence and interaction with the police, FTC, credit bureaus, etc. can help you later in the dispute process, especially if you decide to file a lawsuit later.
10. Wait and follow up. Part of the dispute process is a waiting game. The Fair Credit Reporting Act, (FCRA) allows credit bureaus to take around 30 to 45 days to investigate disputes and render a decision.

Credit bureaus will be required to verify disputed accounts and correct errors. See the chart below for contact information for each of the credit bureaus. 

Fix Your Credit after Fraud and Identity theft

Identity theft can significantly damage your credit score. You can use the steps above right after you discover identity theft. Also, you can begin fixing your credit by utilizing the following tips.

Reach out to one of our attorneys for identity theft. Our attorneys will help you with next steps including drafting, and filing paperwork with credit bureaus, the FTC, and the courts. 

Additionally, right after your credit takes a hit due to fraud and identity theft, it’s usually a good idea to avoid applying for new credit since too many applications can harm your score even more by accumulating “hard inquiries”. If possible, wait 6-12 months before applying for new credit. 

Also, as you continue monitoring your credit, you can request that your credit is frozen or locked until you are ready to use it again. You can have this done by contacting the credit bureaus directly. Check out the chart below for each credit bureau’s contact information.

How to Contact Credit Agencies

Removing a Fraud Alert

If you’ve used fraud alerts to protect your credit, it’s important that you know how to remove them.  

You should only remove a fraud alert if you believe your credit is no longer being compromised or when advised to do so by a financial or legal professional. Typically, you can contact the credit bureau that initiated the alert for you and that bureau should be able to begin the removal process. You will need to provide information to confirm your identity during the removal process.

Who Can Help?

Identity theft is a daunting experience, and rebuilding your life can be equally challenging. If you need assistance with disputing identity theft on your credit reports, consider contacting an ID theft protection attorney. 

Also, consider visiting identitytheft.gov, a free government resource for ID theft victims to file reports and learn how to recover.