Practice Areas Credit Reporting & Background Checks Deceased Credit Report

Overview

A credit report showing a deceased indicator on it can be devastating. Being mistakenly reported as deceased by Experian, Equifax, TransUnion or one of their resellers can prevent you from obtaining a mortgage, getting credit, or even from getting a free copy of your credit report. Our firm can help for free.

Table of Contents

My Credit Report Says I’m Dead!

Deceased on your credit report? We can help you fix that.

We have devoted our legal careers to helping consumers and have helped correct numerous Experian deceased, Equifax deceased, and Transunion deceased credit reports.

We use the Fair Credit Reporting Act to pursue your case and then have the credit bureaus pay for the correction. Don’t waste your time or money trying to fix a deceased credit report by yourself. Let our professionals handle this for you, free of charge.

See how much your case is worth and get started the same day. Contact us today to get started!

*Our firm does not assist with general credit repair. Instead, we assist those who have been mistakenly reported as deceased.*

What can happen if you do not fix the mistaken deceased indicator on your credit report?

  • Instead of recognizing that you have been mistakenly labeled as dead, creditors, landlords and sellers will believe that you are trying to use someone else’s identity.
  • Whether the deceased indicator is originating with the credit reporting agency, one of your lenders, or the result of identity theft—if it is not fixed, the problem will recur every time the bureaus refresh their information.
  • If you have a deceased indicator on your credit report you won’t get approved for a mortgage, loans, or any major financial purchases. Creditors will believe that you are trying to use a dead person’s information to obtain credit.
  • Most creditors will not make a loan to anyone who has a deceased indicator on their credit report.
  • Being mistakenly reported as deceased will mean you are unable to obtain copies of your free credit report because the credit bureaus will think you are trying to commit identity fraud.
  • Having a deceased indicator on your credit report can serve as a complete bar to trying to obtain your credit report on annualcreditreport.com

Benefits of working with Berger Montague 

We empathize with our clients.

Our lawyers have devoted their careers to helping people like you. We can help you circumvent the front-line customer service representatives and get your problem fixed.

We get results.

We are widely recognized as one of the best credit reporting and background check law firms in the country. Defendants pay attention when we call or file lawsuits. Let us use our reputation to help you.
You don’t have to pay us.

We handle our clients’ disputes free of charge. If there is a monetary recovery in your case, we ensure that the credit bureaus pay our fee. We will never ask you for a check, a credit card number or any other kind of payment.

Honesty, integrity, and respect.

Our lawyers are recognized not only for being aggressive litigators, but also for being ethical. Our lawyers have taught classes on ethical representation on behalf of some of the largest consumer advocacy organizations in the country.

About Our Team

Berger Montague helps consumers with mistaken credit reports and background checks throughout the United States. The Firm employs over sixty lawyers and has been recognized as a leader by numerous publications, including the National Law Journal, Super Lawyers, and more.

Judges recognize Berger Montague as a leader in assisting clients with problems related to deceased credit reports. We have an entire team devoted to helping consumers who are having problems with credit reports and background checks. That team is led by attorney E. Michelle Drake, and includes team members Hans Lodge, John Albanese, and Joe Hashmall.

Our team has devoted their careers to helping consumers. We understand how frustrating it can be to have false information included on your credit report or background check, and that’s why we’re going to help you.

Deceased Credit Report FAQs

Why does my credit report say I am deceased?
If your credit report says you are deceased, it is often due to a mistake by one of the big three credit reporting bureaus (Experian, Equifax, or Transunion) or one of the companies that provides data to the credit reporting bureaus, such as credit card companies. Mistakes can happen when these companies mix up your name with another consumer or due to clerical errors that are not fixed. Sometimes, the error originates with the Social Security Administration. 

What will happen if Equifax, Experian, or Transunion reports me as deceased?
If a credit reporting bureau reports you as deceased, they will not give you a credit score. The result is that you will not be able to obtain any new credit, meaning you will likely be rejected for any new loan, mortgage, or credit card you apply for. Those who receive benefits, such as pension payments, may also be left in a situation where those monthly payments are stopped. Companies may believe that you are using a stolen identity and you may be unable to obtain free copies of your credit report at https://www.annualcreditreport.com. This error does not usually fix itself. You must take action to correct it. 

What should I do if I have been reported as deceased?
You should act quickly to correct the error if you have been mistakenly reported as dead on your credit report by one or more of the big three credit bureaus. While you may be able to navigate the complex process of disputing the error on your own, you should contact a lawyer to assist with the process to ensure that your rights are protected throughout and that you are getting everything that you are due because of this damaging mistake. If you decide to dispute the error on your own, it is important that you do so by certified mail only. If you use online forms provided by the credit bureaus, you may inadvertently waive some of your rights, including your right to pursue compensation in court.

Can I sue if I am mistakenly reported as deceased on my credit report?
Yes, you may be able to sue under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Under the law, you may be entitled to compensation for actual harm (financial or emotional) and punitive damages, which punish the wrongdoer for their bad conduct. You may also have your attorneys’ fees paid for. An attorney will help you seek compensation for any financial harm caused by the error, such as being rejected for any credit or loan applications or if your monthly benefits or pension payments are delayed or stopped.

How much does a lawyer cost?
At Berger Montague, you won’t owe us any money out-of-pocket from the first phone call to the end of the lawsuit. We don’t get paid unless we secure compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation regarding how to remove the deceased marker from your credit report.

How do I inform the credit bureau that I am alive?
Each credit bureau has its own dispute process; however, it is best to dispute inaccurate information by certified mail and to not use online forms or email, as you may unintentionally waive your legal rights by doing so. Contacting an attorney that specializes in deceased credit reports will help ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process.

What should I do if the Social Security Administration (SSA) reports me as dead?
If the SSA reports you as dead, a “deceased indicator” will be applied to your entire credit report and will have dramatic repercussions. It is therefore important to correct the error promptly. You can do this by taking originals of documents such as your birth certificate, passport, social security card, or license to your local SSA office and informing them that you are not dead. While you are at the SSA office, you should request a letter from the SSA stating that you are not deceased. This letter can be used as proof that you are alive if it is necessary to dispute a deceased marker with lenders or with Experian, Equifax, or Transunion.

How do I find out if I have been wrongly reported as deceased? 
Usually people find out that they have been reported as dead when they apply for a credit card or a loan and are rejected, or get a notice from the administrator of their monthly benefits that their benefits will not be distributed. If you are rejected for credit, the lender is required to inform you of the reason for your rejection. You can and should request a copy of your credit report from the lender. You may be able to obtain a free copy of your credit report from https://www.annualcreditreport.com, but sometimes people who have been mistakenly reported as deceased are unable to obtain their reports from this website.

Do I need to freeze or place a fraud alert on my credit if I am reported as deceased?
While placing a credit freeze on a loved one’s credit after they pass is important to prevent fraud, you do not need to take this step if you are mistakenly reported as deceased. Instead, you should pursue the dispute process to correct the error after consulting with an attorney.

Deceased Credit Report FAQs

What’s involved with fixing the deceased indicator?

We start with a free, initial consultation to learn about your deceased credit report and how it has affected you. We will gather all the relevant documentation and work with the credit bureaus, your creditors, and anyone else necessary to get your credit report fixed. We will keep you informed at each step along the way.

What’s the value of my case?

Being misreported as dead has such a devastating impact on consumers’ finances. These cases can be resolved for significant amounts, especially if you have been denied a mortgage, loan, job, apartment, or other benefits as a result of being reported as dead by one of the Big 3 bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. We have resolved numerous cases involving deceased credit reports.

What is a deceased indicator?

A deceased indicator is how the Big 3 credit bureaus refer to the notation on your credit report that you are deceased/dead. Some of the credit bureaus also have a Fraud Alert (also called IDVision or Identity Scan depending on the bureau) that will appear on your credit report.

Why are only one of the major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) reporting me as deceased, while the others are saying I am alive?

There are many ways this can happen. The different credit reporting agencies have different procedures for obtaining and matching data, so one may match you with someone reported as dead to the Social Security Administration, but the others may not. Not all lenders and creditors report to all bureaus either, so if a creditor is falsely reporting you as deceased, that creditor may report to only one bureau and not the others.

What is the “X” in the account status?

A deceased indicator can also appear as an “X” in the “account status” field on a tradeline sent from a creditor to the credit bureau. Depending on what version of your report you are viewing—one provided to you by the bureaus or one provided by the bureaus or a reseller to an end-user, your report might have an “X” on it, or it might say “deceased” or something similar. Our experienced attorneys can help you gather all the relevant documents and sort out who is reporting what so the problem can be solved once and for all.

Is someone stealing my identity and reporting me as dead?

It is possible. Many false reports that a consumer is deceased result from errors by the bureaus and creditors, but occasionally the error is the result of someone trying to fraudulently claim social security benefits.

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