Should Children Have Credit Report?
Children and young adults under 18 should not have a credit report and score. There are a couple reasons they may have a credit report.
To find out if your child has one, simply go to the link below and look at their report free of charge.
If you can’t get the report from www.annualcreditreport.com, request your child’s credit report from the credit reporting agencies by writing to them.
If your child has no credit, great. But if you see some activity such as credit cards and auto loans, he or she is a victim of fraud. You need to gather the information below and write a letter to the three credit reporting agencies, preferably by registered mail.
- A copy of your driver’s license or other government-issued identification card
- Proof of your address, such as a utility bill or an insurance statement
- A copy of your child’s birth certificate
- A copy of your child’s Social Security card
In the event no credit report has been created for your child, bureaus will send a notice letting you know. If there is, one will be provided to you.
What if Your Child Has a Credit Repot?
- Notify the credit reporting agencies by mailing a letter with a completed copy of the Federal Trade Commission’s Uniform Minor’s Status Declarations Form.
- File a police report with your local police.
- Freeze your child’s credit file. Go to https://thecreditbureau.com/2019/11/how-to-freeze-your-credit-report/
- Keep an eye on your child’s credit file by going into www.annualcreditreport.com every year and run the report. The site is run by the United State’s government and provides one report for each agency once a year for free.
Question? Call us at 800-518-1077