Identity Theft Credit Repair
Finding accounts or inquiries you never authorized on your credit report is stressful. When identity theft shows up on your reports, you need a clear plan.
At Ignite Credit Group, we help you organize your documents, point you to the right official resources, and dispute fraudulent items with the credit bureaus. We're based in Miami, FL, and we work with clients across Florida.
First Steps if Your Identity Was Stolen
Start at IdentityTheft.gov, the Federal Trade Commission's official resource. There you can file a report and get a recovery plan. The FTC report you receive can serve as an Identity Theft Report, which unlocks important rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Next, protect your credit going forward:
Fraud alert. An initial fraud alert is free and lasts one year. It tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new credit. You only need to contact one bureau, and it will notify the other two. Identity theft victims with an Identity Theft Report can request a free extended fraud alert that lasts 7 years.
Credit freeze. A credit freeze is free at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It restricts access to your credit report so new accounts are harder to open in your name. You need to contact each bureau separately, and you can lift the freeze when you need to apply for credit.
You can also get free copies of your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com to see exactly what's being reported.
Blocking Fraudulent Information Under FCRA Section 605B
Section 605B of the FCRA gives identity theft victims a powerful tool. If you send a credit bureau an Identity Theft Report, proof of your identity, and a statement identifying the information that resulted from the theft, the bureau generally must block that information from your report.
A bureau can decline or rescind a block in limited cases, such as if it reasonably believes the request was made in error or contains a material misrepresentation. That's why clear, organized documentation matters.
How We Help with Identity Theft on Your Reports
We review your reports from all three bureaus line by line to identify accounts, inquiries, addresses, and other information that don't belong to you. Then we help you gather your FTC report and supporting documents and dispute fraudulent items that are inaccurate or unverifiable.
You can do every one of these steps yourself, for free. Filing at IdentityTheft.gov, placing fraud alerts and freezes, requesting 605B blocks, and disputing errors with the bureaus cost nothing. Some people simply prefer help keeping it organized.
Identity theft disputes apply only to information that resulted from the theft. Accurate accounts that are actually yours generally can stay on your report for up to 7 years if negative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a credit freeze hurt my credit score?
No. A credit freeze does not affect your credit scores.
Do I need a police report?
Not always. An FTC report from IdentityTheft.gov can generally serve as an Identity Theft Report. Some creditors may still ask for a police report, so check what each one requires.
Can you guarantee fraudulent accounts will be removed?
No. No company can guarantee the removal of any item. Outcomes depend on your documentation and on how bureaus and creditors respond.
Take the Next Step
Seeing accounts you don't recognize? Start with your free credit snapshot from MyFreeScoreNow. It's a soft inquiry with no credit card required. Then send us a message on our Contact page (/contact) and we'll talk through a personalized plan.
No company can guarantee specific results. We do not charge for credit repair until the promised results are achieved and shown on a credit report issued more than six months later. Required credit monitoring ($29.95/month) is billed separately by MyFreeScoreNow; Ignite Credit Group receives a $12.80 referral payment when you enroll.