A credit report is a listing of a person's credit history. Most people do not have a credit history until they are adults and have opened their first consumer account in the form of a credit card or an auto or home loan. The most common reason for a minor child--one that is under 18 years of age--to have a credit history, is if the child has been the target of an identity thief. If you think your child may have had her identity stolen--by getting calls or mail from collection agencies or creditors--you can request her credit report from the three main reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion and EquiFax.
Step 1
Make copies of your minor child's birth certificate and social security card. This information is required by the credit bureaus to confirm your child's identity. The Identity Theft Resource Center explains that thieves may choose another name and address to use for accounts they open under your child's name, so searching by a unique identifier such as a social security number can be more effective. You will need three copies, one for each agency, and may want to make a fourth for your records.
Step 2
Provide information that verifies your identity as a parent or legal guardian of the minor child in question. Photocopy your driver's license or state-issues identification card, a credit card statement or utility bill that shows your current address, and if applicable, papers that prove you are guardian of the child. This may include divorce decrees, custody agreements or other appropriate paperwork.
Step 3
Write letters, one to each credit reporting company, requesting your minor child's credit report due to the suspicion or knowledge that an identify theft is in process. Include your child's full name and date of birth, as well as the paperwork you have copied. CreditCards.com provides a checklist of the information required by TransUnion, Experian and Equifax, as well as their mailing addresses (see Resources).
Step 4
Consider placing a security freeze, also called a credit freeze, on your child's credit records after you have received his credit report. The South Dakota Office of Attorney General explains that a security freeze on a minor child's account can hamper the attempts of thieves who try to open new consumer accounts in the child's name. Credit history information becomes unavailable to potential lenders during a freeze, and reduces the likelihood that credit will be issued to new borrowers.
Things You'll Need
- Birth certificate
- Social security card
- Driver's license or state-issued ID
- Proof of residency
- Proof of custody
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