How do you find out if your child's identity has compromised? It's not easy and, unfortunately, a minor's credit report can't be checked online. Technically, minors aren't allowed to enter into binding contracts and aren't supposed to have existing, online credit reports. It's further complicated because the thief often applies for new lines of credit using only a child's Social Security number, but not the corresponding name or birth date.
Given this scenario, it is possible for a thief to use your child's name and Social Security number, but a different birthday to open a line of credit. Then, when you attempt to pull an online credit report, instead of being told the report is unavailable because it is affiliated with a minor, you might be told the report is unavailable to you -- likely because all the other identifying characteristics belong to someone who is not your child. This explains why parents using online searches might be told that the credit report is unavailable or the minor is ineligible to receive a credit report.
To get a copy of your child's credit report, parents need to make a request in writing from each of the three credit reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. It is important to ask that a search include the Social Security number -- not just the child's name and birth date. Again, this is because thieves commonly use the Social Security numbers and then create a new name and an adult birth date. Be warned, such a request requires you to send the agencies a copy of every piece of information that someone would need to steal your own identity. For example, if you want to order your child's report from Experian, you need to provide birth certificates for both you and your child and copies of your Social Security cards. And, because many instances of child identity theft are brokered by a parent or guardian, the credit reporting agency may still be wary.
"You go to annualcreditrereport.com and request a report and put in their age and you'll get back instructions on how to write for the report," says Maxine Sweet, vice president of public education for Experian, one of the three dominant credit reporting agencies. At credit reporting bureau TransUnion, parents can send a special e-mail request to the agency. TransUnion then investigates to see if there is a credit file in the child's name. If so, then the parent will be invited to send in more information so they can obtain a copy of the file. If there is no credit file, then the parent will receive an e-mail stating there is no credit file.
The agency is not deluged with requests for the credit reports of minors, says TransUnion spokesman Steve Katz. "Unless you have a pretty strong suspicion, there isn't going to be a file to check," he says. "Once we confirm that it is a minor and what the situation is, we would go ahead and suppress that file so that it wasn't in any way accessible for use."
Equifax has nearly the same method. Parents should write in with all the important copies of birth documents, Social Security cards and birth certificates or proof of guardianship, plus proof of address (via a bill of some sort) and then Equifax will look up the information. It is best to determine if there is a potential problem before asking to check your child's credit file. For example, if your child gets credit card offers in the mail or odd phone calls, if there is theft of a school district computer, or if there are unauthorized magazine subscriptions or even a phone bill in the child's name, be warned. At this point, experts say, order the report. "If they're not a victim of identity theft, they should not have credit," Foley says. "The credit report begins when your first credit card is opened."
Parents can also purchase credit monitoring services for their children. These agencies monitor activity related to the Social Security number, not necessarily the child's name. If they find activity, they can then warn the parent. However, these services often have no way of monitoring if a cell phone, Sam's Club or electricity account has been opened. And, experts warn parents to verify the legitimacy of the credit monitoring service before signing up.
