Family legacies can feel impossible to live up to, especially if you’re named after your father or one in a line of many with the same name. That pressure can be challenging enough—so what do you do when your dad’s credit impacts your credit report because you both have the same name?
What happens when you apply for a car loan, a job, or a mortgage, and you’re denied for delinquency that isn’t actually yours? Unfortunately, there’s a high likelihood that one of the credit reporting agencies accidentally associated your father’s bankruptcy, delinquency, or another negative credit factor, with your name.
How Did Your Dad’s Credit and Yours Get Mixed?
Now you may be asking yourself, how did this happen? When you work hard to keep your credit score high, it can be devastating to find out that it is lower than it should be due to something outside your control.
The unfortunate truth is that the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Transunion, and Experian) are notorious for these sorts of errors. When two people share the same name that is only distinguished by “Junior” and “Senior” (often abbreviated “Jr” and “Sr”), there’s greater room for error.
Credit reporting agencies use software that matches the information that creditors provide with current accounts. That software can easily make mistakes.
Is It Possible to Fix This?
The good news is that it is possible to fix the mistake that’s taken place. The bad news? It’s not always easy. You will have to file a dispute with the agency that has the inaccurate information and provide documentation to support your claim.
How Can You Help Avoid Mixed Files in The Future?
One of the simplest strategies you can use to help prevent your father’s information from being mixed with yours is to enter your information in the same way consistently. Don’t use “Patrick Michael Smith Jr” on some applications and “Pat Michael Smith Junior” on others. Pick one format and stick with it. Another option is to add a consumer statement to your report which explains that you and your father share names. While this doesn’t keep mixed files from occurring, it will be visible to any company or individual who pulls your credit report.