Protecting your child from identity theft

Dear Audrey,

I have had two incidences in which collection agencies are sending bills in my daughter's name. What legal recourse do I have when minors are involved? The child is nine. Please help.

Carolyn B.

Dear Carolyn,

You definitely have legal recourse if you think that someone is using your daughter's identity fraudulently. The first step you should take is to gather as much information as you can about the accounts and your daughter's credit profile. Contact the collectors, order her credit report and talk to the credit reporting agencies. Use this information to determine your next step. If it is a simple case of the collector mistaking her for someone else, it should be easily resolved. If it is a case of identity theft, work with the credit reporting agencies and the police to stop the theft. 

After this initial incident is resolved, you should monitor your daughter's financial information by checking her credit data with the credit reporting agencies at least once a year. You can also work with the credit reporting agencies to lock her credit data until she is old enough to open credit accounts in her own name.

Best wishes,
Audrey O'Dell