What is a "Mixed File" account?

What is a "Mixed File" account?

This is a fairly common problem where the credit reporting agencies take your file and “mix” or “combine” it with someone else who has a similar name, address, and/or social security number.

The problem, of course, is you now have accounts or trade lines on your credit report that do not belong to you. Even if they are all paid on time, the balances still show up and can affect your ability to get a loan. The most dangerous problem, of course, is that if the other person has delinquent accounts, this can dramatically damage your credit report and score.

The best way to diagnose this problem is to pull your credit reports for free. You can go to the website www.annualcreditreport.com or download the free request form and mail it in. Then carefully review all accounts to make sure that each account is really yours. If there is an account that is not yours, there are several possibilities:

1. It is yours and you have just forgotten it. Normally, when you see it in writing that will remind you if it is yours.
2. It is yours but the name has changed. Banks merge and change names. A collection agency or debt buyer may have purchased your account. Normally the account numbers will be similar to what you had or the credit report will say who the original creditor is which will jog your memory.
3. It is not yours as you have become the victim of identity theft. Please review our pages on identity theft for how to handle this growing and dangerous problem.
4. It is not yours as you are the victim of the credit reporting agencies “mixing” your file with someone else.

If you have determined that the account is not yours, you need to dispute it with all the credit reporting agencies. Please refer to our dispute page for further details.

Mixed files can be and often are very frustrating as you lose your identity because of the incompetency of the credit reporting agencies but if you will properly dispute the problem, then you will either get it resolved or be in a position to file suit to force the credit reporting agencies to correct your credit and compensate you for your losses.