Well, we all know how reliable credit reporting agencies can be (not!).

I needed to download a transcript of my 2018 tax return.  In order for the IRS to verify my identity, the online app asked for information based on my credit history.

After answering the questions perfectly (I have a not-too-old credit report in front of me), I failed three different times.  After 3 failed attempts, you have to wait 24 hours to try again, and there is nobody you can contact to discuss the problem.   

After waiting a day, I tried again.  Same results.

The next night, I tried again (same behavior expecting different results  ).  Still, nada.

So, I decided to request my free credit reports for this year to make sure the verification questions still had the same answers.  Lo and behold, only Trans Union produced a report.  Both Experian and Equifax said my information didn't match their records. 

So, I followed the AnnualCreditReport.com instructions and snail-mailed copies of my identity documentation. 

That resulted in a letter on Friday from Equifax and another today from Experian.  Equifax asked for the same exact info I sent AnnualCreditReport.   

Experian, though, sent a report -- with zero accounts reporting!      All it contained was my name, address, birthday, and SSAN last four.

I called Experian, and the guy I  called verified no credit accounts, open or closed, existed.  He came up with "we delete positive reports after 10 years," and "you should request your current creditors report to Experian in addition to any other agencies."  Neither suggestion was relevant. 

I called back with a 2017 Experian report in front of me that I ran in Jan that year.  With the 2017 and 2020 report numbers, the second guy actually did more than explain how it's not their problem.  After 10 minutes on hold, he said the problem is a known issue with some accounts.  It's a problem created when they upgraded and migrated their account profiles, and it should be resolved in 3-5 days (less than the 2 months the IRS would take to send my return, I'm sure).

ANYWAY, now that I know there is a problem with some number of Experian members, I thought I'd pass this along.  If you haven't taken advantage of your free reports lately, it might be a good time to make sure you are not in the same boat.

I was nervous someone had screwed with my identity and mucked up my credit history (not that my ex would ever do anything like that!   ).

Maybe I should have taken "you don't have any open accounts" as an opportunity to stop making payments?   

I guess I'm lucky this hasn't been a Twilight Zone episode ... "According to our records, the person with this account died last month."   

Update:

Equifax sent the report via USPS.  So, I have NO IDEA why the online form said my answers didn't match their records.  It's obvious everything they have on me is correct, yet I had to take extra steps, just like with Experian, to get my report.

The Experian rep said to call Friday to make sure everything was corrected with my profile.

Not holding my breath!

I may have run into something like your experience trying to gat a veterans ID card online for discount stuff.

They immediately dumped to me on some site wanting all kinds of personal financial and other info that might have been equifax. 

I said Faruque this crap.

I may have run into something like your experience trying to gat a veterans ID card online for discount stuff.

They immediately dumped to me on some site wanting all kinds of personal financial and other info that might have been equifax. 

I said Faruque this crap.

Yep.  That's exactly why I posted this -- not just to vent.

I figure if others are in the same boat, they may have already have noticed and can see others are, too.  If they haven't noticed, it might be a good idea to request their reports to see before they unexpectedly hit that wall.

Final follow-up:

After calling on Monday last week to report the problem, and following up as requested on Friday, I was told the problem wasn't fixed.  They said I should wait until Monday.  If not fixed, I should then elevate it to a supervisor.  Being it was Friday when I called, there were no supervisors on duty.   

So, I gave them all of Monday to get it fixed and called Tuesday.  Still no credit accounts under my name.

They elevated to a supervisor, who said she would submit the request again and call me when it was fixed.  I figured a few more days of waiting at least.

The supervisor called the very next day!  She said all was fixed, but it might take as long as 24 hours to be available online.  So I waited until today to try the IRS site again.

Lo and behold, I created my IRS account this morning and downloaded my transcripts for the last 3 years.

Obviously, the IRS was only keying off the Experian database, so that was the culprit.  I entered the last 8 digits of a credit card (which failed numerous times before), and it "took" immediately this time.

Case closed.

Hopefully this helps someone else.  Don't wait until you're under the gun to get something done.  Check your free annual reports now.  It might prevent stress later.