Debt types
Utility & Telecom Debt
These debts are often small-dollar and handled in bulk, which means identity verification is sometimes weaker than it should be. If a utility or phone bill in collections isn't actually yours, there's a specific process for that.
If the debt isn't yours
15 U.S.C. §1692e(8)
A collector may not report or threaten to report credit information it knows or should know is false — including failing to note that a debt is disputed.
15 U.S.C. §1681s-2(a)(6)(B)
Once a consumer submits an identity theft report, the furnisher may not continue reporting the disputed information to credit bureaus, unless it later learns the information is actually correct.
- Pull all three credit reports and check the exact account number and provider against what you actually have.
- If it's not your account, file a report at identitytheft.gov and provide it to the furnisher in writing.
- Dispute with both the credit bureau and the furnisher directly — see Credit Bureau Disputes for the full process.