Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated

As you know, our family has been dealing with all kinds of problems and pain over the past few months. I didn’t expect that we would have to deal with that curveball life through at us last week.  According to all the major credit agencies, I was the one who died in July.

How did this happen? Well, it all starts with a call to a student loan company in late July. I called in to report that Shawn Jr. had died.  The person on the phone told me they would report the issue and someone will get back with me. After two weeks of silence, I called back to check the status.  I was again told someone would get back with me.  Then last week I tried to use my American Express card at Taco Bell. The card was declined. I called in to the credit card company to check why the card was declined. To my surprise I was told that they had closed my account because the credit agency reported that I was deceased. I went onto the Internet and checked my FICO score - it was zero!  

I knew what had happened. I called the student loan company and they confirmed that they had inadvertently reported to the credit agencies that I was the one who had died.  This must have seemed like the right answer.  I was a cosigner on Shawn Jr.’s student loans. When I called in to say that Shawn Helms died, of course they would assume that the parent died and not the 21-year-old student (despite me providing the date of birth).  

I am in the process of getting this straightened out, but I am sure it is going to be a real challenge.  Oh well.