Identity Theft or How I Never Went to the Univ of Iowa

Saturday, August 12, 2006

School starts back in a week. I am having issues with financial aid department. And, these are issues that started 25 years ago.
When I was at Southeast, my mother called and asked me if I knew a David Blumstein. She was asking because the bank was stating that my social security number was coming up under this name. It was creating a tiny bit of havoc in getting a student loan at SEMO. Back then, it was fairly easy to straighten out and get my loan.
I might have been one of the first victims of identity theft. I hadn't much thought about it since it was so easy to straighten out. However, once David had so easily duped back in the early '80's, I guess it was easy for him later on.
Now, the financial aid department is refusing to "complete my application for aid" until I produce transcripts from the University of Iowa. It doesn't matter that I point out that I was not of age to attend college in 1982. I even ask if I should provide David's transcripts instead of mine, since his actually exist and mine do not. I even offer to provide my Ritenour transcripts that will show that I was NOT in Iowa at the time in question. Nope, they need all transcripts of all schools that appear under my social security number.
Fortunately, I have enough in scholarships to pay for my tuition. It is nice to have the student loan or work study to pay for books, supplies, and other misc student expenses.
Actually, financial aid is just part of the nightmare of this picture. Besides student loans there were credit cards, gas cards, even book/music-of-the-month clubs under my social. And, it all came to a head this year. I finally threw my hands up in the air and got a lawyer involved. What a mess.
I still don't have financial aid for the upcoming year. I am still not sure if I know of all the stuff that is out there (though I pull my credit report a few times since it has come to a head). I still am not sure if my lawyer's solution is the best solution; but, it beats losing the house. And, most importantly, I still never went to the University of Iowa.
posted by suzyjax on 8/12/2006 03:51:00 AM > 0 comments

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