 TITLE: Does My Child Have a Credit Report? CONTENT: What to Do if Your Child Has a Credit Report\n--------------------------------------------\nIf your child has a credit report containing only accurate information, you don't have to do anything. Let the positivity build!\nOn the other hand, if your child's credit report comes back with evidence of fraud, take action:\n*   **Contact the credit reporting bureaus.** File a dispute. Include supporting documentation, and be clear that your child is a minor. Send a completed copy of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Uniform Minor's Status Declaration Form. Ask the bureau to remove all inquiries, accounts and collection agency notices from your child's credit report.\n*   **Report the crime.** You may file a police report, either over the phone or at your local station. Another way you can report the fraud is through IdentityTheft.gov, which takes the place of a police report. Your report will go directly to the FTC.\n*   **Freeze your child's credit file.** Whether you spot proof of fraud or not, you can have your child's credit report locked down with a credit freeze. Once in place, it prevents potential lenders from accessing a credit report, so it should prevent a crook from opening an account in your child's name.\nAlthough discovering that your child has been a victim of identity theft is scary and upsetting, clearing it up shouldn't take long. After all, it's hard to argue with a date of birth. To know whether fraudsters have already established credit in your child's name, consider using Experian's free minor report check. This free service will find out whether your child is associated with an Experian credit file, and will help you with resolution.\nAnd if you've chosen to give your child the gift of excellent credit data by sharing your credit card, wonderful. Just keep an eye on your child's credit report to ensure that the account is always being listed accurately and nothing amiss appears. Then when your child is no longer a minor and the report can be released, the history of that account will shine brightly. END