My wife and I have been married for 5 years. She has been divorced from her ex-husband for 10 years. Experian and Equifax have recognized her new married name but Transunion has refused to do so. Her credit reports are sent to her using her ex-husband’s surname.

We have used the dispute process to send several requests telling Transunion that she no longer goes by that name and ask that her credit information not be co-mingled with her ex-husband anymore. Their response is that we must take the issue up with her creditors. She has only one entry on her credit report. It was for a joint credit card she held with her ex. The account has been closed for 5 years and the credit card company has not made any other updates regarding this account since the closing. I don’t think the credit card company cares that she has remarried or would have any reason to tell Transunion about it even if they knew.

We haven’t reached the point yet where we have to validate our marriages with credit card or credit reporting companies yet, have we? With only one entry on her credit report for an account that is closed, she has no creditors to contact. She wants no further contact with her ex and this is the last remaining link. There are possible safety issues involved. We’ve tried Transunion’s dispute process to no avail. How should we proceed in our dealings with Transunion regarding my wife’s legal identity?

We shouldn’t be forced to apply for credit that we don’t need or want either. Because these agencies have been granted monopoly-like power over our financial lives, they have certain obligations to the public. I’m trying to find out what they are and whether this is the kind of thing the FTC would handle for me in the form of a complaint. We’ve already signed up for the class action lawsuit against them for their alleged inaccurate and illegal reporting standards. I’m tired of asking them to do what the other 2 agencies have already done. I have plenty of time on my hands and I’m willing to devote it to making their lives miserable over this issue. I just need to know where to start. If you have Netflix, check out a movie called “Maxxed Out”. It will open your eyes as to what these agencies are really up to.