Whose Life Is It Anyway?

About four years ago, I and a friend were robbed at gunpoint leaving the Washington, D.C. club Love. It was Howard Homecoming time, the club was located near the projects, we shouldn’t have parked where we did … you can guess what happened next. I wasn't really afraid.  The second I got back to my friend’s hotel room, I called my mom. I said, “Mama, I just got jacked at gunpoint. Can you look in my room and grab my card info? I need to cancel these cards immediately.”

If you’re lucky bullets will heal in time. Your credit score after someone steals your info – not so much. You’ll probably be in heaven by the time it’s above 700 again. That's why I felt so bad for our reader, Chanel, who can now add her name to the growing list of people whose identity has been stolen. She sent me an email to [email protected] about how becoming a victim of identity theft hurt her career chances. Here's her story:

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"I left a job in Atlanta when the company I worked for began to downsize.  I didn't lose my job but when several co-workers were laid-off I was forced to do their work.  Consequently, I came back to Los Angeles, partly because the stress from work made living with no family nearby unbearable and partly to pursue my dream as a writer.

Soon after I arrived home, I was offered a great job through a trusty connection.  It's not writing fiction, but it was an amazing opportunity.  One catch: The position required a background check.  To my horror, while renewing my California driver's license I was informed that I not only had a ticket (dated during the time I was living in Atlanta), but a "failure to appear."  I learned that I had been a victim of identity theft. I went into hysteria. Not only had this person ruined my credit, they had gotten two traffic tickets using my identity.  Why would someone be so thoughtless with my future? 

I had only resolved the first ticket by mail months prior to moving back home.  With my background check in limbo I made two court appearances where I presented pay stubs from my old job to prove the ticket was issued to a fraud. After some time, by the grace of God, the second ticket was dismissed. 

I hope I wasn't too late.  I haven't heard much from my amazing opportunity lately. My background check was on hold for so long I'm not sure of my chances anymore.  Even though I explained my situation, the organization may now be entering a hiring freeze.  

With my family's support I am surviving the recession but my private loans haunt me from dawn till dusk.  Getting out of bed is the hardest. Looking at my credit score is the scariest.

I went to school in the AUC and I learned so much I smile everyday just thinking about it.  I do not regret my education but my private loans are a nightmare.  At this very moment I am pondering how I will ask my parents to make this month's loan payment.  I'm already living back at home — unemployed. 

I know that things are going to get much better so I just keep praying that day is tomorrow."

Chanel

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How often do you check your credit report for discrepancies? If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, how difficult has it been to restore your name?

Speak your peace in the comments section and email me at [email protected]. 

Michael Arceneaux hails from Houston, lives in Harlem and praises Beyoncé’s name wherever he goes. Follow him on Twitter.