Organizing Your Identity Theft Recovery Case
Becoming a victim of identity theft is a scary time for any consumer. You are not sure where to turn or even what steps you have to take in order to recover. The process can be long, painful and costly. Most consumers that are recovering from identity theft will find that they have to miss work and put in long hours in order to get results. Here we discuss how to organize your recovery case so that the process goes as smooth as possible.
Your Case Log
When you are first starting out in the recovery process, you can be a bit disorganized. This is why creating a case log can be an essential tool to help make the process a little less chaotic. Your case log should be a chronological journal and should be kept in a booklet or file folder. It should include items such as:
- Dated Log – Here you will note dates and times of everyone you speak to and every correspondence you receive.
- Journal – Your journal should contain details about who you spoke to, when you spoke to them and what was discussed.
- Agreements and Discussions Confirmations – No matter what is said over the phone, you must follow it up with writing. Request that the people you speak to also mail anything that was stated in writing. This can include agreements to remove items from your credit report, sending documentation, etc.
- Summary of Case – Every month you should write a short summary of the case and discuss what has gone on so far.
Your Restitution Log
In the event your identity thief is caught, you will be able to request from the court that you are paid for any losses and damages due to the recovery process. You should note that you cannot just show up to the court with random number amounts and expect them to reimburse you. You have to have documented proof of the items you are requesting. In order to do so you need to document items such as:
- Recovery Costs – This should record every penny you spend on the recovery process and be followed up with receipts. This includes even something as simple as copies. Track phone calls, lost wages, notarizing fees, postage, mileage, and even books you purchased in order to recover from identity theft. As long as you have receipts or invoices, you will be able to claim them.
- Time Spent – A lot of consumers that are recovering from identity theft to do not realize that you can be paid for the time spent recovering. The time you spend is considered an investment. Create a log book simply for the time spent and detail it out by what you were doing when you spent that time.
- Arrest and Court Fees – If for some reason you were arrested or even brought to court for these fraudulent charges, you can ask for restitution in those cases as well. Document all money and time spent clearing your name as well as what the charges were for.
Recovering from identity theft is a difficult time for any consumer. There is a lot of work that is put into your recovery process and often it feels like you are getting nowhere. Always remember that there are programs in place to help consumers recover in the event they fall victim to identity thieves. You can purchase self-help books and once the identity thief is caught you can sue for restitution of all of the costs you incurred to recover.