didnt know any better

If you gave your phone number at sign up, a credit counselor should be calling you soon. They'll go over your options to help get you to your goals. You aren't obligated to use the company that calls you, you can check out a few other companies under the ranking chart as well, or any other company you want. Whoever you go with, make sure you research them--check with the BBB, use this site, contact you local consumer protection agency, etc... You need to make sure you aren't getting ripped off.

If you're having problems with collection agencies, we can probably be of help, but you'd have to share more details with us. In the meantime, you could send a cease and desist letter, return receipt, to the CAs, that restricts communications by them to via mail only. While you're at it, it might be a good idea to send a debt validation letter, too-make them prove they are authorized to collect the debt.

You may have noticed a forum for identity theft. If that happened to you, post your ID theft issues there. You should get a lot of good advice to help you clear up some fraudulent debts.

Welcome to the forums!

Many of us are in your shoes - so you are not alone here! We came here because we got involved with payday loans, or had debt and credit issues ourselves.

You will want to pull a copy of your current credit report from all three reporting bureaus to see what the damage is, if you haven't already.

You can obtain a free report once per year, or if you are denied credit, by going to http://www.annualcreditreport.com. There are no programs to sign up for or fees involved to print out your report. Review your report thoroughly, and if you find anything you think is the result of identity theft or fraud, you need to dispute it with the credit bureaus. That's a start!

The bureaus will activate a fraud alert on the item you dispute with them. If you have reported the fraudulent activities that happened in your credit to the local sheriff, show the affidavit to the bureau and make your case stronger. You should also call each creditor and explain about these incorrect accounts. They will verify the item and update it with the bureaus.

If you have not received anything in writing, you should aske them for an address so you can request validation of the debt and dispute it if it is not yours.

Also, go to annualcreditreportdotcom to get your free credit reports to check for fraudulent activity.