Social Security Administration (SSA) mismatches

Sometimes, the SSA’s Death Master File contains errors. If a person with a similar name or Social Security number dies, the wrong record might be flagged — and that bad data trickles down to creditors and credit bureaus.

Furnisher mistakes

Banks, credit card companies, and other furnishers might miscode an account as “deceased” after a phone call, misread documentation, or confuse joint-account holders.

Credit bureau processing errors

When bureaus receive death notifications from furnishers or other sources, they may apply the “deceased” indicator to the wrong consumer file — especially if identifying information is incomplete or similar across multiple people.

Data entry and system glitches

A single mis-keyed digit in a Social Security number, date of birth, or account code can convince an automated system that you’re dead.

Poor dispute handling

When consumers try to correct these errors, some bureaus and furnishers fail to investigate properly. Instead of thoroughly checking, they may rely on automated systems and canned responses.

1. Your credit file appears “blocked” or inaccessible because the system thinks you’re dead.
2. Attempts to pull your report for loans, housing, or employment fail or return strange results.

1. One or more credit cards, loans, or other accounts show a deceased notation, even though you’re alive and still responsible for the debt (or current on payments).
2. Joint accounts incorrectly marked as closed for death, harming the surviving account holder’s credit.

1. You receive notices suggesting the SSA has you listed as deceased.
2. Creditors rely on SSA data without verifying your actual status.

1. A bureau or creditor partially removes a deceased notation but leaves behind confusing or negative remarks.
2. Some bureaus correct their files, while others keep reporting you as deceased.

1. Bureaus and furnishers insist their information is correct, even after you provide proof that you’re alive.
2. You receive repetitive, unhelpful letters instead of meaningful corrections.

Accurate reporting

Consumer reports must be as accurate and complete as reasonably possible. Marking a living person as deceased is a serious inaccuracy.

Notice of adverse action

If you’re denied credit, housing, insurance, or a job based on information in a report, you’re generally entitled to an adverse action notice that explains which CRA supplied the report and outlines your rights.

Access to your reports

You can request copies of your credit reports and, in many cases, other consumer reports (like background or tenant reports) to see what’s being reported about you.

Dispute and investigation

You can dispute information you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or not yours. Credit bureaus and, where appropriate, furnishers must conduct a reasonable investigation within a set time period.

Correction or deletion

If information can’t be verified or is found to be incorrect (like a false deceased notation), it should be corrected or removed — not left on your reports.

Compensation and enforcement

If credit bureaus or furnishers willfully or negligently violate the FCRA, you may be entitled to actual damages (including emotional distress), statutory damages in some cases, punitive damages, and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs.

For consumers

You tell us what happened—denials, messages stating you're "deceased," or accounts wrongly marked as death claims—upload your credit reports, SSA or creditor notices, dispute letters, and responses, and we match you with licensed consumer-law attorneys who handle deceased-reporting and FCRA cases in your state.

For partners

Mortgage and real estate professionals, HR firms, credit-repair services, auto dealers, financial advisors, and other partners who often spot deceased-reporting errors first can refer clients through Leadia instead of turning them away, and can track referrals and earn rewards when qualifying cases move forward with attorneys.

For everyone

Our focus is making it easy to connect the right cases with the right lawyers quickly, and most attorneys in our network work on contingency, so clients typically pay no upfront legal fees.