If you’ve moved, lost your old address, or changed your name, it’s easy to get confused about whether or not you need to verify your home address. The answer? It depends! There are several reasons people should verify their home addresses and the circumstances under which they should do so.
In this article, we’ll explain those reasons and how best to decide when and if address verification is appropriate for you, and then we’ll walk through how to verify an address on your own.
You moved to a new town.
The first thing you’ll need to do when you move is to notify your bank and utility providers of your new address. Once that’s done, it’s time to inform the post office. All you have to do is fill out a change of address form online or visit your local post office with some identification, and they’ll take care of the rest.
It might take up to five days before the mail arrives at your new address, but don’t worry. They’ll send you a notice letting you know when they start delivering again.
Your rent or mortgage is under a different name.
If you rent or own a home, and the name of your landlord or property owner is different from yours, you can verify your address online. You can also do this in person at post offices and other government buildings with automated teller machines (ATMs).
If you prefer not to visit a branch office directly, many phone numbers will let you speak with someone who can help you walk through the process over the phone.
You have a post office box, use a mailbox service, or receive mail at another address.
Some people use a post office box or mailbox service as their address. If this is the case, you can verify the information on your document by contacting the company that provides your PO Box or mailbox service directly.
They will be able to tell you whether or not they are willing to provide any additional information about verifying your home address and how much it will cost them to do so.
You’re experiencing identity theft.
If you think that someone has stolen your identity, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if you think someone has stolen your identity. The FTC can help you file a complaint and close fraudulent accounts. You might also get a copy of your credit report, which the three major credit reporting bureaus administer.
This way, you can check for any unauthorized activity on your account or report it before it becomes too late to do anything about it. You can also contact each bureau directly if there’s been fraud in connection with them. In other words, if someone opened an account using information from one agency but not another!
You need to change your address with official records
You need to change your address with the post office. You need to change your address with the IRS. In some cases, you may also have to update your address with a credit bureau or other entity that provides information about you and others in the form of reports or other documents.
For example, if you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime that requires reporting by law enforcement agencies, then those agencies will request an updated criminal history report from these companies so they can confirm your identity before releasing any records they hold on you as part of their investigations into possible wrongdoing.
Finally, there are some government agencies whose primary purpose is collecting taxes but who also require updating contact information when necessary. Even if it isn’t directly explicitly related at all times, just because someone has moved into town doesn’t mean they don’t need this kind!
You need to recognize who’s sending you mail.
If the sender of your mail is someone you don’t know and have never interacted with, it’s best to throw out that envelope or magazine without opening it. This could be a scammer trying to steal personal information from you or some other type of identity theft.
Don’t give them any information; just throw the letter away! If, however, and this is rare, you recognize who’s sending out this correspondence, then feel free to contact them directly via phone or email before opening up their mail further.
If you need to decide whether to verify your address, prove it anyway!
You should verify your address, even if you think it’s correct. The first time you apply for a job or credit card, the company will run a background check on your name and other details.
Suppose they find out that there are any discrepancies between what’s on file and what you want to use as your legal name. In that case, they can reject your application outright and sometimes even arrest people using fake identities.
Conclusion
If you need to decide whether you should verify your address, prove it anyway! It’s always a good idea to do so. You’ll save time, money, and headaches in the long run.
