[ericschand]

So I go to a bunch of banks and a broker looking for a HELOC.

All come back with the same thing. My credit score is blank.
As in no score. They've only seen this on people who are new
to the country.

Considering I have a 10 year old mortgage, I'm not new I tell them.

But, alas, they won't give me the line of credit.
They all suggest I talk with Equifax.

So, I phone Equifax. They say they won't talk to me until I pay
$24 online and open an account. So, I go and do it. (Although I
don't understand why I should have to pay for them to fix their
mistake)

I try to buy it online, but it rejects my credit card. The same card I
use everyday to pay for parking and other stuff. The same card
I just used today.

I phone their help line.

The guy now says to fax him a copy of my credit card, SIN card, drivers
license, and a cover letter stating my SIN number, birthdate and
that I want a credit report.

Wait a sec...now alarms are going off. Everything they have asked for
suggests identity theft. So, I should just send all this info to this
company called "Equifax" and trust nothing bad will happen?!?
The whole thing just stinks of scam.

Anyone got any other suggestions on how to fix my predicament?

ers