The following report by Call 4 Action reporter Meghan Jones first aired Aug. 22, 2005, on Channel 4 Action News at 5:30 p.m.

---

What do you do if something on your credit report is not accurate? You dispute it, and it's resolved, right?

Well, maybe not.

The Federal Privacy Act of 2004 means only part of your Social Security number is given to credit reporting agencies.

The problem is that someone else may have the same numbers.

The situation can be really frustrating. The nine digits of a Social Security number are supposed to be unique.

However, I may have, or you may have, the same last four digits. One Latrobe man found that having that similarity can cause a lot of problems.

Patrick Dailey has spent a lot of time and money remodeling his kitchen. He wanted to start phase 2 of renovations with a new credit card.

After being denied twice, he received a letter telling him the reason for denial was bankruptcy.

"I've never been bankrupt. I've never had any financial problems," said Dailey.

He was puzzled, and received a copy of his credit report.

Under "negative items," the report stated a Sears credit card was discharged in bankruptcy.

He called both the credit reporting agency and Sears, and finally got an answer.

"That person has the last same four digits of my Social Security number. So, that's a reflection on my credit -- erroneously, really," explained Dailey.

We talked to Cindy Dougan a few months ago. The same thing happened to her.

They are both victims of the Privacy Act of 2004.

The law is designed to protect your Social Security number. It requires agencies, like courts, to only identify you by the last four digits of your social security number.

"They should have looked a little bit further to make sure that was the same person, but they didn't," said Dailey.

Dailey has been unable to straighten out the mix-up.

"I wouldn't have wanted to take my blood pressure that day when I was on the phone seven hours. I spent seven hours on the phone, and it's still pending, and I'm pretty angry about it because I know I can't be the only one this is happening to," said Dailey.

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy has offered to help Dailey clear up his credit report. It's important to point out that some credit reporting agencies use more than your Social Security number to verify your information.