My lending officer told me that the underwriting is asking for my SS card because they discovered that recently my credit has been pulled twenty times. I am suprised because I only authorized two lenders to pull it, but apparently when I apply for online mortgage using lendingtree.com, many lenders may pull it without my knowledge?

The problem is I cannot find my SS card, not sure where it went. I tried to contact the lender and ask them if something else can be used as a substitute...passport? driver's license? SS statements? bank statements? W2 forms? many things have my name and SSN on it...why SS card? I don't carry it around and I think it may be filed somewhere or in my bank's safe deposit box. They need it urgently and I am not sure what to do now if I don't have it, closing is next week.

Thanks,

PF

If they insist on you having a physical card then you should immediately go to your local Social Security office and pay a small fee for a reissuance. They will give you a temporary printout on the spot. You should receive the official SS card in the mail within 10 working days. In the meantime, hopefully they can cross-reference your printout with a valid photo ID.

I had a few lenders that have requested these conditions and we were able to go through those steps.

some lenders do require this information upfront as part of the patriot act. Most will allow you to provide this at closing along with a copy of your recent drivers liscense. I believe the lenders that require it upfront are just operating under overkill, but it's thier choice, and I am in favor of the patriot act.

Thanks I did find them in my safe deposit box and was able to get it to them. So situation is resolved.

I was just curious why they needed it, they have my tax return, my bank statements, my W2, they have countless other things with my SSN and name on it already and the SS card is not even pictured. I asked my lending officer and she says the underwriter asked for it and she couldn't explain it.

PF

***I was just curious why they needed it, they have my tax return, my bank statements, my W2, they have countless other things with my SSN and name on it already and the SS card is not even pictured. I asked my lending officer and she says the underwriter asked for it and she couldn't explain it.
***

I've worked in banks before, and sometimes when credit reports are pulled there are SSN numbers transposed or accidental placements of the wrong SSNs assigned to the wrong consumers. Seeing the card issued by the SSA with the name printed on it is the best way to ensure that the SSA issued THIS number to THIS person.
--A

but apparently when I apply for online mortgage using lendingtree.com, many lenders may pull it without my knowledge


That would account for 4 - 9 credit pulls. If you applied online anywhere else, I guarantee if you provided your SSN they pulled your credit as well.

The lender sees this as too many inquiries within a short period of time. It threw a red flag up to the underwriter.