Monday, July 3, 2017

To Protect Your Credit, Place a Fraud Alert with Credit Reporting Company


Three national credit reporting companies keep records of your credit history. If someone has misused your personal or financial information, call (or write) one of the companies and ask for an initial fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert is free. You must provide proof of your identity. The company you call (or write) must tell the other companies about your alert.
An initial fraud alert can make it harder for an identity thief to open more accounts in your name. When you have an alert on your report, a business must verify your identity before it issues credit, so it may try to contact you. The initial alert stays on your report for at least 90 days. You can renew it after 90 days. It allows you to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting companies. Be sure the credit reporting companies have your current contact information so they can get in touch with you.Fraud Alerts
If you see something on your credit report that could be identity theft, you can place a fraud alert on your report. Here's what to do:  Notify at least one of the CRC's fraud units that you are a victim of identity theft. A call or letter to one will alert the other two. Say or write you want to flag your file with a fraud alert.
1. Experian: 1-888-397-3742, 1-855-246-9409
P.O. Box 9701 Allen, TX 75013
Contact us by phone - Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in your time zone.
2. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, 1-888-766-0008
P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta GA 30348
3. TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

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