![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Have you done the 3 for 1 waltz?
See these web links? They are more important than you can imagine. Did you realize that your credit rating is now not only used for borrowing money or buying a car or house--it can be used by potential employers or landlords? LOTS of people are starting to use your credit rating--and you'd better make sure they're using the correct information.
http://www.experian.com/
http://www.equifax.com/
http://www.transunion.com/index.jsp
In the last month, two friends have been hit with identity theft. At its worse, it can screw up your life for years. They live in Texas and New Jersey, two of the top ten states most hit by identity theft. And one of the best things you can do to protect yourself is see credit reports from ALL the big three once a year, minimum.
I just ordered mine yesterday (TransUnion had the best rate for 3-1 plus my TransUnion Credit Score, for $29.95, an extra $4.95 for snail mail, and an extra fee for the other credit scores. The on-line version is up for 30 days, in a protected area, and you can print it. I don't need to borrow money right now, so I don't need to know the credit scores of the others...besides, from the info in the reports, I can guess.)
One of the credit agencies has some very minor errors that I will correct--the third has listed SIX credit cards that I no longer have as open (thus implying tied up credit) and still indicates I have an open mortgage! Which I don't. Half the "open" accounts were joint with my Ex--and this reporting agency lists my Ex's new house address as my previous address!
See why you need to check this stuff out occasionally? I made the mistake of only telling ONE company about my changes--apparently they don't all talk with each other.
And if you want to make it harder for someone to open accounts in your name?
A friend who works with the financial end of Dell Corporation says you can basically tell the three top credit reporting places that you want protection on your credit--in other words, you (yes, You) cannot take out a new card or arrange a huge new undertaking without informing the big three that yes, you have requested that MBA, for example, send you a credit card.
So, when you want to get a bunch of computer equipment from Dell, and you're a thief, the Dell person patiently waits for you to say, "Oh, I have to contact the big three and tell them I am arranging this purchase." Because the Dell person has already checked, and knows it's a protected name. She claims there is no down side to this, other than, for example, you can't walk into Limited and get a credit card on a whim.
Stops all those "Let us give you a credit card" apps that keep arriving in the mail, too.
Don't throw out bills without shredding--a clever thief can use them to get more info. (Private details on request, or ask![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kaygo--she took an interesting course on being a private detective.)
I've been thinking about doing this for a year, but was waiting to move. I've moved, no more thinking--I want to do wrap this up in next seven days.
http://www.experian.com/
http://www.equifax.com/
http://www.transunion.com/index.jsp
In the last month, two friends have been hit with identity theft. At its worse, it can screw up your life for years. They live in Texas and New Jersey, two of the top ten states most hit by identity theft. And one of the best things you can do to protect yourself is see credit reports from ALL the big three once a year, minimum.
I just ordered mine yesterday (TransUnion had the best rate for 3-1 plus my TransUnion Credit Score, for $29.95, an extra $4.95 for snail mail, and an extra fee for the other credit scores. The on-line version is up for 30 days, in a protected area, and you can print it. I don't need to borrow money right now, so I don't need to know the credit scores of the others...besides, from the info in the reports, I can guess.)
One of the credit agencies has some very minor errors that I will correct--the third has listed SIX credit cards that I no longer have as open (thus implying tied up credit) and still indicates I have an open mortgage! Which I don't. Half the "open" accounts were joint with my Ex--and this reporting agency lists my Ex's new house address as my previous address!
See why you need to check this stuff out occasionally? I made the mistake of only telling ONE company about my changes--apparently they don't all talk with each other.
And if you want to make it harder for someone to open accounts in your name?
A friend who works with the financial end of Dell Corporation says you can basically tell the three top credit reporting places that you want protection on your credit--in other words, you (yes, You) cannot take out a new card or arrange a huge new undertaking without informing the big three that yes, you have requested that MBA, for example, send you a credit card.
So, when you want to get a bunch of computer equipment from Dell, and you're a thief, the Dell person patiently waits for you to say, "Oh, I have to contact the big three and tell them I am arranging this purchase." Because the Dell person has already checked, and knows it's a protected name. She claims there is no down side to this, other than, for example, you can't walk into Limited and get a credit card on a whim.
Stops all those "Let us give you a credit card" apps that keep arriving in the mail, too.
Don't throw out bills without shredding--a clever thief can use them to get more info. (Private details on request, or ask
kaygo--she took an interesting course on being a private detective.)I've been thinking about doing this for a year, but was waiting to move. I've moved, no more thinking--I want to do wrap this up in next seven days.
no subject
Yeah, dumpster diving is one way that folks can root out information about you, so never put anything in your trash that you'd be reluctant to let a stranger get hold of. Shred or burn all credit card apps. Yup, Mr. Shredder is your friend.
I did the credit report check earlier this year. It's nice because you can access the reports online and print them out, so if there are problems you can find out right away.
no subject
I did that, too. I'm going to investigate their "contacting the big three by e-mail" option tomorrow or Weds. I wonder if saying Y and Z already have this information correctly" will fly--digging out bills from 6 years ago will be a pain in the butt, although I still have them somewhere...
no subject
You really should check your credit once every twelve months or so. Any errors a purely clerical in nature (there's someone out there with almost-my-name who has major credit abuse problems) or there may be fraud. But in either case, the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to deal with.
no subject
Yup--going the protection route, too. If they send me copies again after I request the changes, I can make sure nothing weird has crept in. Also--My mother and I have the same name, only different middle initials. There's another woman in this town with my name, unrelated to me, different spelling of first name (no idea about middle--but I once had the heart attack of having my Rx insurance denied, only to find out they'd tried to give me this woman's Rx!)
So, anything to reduce confusion...