| Federal legislation giving consumers the
| |
| | Lines were busy, busy," Garcia said.
|
| right to a free credit report took effect
| |
| | Ordering the reports by phone isn't much
|
| in December, with a nationwide roll-out
| |
| | easier than navigating the Web site.
|
| that began with Western states. The law
| |
| | "You're never going to speak to a live
|
| requires the three national
| |
| | person, everything is automated and it's
|
| credit-tracking companies Experian,
| |
| | rather frustrating. We encourage people
|
| TransUnion, and Equifax to provide
| |
| | to keep trying," Garcia said.
|
| consumers with free credit reports once a
| |
| | "It's probably best to do this when
|
| year.
| |
| | you're at home, and you have access to
|
| Consumer advocates say that the
| |
| | your files and your paperwork," Garcia
|
| importance of consumers monitoring their
| |
| | said. "I would set aside a good 15 to 20
|
| credit histories has never been greater.
| |
| | minutes. It's not lickety-split."
|
| That was underscored last week with
| |
| | Consumers can get one credit report per
|
| revelations that a security breach at
| |
| | year from each of the three agencies,
|
| ChoicePoint Inc. might have revealed to
| |
| | which can be obtained simultaneously for
|
| identity thieves the personal data of
| |
| | comparison purposes, or staggered to keep
|
| some 145,000 people nationwide and 830 in
| |
| | an eye out for identity theft.
|
| Wisconsin.
| |
| | May want all three
|
| "The government wanted to provide
| |
| | "It sort of depends on where you are with
|
| consumers with tools to guard against
| |
| | knowledge of your credit reports. If you
|
| identity theft," said Loretta Abrams,
| |
| | haven't looked at this ever, it might be
|
| national director of consumer affairs
| |
| | a good idea to get all three," Garcia
|
| with financial services company HSBC
| |
| | said.
|
| North America.
| |
| | Consumer advocates also worry that
|
| A total of 2,646 Wisconsin residents
| |
| | scammers might use the new report system
|
| reported being victims of identity theft
| |
| | to contact consumers.
|
| last year, a 14% increase from 2003,
| |
| | "No one will ever solicit a consumer to
|
| according to the Wisconsin Bankers
| |
| | obtain their free credit report. If you
|
| Association.
| |
| | get something in your e-mail box saying
|
| Agencies block referral links
| |
| | We'll get you a free credit report,'
|
| Although interest in credit reports may
| |
| | forget it. If you get a call saying We'll
|
| be high, consumers will face some
| |
| | get you a free credit report,' forget
|
| frustration when they try to access the
| |
| | it," Garcia said.
|
| information using the Internet.
| |
| | Be wary of scams
|
| The credit reporting agencies have
| |
| | "Never give information to a source when
|
| blocked referral links to the Web site,
| |
| | you did not initiate the contact," said
|
| That means clicking on the Web address
| |
| | Kurt R. Bauer, president of the Wisconsin
|
| from other sites such as those in online
| |
| | Bankers Association.
|
| media articles will not lead to the site,
| |
| | Hassles aside, financial advisers still
|
| according to Norma Garcia, senior
| |
| | highly recommend getting the reports to
|
| attorney for the Consumers Union West
| |
| | watch for errors and possible identity
|
| Coast Office in San Francisco.
| |
| | theft.
|
| Consumers Union has not determined why
| |
| | "I want to be first in line. I think it's
|
| the agencies blocked referrals, and filed
| |
| | very important," Abrams said.
|
| a complaint with the Federal Trade
| |
| | "Twenty-five percent of credit reports
|
| Commission about the matter.
| |
| | include errors."
|
| Representatives of the three credit
| |
| | Consumers should review their financial
|
| agencies could not be reached for
| |
| | information on a regular basis, according
|
| comment.
| |
| | to Bauer.
|
| Because of the block on referral links,
| |
| | Getting a copy of your credit report is
|
| the number of Internet hits received by
| |
| | one of the biggest safeguards," Bauer
|
| the credit report site is low. That, in
| |
| | said.
|
| turn, gives it a low ranking by search
| |
| | What to do when you get your credit
|
| engines such as Google, where the site
| |
| | report
|
| does not pop up on a search for "free
| |
| | Look for missing information. Maybe the
|
| credit reports" until the fourth page of
| |
| | report lists a loan that you have paid
|
| links.
| |
| | off, but the lender has not yet informed
|
| Consumers in states where the reports are
| |
| | the credit agencies.
|
| already available have complained about
| |
| | Look for untrue information. The report
|
| advertising pop-ups for paid services
| |
| | might indicate you have paid bills late
|
| with the three agencies. The law allows
| |
| | that you really paid on time.
|
| Experian, TransUnion and Equifax to
| |
| | Look for mix-ups. It doesn't happen
|
| advertise for other services on their
| |
| | often, but sometimes the accounts of a
|
| sites.
| |
| | deadbeat consumer with a similar name are
|
| More confusion
| |
| | inadvertently included on your report,
|
| Also confusing: The free reports do not
| |
| | unfairly dragging down your credit score.
|
| include the consumer's actual credit
| |
| | When you find errors:
|
| score. That's the all-important number
| |
| | Notify each of the credit reporting
|
| that affects virtually every facet of
| |
| | companies of each error, which will
|
| everyday consumer life, from obtaining
| |
| | require them to investigate.
|
| good insurance and mortgage rates to
| |
| | If the investigation results in the
|
| getting car loans and accessing
| |
| | information being removed, you can
|
| additional credit.
| |
| | request that the credit reporting
|
| The score can be purchased for a fee of
| |
| | companies notify anybody who recently
|
| $5 to $7, depending on the agency.
| |
| | obtained your report about the change.
|
| The first day of the roll-out was
| |
| | You can place a written statement in your
|
| cumbersome in other states. "They got
| |
| | report if you dispute the findings of an
|
| tied down on the Internet connection.
| |
| | investigation.
|
