Credit Protection Steps:

Request an initial fraud alert be placed in your credit file:

The fraud alert advises potential creditors that you may be a victim of credit fraud, and they take additional verification steps when deciding to extend credit.  This helps protect you from fraud, but may slow credit decisions.  You request a fraud alert by contacting one of the three national credit reporting companies.  Once a fraud alert is in place with one of them, they notify the other two national credit reporting agencies, making it unnecessary for you to do so.  The fraud alert can be placed by phone or online.

The initial fraud alert remains in place for 90 days, then you must request it again.  If you are in the military, you can request an active duty alert which stays in place for 1 year.  If you have been the victim of identity theft or credit fraud, and you have an identity theft report, you can get a 7-year fraud alert placed in your credit file.  An identity theft report includes a report made to law enforcement.  To learn more, please go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.

Request Free Credit Reports:

You are entitled to 1 free credit report per year from each of the credit reporting companies.  Use the below link to request online, print form to request by mail, or call to request by phone.  When requesting by phone or online, you will be required to provide some verification info.  This protects your identity and speeds up the process.  A representative can only request by mail, which takes considerably longer.  Personally requesting online or over the phone considerably speeds up the process.

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/

Exclude my name from nationwide consumer credit reporting company lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers

You may request that consumer credit reporting companies exclude your name from lists for pre-approved, unsolicited credit and insurance offers.

https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t

1–888–5OPTOUT (1–888–567–8688)

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