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Privacy Notification

The following has been derived primarily from identity theft prevention guidance given by the Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Attorney General Web sites. To obtain further guidance or to report suspected incidents of identity theft, call or email the FTC. Their toll-free number for the identity theft hotline is 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).

Initial Fraud Alert

You have the right to ask that nationwide consumer reporting agencies place an "initial fraud alert" in your file to let potential creditors and others know that you have reason to believe that you could potentially become a victim of identity theft. A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you. It also may delay your ability to obtain credit. You may place a fraud alert in your file by calling just one of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies. As soon as that agency processes your fraud alert, it will notify the other two, which then also must place fraud alerts in your file. An initial fraud alert stays in your file for at least 90 days.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com

**Although you are required to call only one of the credit bureaus to place an initial fraud alert on your file and they will attempt to share the request with the other two bureaus, it is possible that the alert may not take effect at the other bureaus. The reason for this could be due to having inconsistent demographic information about you at the different credit bureaus. For instance, if any of the credit bureaus have an incorrect birthdate, Social Security number, address, or name they will not be able to match your records. Your demographic information at all three credit bureaus needs to be correct to help ensure that your fraud alert will be applied. After you place the fraud alert, you should receive a notice in the mail from each credit bureau. If you do not receive a letter within one week from each of the three credit bureaus, you should call the bureau(s) that did not send you a confirmation letter and request that they apply the fraud alert.

Extended Fraud Alert

An "extended fraud alert" is available only to those whose identity has actually been used in a fraudulent manner. An extended alert works in the same way as an initial fraud alert, but stays on your file for seven years. If your identity has been used in a fraudulent manner, you need to file an identity theft report with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency and then contact the credit bureaus to apply the extended fraud alert.

Copies of Your Credit Reports

You have the right to free copies of the information in your file (your "file disclosure") from the credit bureaus. An initial fraud alert entitles you to a copy of all the information in your file at each of the bureaus, and an extended alert entitles you to two free file disclosures in a 12-month period following the placing of the alert. These additional disclosures may help you detect signs of fraud: for example, whether fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or whether someone has reported a change in your address. Once a year, you also have the right to a free copy of the information in your file at any consumer reporting agency, if you believe it has inaccurate information due to fraud, such as identity theft.

Freezing Your Credit

Many states, including Pennsylvania, have laws that allow consumers to "freeze" their credit - in other words, letting a consumer restrict access to his or her credit report. If you place a credit freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to get access to your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze. This means that it's unlikely that an identity thief would be able to open a new account in your name. Credit freeze laws vary from state to state. There may be a cost for placing, temporarily lifting, and removing a credit freeze, which varies by state.

Effective January 1, 2007, residents of Pennsylvania can now place a "freeze" on their files maintained by the national credit reporting bureaus. Under the new PA statute, known as the "Credit Reporting Agency Law," consumers can freeze their credit file with a credit bureau by sending a written request to the bureau by certified mail. Note that, where permitted by law, courts, law enforcement agencies, government offices and some other entities still can obtain credit information regardless of whether a freeze is in place. A fee of up to $10 can be charged by credit bureaus for the freeze, however there is no charge for victims of identity theft or consumers age 65 or older. Security freezes remain in place for seven years, or until the credit bureau receives a request from the consumer to remove the security freeze. Use the following information to place a credit freeze at the credit bureaus. Remember that you will need to place the freeze at all three bureaus.

Mailing addresses for Credit Freeze requests (Requests must be sent by Certified Mail):

Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348

Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

Transunion, Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834

References:
Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft//
Pennsylvania Attorney General http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/consumers.aspx?id=2085
Free Credit Reports http://www.freecreditreport.com


	home \| privacy notification Privacy Notification The following has been derived primarily from identity theft prevention guidance given by the Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Attorney General Web sites. To obtain further guidance or to report suspected incidents of identity theft, call or email the FTC. Their toll-free number for the identity theft hotline is 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). Initial Fraud Alert You have the right to ask that nationwide consumer reporting agencies place an "initial fraud alert" in your file to let potential creditors and others know that you have reason to believe that you could potentially become a victim of identity theft. A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you. It also may delay your ability to obtain credit. You may place a fraud alert in your file by calling just one of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies. As soon as that agency processes your fraud alert, it will notify the other two, which then also must place fraud alerts in your file. An initial fraud alert stays in your file for at least 90 days. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com Although you are required to call only one of the credit bureaus to place an initial fraud alert on your file and they will attempt to share the request with the other two bureaus, it is possible that the alert may not take effect at the other bureaus. The reason for this could be due to having inconsistent demographic information about you at the different credit bureaus. For instance, if any of the credit bureaus have an incorrect birthdate, Social Security number, address, or name they will not be able to match your records. Your demographic information at all three credit bureaus needs to be correct to help ensure that your fraud alert will be applied. After you place the fraud alert, you should receive a notice in the mail from each credit bureau. If you do not receive a letter within one week from each of the three credit bureaus, you should call the bureau(s) that did not send you a confirmation letter and request that they apply the fraud alert. Extended Fraud Alert An "extended fraud alert" is available only to those whose identity has actually been used in a fraudulent manner. An extended alert works in the same way as an initial fraud alert, but stays on your file for seven years. If your identity has been used in a fraudulent manner, you need to file an identity theft report with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency and then contact the credit bureaus to apply the extended fraud alert. Copies of Your Credit Reports You have the right to free copies of the information in your file (your "file disclosure") from the credit bureaus. An initial fraud alert entitles you to a copy of all the information in your file at each of the bureaus, and an extended alert entitles you to two free file disclosures in a 12-month period following the placing of the alert. These additional disclosures may help you detect signs of fraud: for example, whether fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or whether someone has reported a change in your address. Once a year, you also have the right to a free copy of the information in your file at any consumer reporting agency, if you believe it has inaccurate information due to fraud, such as identity theft. Freezing Your Credit Many states, including Pennsylvania, have laws that allow consumers to "freeze" their credit - in other words, letting a consumer restrict access to his or her credit report. If you place a credit freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to get access to your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze. This means that it's unlikely that an identity thief would be able to open a new account in your name. Credit freeze laws vary from state to state. There may be a cost for placing, temporarily lifting, and removing a credit freeze, which varies by state. Effective January 1, 2007, residents of Pennsylvania can now place a "freeze" on their files maintained by the national credit reporting bureaus. Under the new PA statute, known as the "Credit Reporting Agency Law," consumers can freeze their credit file with a credit bureau by sending a written request to the bureau by certified mail. Note that, where permitted by law, courts, law enforcement agencies, government offices and some other entities still can obtain credit information regardless of whether a freeze is in place. A fee of up to $10 can be charged by credit bureaus for the freeze, however there is no charge for victims of identity theft or consumers age 65 or older. Security freezes remain in place for seven years, or until the credit bureau receives a request from the consumer to remove the security freeze. Use the following information to place a credit freeze at the credit bureaus. Remember that you will need to place the freeze at all three bureaus. Mailing addresses for Credit Freeze requests (Requests must be sent by Certified Mail):** Equifax Security Freeze P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348 Experian P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 Transunion, Fraud Victim Assistance Department P.O. 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834 References: Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft// Pennsylvania Attorney General http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/consumers.aspx?id=2085 Free Credit Reports http://www.freecreditreport.com