For some people, using the Internet to get their free credit report online, might make them a
little nervous. And while no system is completely secure, the use of data encryption ensures
that private information stays private when transmitted online. What you can do to increase the
security and privacy of your personal information, is to control who has access to it. So part
of the benefit of getting your free credit report online, is that you can monitor who has access
to your credit information.
When you check your free credit report online, you may see numerous requests for your report
from credit card companies. Unless you applied for the cards, these request are for pre-approved
credit offers. Besides being a nuisance, they can also make you vulnerable to identity theft. A
thief could steal the credit card offer from your trash, change the address and then would have
a card in your name. And unless you check your credit report often, you wouldn't find out about
it until long after he damaged your credit.
The same credit bureau that compiles your free credit report online, also provides you a way
to keep from getting pre-approved credit offers. There's a toll-free number you can call to
prevent offers being sent to you for two years. 1-888-5OPTOUT(567-8688) allows you to "opt-out"
of the credit offer list.
Also, you can notify the three largest national credit bureaus that you don't want your
personal information shared for promotional credit purposes. The three bureaus are:
Equifax, Inc.
Options
PO Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
www.equifax.com
Experian
Consumer Opt-Out
701 Experian Parkway
Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com
TransUnion
Marketing List Opt Out
PO Box 97328
Jackson, MS 39288-7328
www.transunion.com
Another reason for report requests in your free credit report online may be due to actions of
your bank. Amendments made to the Fair Credit Reporting Act in 1997 allow subsidiaries of bank
holding companies to share their customers' credit reports. As with the credit bureaus, you do
have the right to prevent this sharing. Instructions for doing so should either be in your bank
statements or a separate notice.
Although you can take steps to keep the information in your free credit report
online secure, there's unfortunately still one privacy loophole. Credit bureaus are allowed to
sell the "directory information" from credit reports, called "credit headers." Credit headers
include your name, address, telephone number, previous address, date of birth and Social
Security number. This information is all a thief would need to steal your identity and wreck
havoc with your life.
To get your free credit report online and free 30 days of credit monitoring, please go to
free instant credit reports.
