Identity theft can happen to anyone, but consumers have a new tool to help them in their fight. The three big credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, are now required by law to allow consumers to “freeze” and “thaw” their credit report for free. Previously, consumers would have to pay for this service, which caused many consumers to not even consider this important option.
Parents should also review this option for their underage children, which will help protect their unused credit rating.
Experian - experian.com/freeze
Equifax - freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp
TransUnion - freeze.transunion.com/sf/securityFreeze/landingPage.jsp
In 2017, Nevada ranked #5 out of all states for incidents of Identity Theft and Utah ranked #27, as reported by the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book. Further, 128 Nevadans and 79 Utahns out of every 100,000 people reported identity theft for a total of 3,828 reported incidents in Nevada and 2,452 in Utah.
Better Business Bureau president, Jane Driggs, urges consumers to “take advantage of this free service to protect your credit report, don’t wait for identity theft to occur before you take action.” In addition, consumers can and should receive free credit reports annually through, annualcreditreport.com. Better to know what’s on your credit report and deal with it than to find out when trying to make a purchase and you are denied.
Read more here: https://www.bbb.org/en/us/article/news-releases/18442-new-law-makes-credit-freezes-and-thaws-easier---and-free
