Equifax Offers Individuals Impacted by Hurricanes Access to Their Credit Files at No Charge

Over the past several weeks since hurricanes Katrina and Rita have devastated the Gulf Coast, Equifax Inc.has been providing people from those areas access to their Equifax credit file at no charge.

Individuals affected by the recent hurricanes can order their Equifax credit file at www.annualcreditreport.com, even if they have already received their free annual Equifax credit file disclosure through this system. They should use their address in the impacted area when ordering their Equifax credit file online to ensure their request is processed at no charge. Other important information about their credit can also be found on the Equifax Website at www.equifax.com.

Those who prefer to request their Equifax credit file by phone or by mail, or need to speak with an Equifax representative, should contact Equifax at 1-800-685-1111 between the hours of 9 AM and 8 PM ET and follow the automated instructions for hurricane victims. In addition, those who are displaced from their residences, and wish to request their Equifax credit file by phone or mail, must first speak with an Equifax representative.

Valuable Tips on What to Do
For those consumers affected by the recent hurricanes who wish to take steps to protect their current credit standing, Equifax, along with Experian and TransUnion, recommend the following actions:

• As soon as possible, victims should examine their credit and bank accounts for suspicious activity, and take the necessary steps to resolve any discrepancies.

• When evacuees become settled in to their new addresses, even for the short term, they should file a change of address form with the post office. This will ensure that they receive their bills and credit card statements — enabling them to keep track of their financial situation while also keeping these documents out of the hands of potential identity thieves. Consumers who may not yet have a permanent address should consider getting a locked P.O. Box to protect their forwarded mail.

• After affected consumers have changed their address with the U.S. Post Office, they should make certain the address changes have taken effect before ordering a credit report.

• Consumers should also send letters to their creditors explaining their situation and inquiring about any special programs or handling they may be offering to hurricane victims.

Those who suspect they are victims of fraud should quickly report and resolve the matter. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion suggest the following steps for dealing with fraud:

Step 1: Fraud alert
Contact one of the credit reporting companies to request that a fraud alert be placed on their credit files. Consumers only need to contact one of the credit reporting companies to have an alert placed on their credit files at each of the three companies.

• Initial alert – This 90-day alert can be placed on a consumer’s credit file if the consumer suspects fraud. This alert warns potential creditors to verify a consumer’s identity or contact him or her before opening new accounts. Consumers should be aware that adding an alert to their credit file may prevent them from opening an account unless the creditor is able to contact them and positively confirm their identity and that they are applying for credit.

• Extended alert – The initial alert can be extended to 7 years when a consumer confirms through an identity theft report that he or she is a victim of fraud or identity theft. The extended alert also removes a consumer’s name from prescreened credit offers for 5 years.

Step 2: Review all three credit reports
Consumers should review their credit files from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Look for signs of identity theft such as suspicious inquiries, unfamiliar new accounts and unfamiliar new addresses.

Step 3: File a police report
If a consumer is a victim of fraud or identity theft, he or she should contact their local police department to file an identity theft report. Record the officer’s name and the report number and keep a copy of the identity theft report in a safe place.

Step 4: Complete the Federal Trade Commission’s Universal Fraud Affidavit
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a fraud report form online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Consumers should complete the fraud affidavit form, sign it and have it notarized, and send to those companies that opened fraudulent accounts in their name.

Step 5: Notify your financial institutions
If consumers find fraudulent activity on their accounts, they should report it to the creditor’s fraud department. Include copies of the police report and the FTC’s Universal Fraud Affidavit with the report. Follow up to ensure all accounts are correctly resolved and keep copies of all communications for future reference.

Step 6: Notify the credit reporting agencies
Mail copies of the completed fraud affidavit and identity theft report to the fraud departments at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Follow up to ensure all account concerns are correctly resolved and keep copies of all communications for future reference.

Step 7: Check your credit regularly
Consumers should review their credit reports at least 1-2 times a year or 3 months before making a credit application to verify that all information is accurate and free from fraudulent data.