Consumer Alert
Equifax’s free credit monitoring - time is ticking …
Considering Equifax’s offer of free credit monitoring after its breach? You need to sign up by January 31, 2018. Maybe you tried earlier but had trouble getting through. Or maybe you just put off the decision. Whatever the reason, if you want it, the time is now.
What’s Equifax offering? Until January 31st, anyone with a Social Security number can sign up for one year of free credit monitoring at equifaxsecurity2017.com. You don’t need to be a victim of the Equifax breach.
Here’s what you get: Equifax’s TrustedID credit monitoring covers all three major nationwide credit reporting agencies – Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. If any suspicious activity appears on your credit report, you’ll get an alert. The free services also include a copy of your Equifax credit report, Social Security number monitoring, and identity theft insurance. Plus, for a year, you can lock and unlock your Equifax credit file for free. Credit locks help limit access to your credit file by identity thieves trying to open new accounts. You need to get locks with all three credit reporting agencies for them to be effective.
What happens after January 31st? According to Equifax’s website, the enrollment period for free credit monitoring ends January 31st. Instead, starting January 31st, it will offer a free lock-for-life product that will allow you to lock and unlock your credit file, at no cost, from a mobile phone or computer. Equifax hasn’t announced the details yet. So, if you want to know more, check Equifax’s website after January 31st.
Still not sure what to do? Check out our article on identity theft protection services and FAQs on fraud alerts, credit freezes, and credit locks. And if you’re having trouble getting through to sign up for Equifax’s free credit monitoring, please report that to us.
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In reply to Each person should be able to by MJULIA
Read about credit alerts, freezes and locks to understand how locks work at the different credit reporting companies.
In reply to I signed up for this when by mac
Go to equifaxsecurity2017.com to read about the free credit monitoring that Equifax is offering. You can compare that to the service you already have to see if they are the same.
In reply to I really appreciate your by Wil
In reply to What's the difference between by Marylinelaine
This FTC article explains fraud alerts, credit freezes and credit locks.
Only 1 year...This breach will effect us for "LIFE" what a joke EQUIFAX !
In reply to The link to Equifax returns by RT
do not use this Equifax monitoring system ..its a skam... www. equifaxsecurity2017. com
In reply to I PREFER TO GIVE MY SS # OVER by LUCITA
Go to equifaxsecurity2017.com and click on the button that says "Contact Us." You will see several telephone numbers to call, depending on your question.
In reply to I just found out last night by DC Guest
You could get a fraud alert, freeze or lock on your credit file. Read a FTC blog that explains how fraud alerts, freezes and locks work.
Ny credit report gives the addresses of my relatives, who had lived at my address. Equifax is using wrong info for me, so when I get verification requests for my address, I don't know if they are using my sisters address in NY, or my uncle' address in Fremont or Los Angeles. Why should I trust Equifax when they can't keep my records correct?
In reply to Ny credit report gives the by peevee
You can contact Equifax and dispute the errors in your credit reports. This FTC article about disputing errors on your credit reports explains how.
In reply to What can I do if my credit by Just_me
You can report identity theft at IdentityTheft.Gov. You can create a plan for what reports to file right away, who to contact and how to repair the damage.
When you are repairing the damage, you will review your credit reports. You will look for the accounts and charges that you don't recognize. Then, you will contact the companies where the accounts were opened by the identity thief.