Bringing Your Tech to Life DSIR Resource – Appendix D

Appendix D – Credit Bureau Contact Information

Credit Reports, Fraud Alerts, and Security Freezes

The three nationwide credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Because the
information held by each bureau may differ, customers should review all three credit reports.

Equifax

Website: https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
Telephone: 1-800-685-1111

Experian

Website: https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
Telephone: 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion

Website: https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
Telephone: 1-888-909-8872

Obtaining Credit Reports

The authorized source for free credit reports is:

Website: https://www.AnnualCreditReport.com
Telephone: 1-877-322-8228

Review each report for:

• Accounts you do not recognize

• Credit inquiries you did not authorize

• Incorrect addresses, telephone numbers, or employers

• Collection accounts that do not belong to you

• Incorrect balances or payment histories

• Variations of your name that may indicate mixed or fraudulent information

Credit Freeze

A credit freeze restricts access to a credit report and can make it more difficult for someone to
open a new credit account using stolen information.

• Placing and lifting a credit freeze is free.

• A freeze remains in place until it is lifted.

• Contact all three credit bureaus separately to freeze all three reports.

• Store account credentials and any confirmation information securely.

• A freeze does not prevent fraud involving an existing bank, credit-card, investment, tax,
  medical, utility, or government-benefit account.

• A freeze does not damage a credit score.

• A freeze may need to be lifted temporarily when applying for legitimate credit or another
  service that requires a credit check.

Fraud Alert

A fraud alert tells businesses to take additional steps to verify a person’s identity before
granting new credit.

• An initial fraud alert is free and normally lasts one year.

• Contacting one nationwide credit bureau to place an initial fraud alert should cause that
  bureau to notify the other two.

• An extended fraud alert may be available to a person who has completed an FTC Identity Theft
  Report or filed a police report.

• A fraud alert is not the same as a credit freeze and does not prevent a business from accessing
  the credit report.

Keep Records

Record the date each action was completed, which bureau was contacted, any confirmation number
provided, and the date of any temporary lift. Do not store credit-bureau passwords or full Social
Security numbers in an unencrypted document.

Next: Appendix E — Official Account, Platform, and Device Support Resources →

↑ Back to Table of Contents