HOW TO AVOID UNSOLICITED CREDIT OFFERS BY OPTING OUT

ALERT: YOUR NAME AND PERSONAL INFORMATION ARE BEING SOLD
BY EXPERIAN, TRANSUNION AND EQUIFAX!

Having your credit checked is an important and necessary step in the home buying process, as well as something that is done on a regular basis for any number of reasons – increasing a credit line on your Visa, applying for insurance or buying a car. But very few people realize that each time their credit is checked, the “inquiry data” that the credit bureaus (EQUIFAX, TRANSUNION & EXPERIAN) has on file has now become a commodity. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS BEING SOLD BY THE CREDIT BUREAUS.  THAT’S RIGHT – THE CREDIT BUREAUS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO INCREASE THIER REVENUES AT YOUR EXPENSE…. AND WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION!! These “INQUIRY LEADS” include your NAME & ADDRESS. They are selling your personal, confidential information and MAKING MILLIONS.  Your privacy is being sold, not just once, but over and over again. The companies that are purchasing this information at a premium price will do whatever it takes to recoup their investment and turn a hefty profit. In the Mortgage industry for instance SUPER SNEAKY bait and switch tactics are being used to lure clients away from their reputable lender. Clients have even been called by lenders and told that the lender they had been speaking to previously “passed on” their information to them, because they knew that they’d be able to offer a much better interest rate/term and took advantage of the consumer with high priced rate buy downs and excessive fees. Also, the majority of “PRE-APPROVED CREDIT OFFERS” are generated by these “INQUIRY LEADS” and they arrive VIA US MAIL….

THIS IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF IDENTITY THEFT IN THE US!

THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU CAN MAKE IT STOP RIGHT AWAY.

The consumer credit reporting industry has provided a way to “opt out” and remove your name from these lists.  You can contact them by phone at 1-888-567-8688 or on line at WWW.OPTOUTPRESCREEN.COM   You must opt out at least 48 hours prior to having your credit checked to make sure it is processed in time.  You can choose a five year or lifetime option (The lifetime option requires a signed form).  If a credit report needs to be ran prior to the 48 hour waiting period- at least you are aware & informed and can be on the lookout for suspicious phone calls or mailers from someone who has purchased your information.

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION
https://consumer.gov/section/scams-identity-theft
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/help/it.htm
https://www.identitytheft.gov
https://privacyrights.org
http://ncjrs.gov/spotlight/identity_theft/facts.html