Annual Credit Report - Non Valkyrie Related

[carolinarider09]

As part of some settlement from some past mistake someone made, (or data released without approval), I have been given free access to "Experian". 

Experian appears to be a multinational data analytics and consumer credit reporting company. 

And what I did not know was that it is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.  Makes you shake your head....

So, today I got a message from Experian that basically says that because of someone else's foulup my SSN might have been compromised (I figured it would easy to get anyway since I have to use it for lots of government related things).

So, they told me to go request a "free credit report" from annualcreditreport.com  The only source for your free credit reports. Authorized by Federal law.

Well since it's free and since the Feds say its ok I have major concerns as to how really viable and reliable this "website" could be.

Does anyone know anything about this website? 

Can I trust it?

Thanks. 

[Jersey mike]

I still can’t type well but found this about the website.

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/free-credit-reports

I/we don’t review our credit scores but I carry a Discover c/c which provides a credit score on monthly basis. I don’t review the bills or go over statements, Barbara handles all that stuff.

1-2 months ago I posted about a massive breach of security which resulted in almost all SS numbers and other info being stolen. I don’t recall which board I posted on.

There very few things webtrust online and that includes filling out certain forms especially if it involves SS numbers, certain personal information and banking information.

At one time we did use Lifelock for the family for a period of about 2 years after our youngest lost her birth certificate on a cruise ship. Nothing ever became of that.

[F6Dave]

Yes, AnnualCreditReport.com is legit. The FTC website approves it and has a link. When you run a search for that URL, many other sites with similar names will be listed, and while many offer legitimate credit reports, they also try selling identity protection and credit monitoring services.

Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are the three credit reporting agencies in the US. They have so much information about you that reading a report is like a trip down memory lane. They have addresses from many years ago, credit card accounts closed decades ago, old paid off auto loans, current card/loan balances, and payment records. This data doesn't just affect a credit application, it can affect insurance and other applications. If you buy a car for cash most dealers still run a credit check.

It's worth checking your report from time to time, just to make sure nobody has opened an account in your name. Or you might find an account from years ago that's still open. You can do that from the AnnualCreditReport.com website, or set up a free account with one or more of the reporting agencies and look at the current report any time.

I learned that many Visa cards offer a free LifeLock subscription. If you sign up you'll get notified whenever anyone runs a credit check on your name, which could be a red flag.

[F6Dave]

There have been so many data breaches that I've concluded my data must have been hacked. And that recent National Public Data breach with maybe 3 BILLION records stolen has made it even more likely. If you're curious, there are two websites that check if your data was stolen, and shows what type of info was exposed. One is npdbreach.com from Atlas Privacy; the second is npd.pentester.com by Pentester cybersecurity.

[0leman]

One of the Credit Unions I have money with got breached.  The CU is giving us free Experian for a year.  I did sign up.  I also have another group that we were given credit/data checking for life due to a breach of data when I was working for the Gov.   I did ask Experian to freeze my credit for a bit.   

[carolinarider09]

Thanks for all the information.  I will use the website, at least one time, to see what the report looks like.

[carolinarider09]

So, I clicked on the link and this came up

You are now leaving the Federal Trade Commission's official Consumer Advice website.

You are about to access:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/

The Federal Trade Commission does not endorse the organizations or views represented by this site and takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over, the accuracy, accessibility, copyright or trademark compliance or legality of the material contained on this site. The destination site’s privacy policy, if any, will govern while accessing this site. To learn more about how we protect your privacy on FTC.gov, read our Privacy Policy.

So while the FEDs link it they do not endorse it.  How does that work?   

Ok....

[carolinarider09]

Let's say it did not work well at all and required authentication. 

Gave me a choice of phone or email.

Entered phone number it did not like it. 

Entered email address and it liked that, sent me me a *Success" message and then closed the window. 

Told me to go back to the device I used to enter the data but they had already closed that window.

No credit report was ever issued.

Just like a government project.

[F6Dave]

They do need to validate your identity, because when they give access to your report you'll see a lot of personal information. I'd just set up a free account with Experian or one of the other two and access your report there.

With a free account you can freeze your credit file so nobody can access credit info unless you unfreeze it. Freezing all 3 credit files makes it very difficult for someone to set up a financial account in your name. Locking does the same thing but they may charge for that.

[carolinarider09]

They do need to validate your identity, because when they give access to your report you'll see a lot of personal information. I'd just set up a free account with Experian or one of the other two and access your report there.

With a free account you can freeze your credit file so nobody can access credit info unless you unfreeze it. Freezing all 3 credit files makes it very difficult for someone to set up a financial account in your name. Locking does the same thing but they may charge for that.

Thanks I did not know all of the above.

I selected Experian for the credit report because I have a "free" thing with them due to some issues with some other group and one of the things they did to "resolve" the issue was to give me access to Experian for some period of time.

So, I went back and tired Equifax and that worked.  It is a 70 plus page report.  Scanned it and the information was good. 

To issues I noted.   Back in 1968 I opened an account with Credit Union "A".   I still have the account and also a Credit Card.  However, the Credit Report says that account is closed.  I suspect that it was sold to another Credit Group and they just kept the name.  The web address is the same.

Same thing goes with a another credit union I opened an account with back in the 70's. 

But, in general, the information offered no surprises.  So.... I guess it was worth the experience just to see.

I will keep the report in safe location. 

[bassman]

Interestingly, I too received an email from Experian in the last day or so stating my SSN and email Password have appeared on the "dark web".  Advised I put a freeze on all three credit report companies (I have had this for many years already) and also sign up for additional ID verification for any future credit checks - which I did.

[carolinarider09]

Interestingly, I too received an email from Experian in the last day or so stating my SSN and email Password have appeared on the "dark web".  Advised I put a freeze on all three credit report companies (I have had this for many years already) and also sign up for additional ID verification for any future credit checks - which I did.

I was not aware of that recommendation. I see no reason that I cannot do that.  Thanks for the feedback.

I did a search and found the link below (incase anyone else is interested).  Drawback is that it is a USA.GOV website.

https://www.usa.gov/credit-freeze