Mastodawn

BrianKrebs Jan 4, 2023

PSA for everyone here who happens to be a US resident:

If you haven't done so lately, go to annualcreditreport.com, and get a truly free copy of your credit file from one of the major bureaus. Maybe start with Experian, since they seem to be currently the most clueless.

And then, assuming Experian doesn't make you do cartwheels through the mail to get your report (and that's a big if) -- really take the time to read it. I'm confident you will find stuff that is not supposed to be there and needs to be disputed.

When you dispute stuff, don't offer more information about yourself. Just get them to remove stuff that isn't yours. And then check back periodically to make sure they did that.

By the way, if you're already paying for or using credit monitoring services (hopefully not run by the same bureau you're trying to dispute), they may also be able to assist with this.

The information in your credit file -- whether it is yours or not -- can make the difference between whether you get that job or not, or apartment, or line of credit.

So please set some calendar reminders this year right now: Roughly every four months, request a free copy of your report from one of the three bureaus via annualcreditreport.com.

That is all. As you were.

Ok, I lied. That's not all. If you haven't done so already, consider making 2023 the year you freeze your credit, and maybe that of your partner/dependents.

KrebsOnSecurity has long urged readers in the United States to place a security freeze on their files with the three major credit bureaus. With a freeze in place, potential creditors can’t pull your credit file, which makes it very unlikely anyone will be granted new lines of credit in your name.

Also, credit bureaus make money by selling peeks at your credit file to potential lenders. They can't do that beyond institutions you already have a relationship with if your file is frozen.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/09/credit-freezes-are-free-let-the-ice-age-begin/

Credit Freezes are Free: Let the Ice Age Begin – Krebs on Security

Chirael (Anthony)

@briankrebs thanks for the reminder; I think I might finally be at a point where I don’t have a looming mortgage or refi application on the horizon, where I can do this; thank you!

Laura Kosloff Jan 4, 2023

@briankrebs Agree 100%. Have had a credit freeze for several years and see no reason to change that. Indeed, as you note in your thread, there are even more reasons to freeze now than ever before.

Kelley Jan 4, 2023

@briankrebs excellent advice. I used to be on top of my credit reports but then had a change in income and decline in credit and have been negligent in monitoring it since. Credit is daunting, depressing & defeating when one’s credit is on the decline.

Nicklas Johnson 🏳️‍🌈Jan 4, 2023

@briankrebs I froze my credit with the bureaus years ago after a spear-phishing breach at my workplace, and left it that way ever since. It's really not that much trouble to unfreeze it on the rare occasion that I'm seeking credit for something.

Another thing people should do, in addition to freezing their credit reports, is to visit https://www.optoutprescreen.com/ and opt out of creditors snooping your credit to send you offers you didn't request.

ISP Error - OptOutPrescreen.com

Mick Pyro Official

@briankrebs Does US citizens realize how insane this stuff is? Also, it's really like a social score, it's just insane.

Matěj Cepl 🇪🇺 🇨🇿 🇺🇦Jan 4, 2023

@mickpyro @briankrebs This. And yes, I am glad we have #GDPR here in Europe.

Mick Pyro Official

@mcepl @briankrebs Europe have its flaws, but thanks for all the rest. Especially lately. (As you said GDPR, but it's not fast here in France ^^' )

fuomag9 Jan 5, 2023

@mickpyro @briankrebs as an Italian I find all of this so absurd! We only have the CRIF (https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrale_Rischi_Finanziari) which is basically a “good/bad payer” but without scores, points etc

Centrale Rischi Finanziari - Wikipedia

artisanrox Jan 5, 2023

@mickpyro @briankrebs

And it gets even more insane, like when you pay off debt...because it LOWERS your credit score.

Nothing but a boardroom of sheissters and a load of garbage.

BrianKrebs Jan 5, 2023

@artisanrox @mickpyro Yeah we haven't had debt in years, so I guess they just fill our report with other crap to make up for info they don't have. Crazy thing is people like us are a considered "deadbeats" by the credit industry b/c they can't make any money off us.

artisanrox Jan 5, 2023

@briankrebs @mickpyro

And even if you have good credit they'll potnetially STILL refuse you for loans because of "debt-to-credit" ratio, while billion $ companies can jerk themselves into outrageous debt and then cry to the government to get a seven figure no-interest loan.

🤦

Mick Pyro Official

@artisanrox @briankrebs
that's the worse part. I was shocked when Linus (LTT) spoke about that, a year ago now? (around that time)

Cranky David Jan 4, 2023

@briankrebs
also, learn each bureau's method for unfreezing your file for if/when you need it in the future. some use a preset PIN for quick temporary unfreezes, some do it easily via an account on their system.

Big George Jan 4, 2023

@briankrebs I wonder if this would work in South Africa ? Going to call TU and ask....

Befuddled Jan 4, 2023

@briankrebs I froze my reports, but that was several years ago. Do you know if the bureaus put a time limit on those holds?

BrianKrebs Jan 4, 2023

@strange_child well, a few years back, they all pretty much did away with their freeze pins, which means if your freezes were set up before they stopped using those (circa 2018-19), and you haven't registered again at those credit bureaus, someone could probably sign up as you.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2019/03/myequifax-com-bypasses-credit-freeze-pin/

MyEquifax.com Bypasses Credit Freeze PIN – Krebs on Security

Befuddled Jan 4, 2023

@briankrebs mine were definitely pre 2018. All I did was write a letter stating I do not authorize the selling or sharing of my file with businesses I do not have established relationship with. I received letters from all 3 confirming my elections
I don't know if this counts as 'registering'? Thank you for the article! I'll see what I need to do

BrianKrebs Jan 4, 2023

@strange_child Just try creating an account at each, as if you never had one there before. I think you'll be shocked.