SSN Policy Manual

Dealing with the Public

Equifax, 800-685-1111 Experian (formerly TRW), (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742) Trans Union, 800-916-8800

You can contact the credit reporting agencies to remove your name and address from the lists used for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for two years. If you complete and return an "opt-out" form, provided on request from the credit reporting agency, you will be off these lists permanently. A phone call or mailing to any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agency will get you off the lists. To "opt-out" of credit card and insurance lists: 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) for all three credit reporting agencies. Regardless of what the credit reporting agency tells you, a social security number is not needed to obtain a copy of a credit report. The law, 15 USC 4 1681h provides only that you "hmish proper identification." 15 USC $1 681h Conditions and form of disclosure to consumers (a) In general (1) Proper Identification A consumer reporting agency shall require, as a condition of making the disclosures required under section 1681g of this title, that the consumer furnish proper identification. (2) Disclosure in writing Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the disclosure requiredto be made under section 16819 of this title shall be provided under that section in writing. Simply providing them with the minimal information needed to uniquely identify you is all that is required. Reporting Violations of the Law You can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by contacting the Consumer Response Center by phone: toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); TDD: 202-326-2502; by mail: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; or through the Internet, using the online complaint form. Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can act against a company if it sees a pattern of possible law violations. The Federal Trade Commission publishes free brochures on many consumer issues. For a complete list of publications, write for Best Sellers, Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; or call toll-free 1 - 877-FTC-HELP (382-4357), TDD 202-326-2502. A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act is designed to promote accuracy, fairness, and privacy of information in the files of every consumer reporting agency. Most consumer reporting agencies are credit reporting agencies that gather and sell information about you - such as, if you pay your bills on time or have filed bankruptcy. They sell this information to creditors, employers, landlords, and other businesses.