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I had a fraud alert place on my CR around early 2012. I am not sure as to why.
I searched the EQ site, and it said to remove a FA, you have to MAIL them:
Your DOB
Your SSN
...and two pieces of ID.
To me, it seems really idiotic to mail personal information like that, anyone could steal that piece of mail and have everything to steal your ID.
I found the number for their fraud department and called them. I told them I was not comfortable sending that information by phone.
They had me verify a few items on my report, and said the FA will be removed within 48 hours.
I just found this out myself. Transunion let me do it over the internet, but I read online that EQ and EX required a written letter with lots of identification. Anyway, I checked today and neither EQ or EX had removed my extended credit alert, so I contacted EQ. The person stated that they can do it now over the phone, so I answered a few questions and they said within 48 hours the alert will be removed. Really easy.
Now I have to call EX. I have a feeling this will not be as easy. It never is with EX.
@FixMyCredit1992 wrote:I had a fraud alert place on my CR around early 2012. I am not sure as to why.
I searched the EQ site, and it said to remove a FA, you have to MAIL them:
Your DOB
Your SSN
...and two pieces of ID.
To me, it seems really idiotic to mail personal information like that, anyone could steal that piece of mail and have everything to steal your ID.
I found the number for their fraud department and called them. I told them I was not comfortable sending that information by phone.
They had me verify a few items on my report, and said the FA will be removed within 48 hours.
Did you dispute some information on your reports during that time? If so, this sometimes lead to FA's placed on your reports. As to why the request written documentation, who knows...a simple phone call to the security department normally does the trick. Congrats on getting it removed.
The FCRA specifically states that requests for fraud alerts by a consumer are to be easy to obtain, and explicitly specifies "by phone."
The logical inference would be that removal also follow that directive.
However, being related to potential identity theft, there is always the proviso that the CRA be comfortable that you are the stated consumer.
If they decline to verify your identity without written proof, that is prudent and permissible on their part.
Do you have the (backdoor) phone number you used to contact Equifax to remove a fraud alert? I can't get out of the f-ing prompt system no matter why I push or say, God I hate credit bureaus and the government! I tried 1-866-640-2273 and 1-888-766-0008 both are soul stealing numbers where you can't get through to anyone.