File Blocked for Promotional Purposes?!

[XxRaVeNxX]

So, this has been on my Equifax since I joined the forums, and started rebuilding my credit.

What is this? I've been told it is when you opt-out, I never done that, but just in case, I went to the site https://www.optoutprescreen.com/ and opted in. That was a few weeks. Nothing's changed.

Could it be because there is 'Extended Fraud Alert' on my Account, that popped up(without my permission), when I disputed a 'questionable' collections as 'not mine' and they deleted it?

Any Help is Appreciated?

[mxp114]

If you dispute anything as fraud or not mine, EQ adds a 7 year fraud alert without a phone number. This is a problem, since lenders don't know who to call and will often decline. The extended fraud alert automatically blocks promotional offers and I don't think you can opt in until it is removed. To remove you need to fax in two forms of ID. It's a real pain.

[RobertEG]

Fraud alerts under the FCRA are only authorized upon request of the consumer.

The CRA has apparently interpreted a prior issue as being such a request by the consumer.  Probably a good practice on their part....

The consumer has the right to remove their own fraud alert, either initial or extended, by simply informing the CRA to do so.

Of course, proof of identity is required, as potential prior fraud is at issue, and it is only prudent to assure that removal of a fraud alert was not also requested without the consumer's knowledge.

Should be a snap to remove once proper notification of removal is provided to the CRA. 

[mxp114]

EQ adds them just for disputing anything as fraud and then you need to fax in two forms of ID and wait up to 10 days for the removal. However they can insert another extended fraud alert if you dispute anything as fraud or that you don't recognize the item. They also add this extended alert if you file a similar dispute with the other two bureaus.