• Find out if you’re part of the Equifax breach,
If you’re one of the estimated 143 million Americans affected by the monstrous Equifax breach (you can find out at www.equifaxsecurity2017.com), you should consider taking certain steps to protect yourself.
The giant credit bureau is offering free credit monitoring for a year, a service experts say you should definitely sign up for. If you do signup, though, you may wantto follow Equifax’s instructions for opting out of an arbitration clause that goes alongwith the coverage that mayb ar you from participating in any class-action lawsuits arising from the data breach. You’ ll find the arbitration language and opt-outinstructions by clicking “Terms of Use” on the website.
You also can monitor your credit report for suspicious accounts or charges by ordering a copy for free annually from each of the three main credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — at www.annualcreditreport.com, or by calling 877-322-8228.
Staggering requests with each bureau every four months is the best way to keep tabs on your credit reports throughout the year.
Butfor the best protection against identity theft, experts recommend freezing your credit reports. This prevents credit bureaus from releasing your file without your permission. won’t extend credit without checking a consumer’s credit history, ID thieves are blocked from opening accounts in your name.
A credit freeze doesn’t affect your credit score, or prevent you from getting your free annual
Itwillcostyouanominalfee, anditmeansyouwillhaveto takeafewextrastepswhenyou wantto applyforanewcredit card,cellphoneaccount,utility serviceorotherproductorservice check.
To get started, contact each of the nationwide credit reporting companies by phone or online at: Equifax, 1-800-349-9960, https:// www.freeze.equifax.com; Experian, 1-888-397-3742, www.experian.com/freeze/ center.html; and TransUnion, 1-888-909-8872, www.transunion.com/securityfreeze.
You’ll be asked for your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and other personal information.
In Pennsylvania, it costs $10 to initiate a freeze and $10 to temporarily lift — or thaw — a freeze, which you’ll need to do to apply for a credit card, mortgage, car loan or other type of credit.
People 65 and older and victims of I.D. theft can initiate a freeze for free.
A thaw can be activated online or by phone using a personal identification number that you’ll get when you sign up for the freeze. Generally, a report can be thawed within 15 minutes.
There’s no fee to permanently lift a freeze, which automatically expires in seven years.
Additional information on credit freezes is available here, and from the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/