http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns//learn_more/003484indiv.html#
TNhttp://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns//learn_more/003484indiv.html#TN
or
http://tinyurl.com/39exfk
If you watch TV or listen to the radio you no doubt have heard the
commercials for "Life Lock" which promises to protect your credit file from
ID theft. I think they promise a $1 million guarantee. Basically what they
do is put a free fraud alert on your credit file, which lasts 90 days. They
then renew that fraud alert every 90 days as long as you belong to their
service. You can do exactly what they do and it doesn't cost you any
monthly fee. You just need to contact the 3 credit bureaus and initiate a
fraud alert and then renw it every 90 days.
There's a better and eaiser option called a Credit Freeze, which tells the
credit bureau to note that you want no more credit, do not open more credit
in your name. If you don't anticipate getting a mortgage, car loan, new
credit card, etc anytime soon the experts recommend you "freeze your credit
so that if an ID thief does get your info they shouldn't be able to open any
credit in your name. There is a procedure once you have a credit freeze in
place to temporarily "thaw" to allow some anticipated credit granter a green
light for credit in your name, after which your credit is frozen again.