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Your right to free reports from credit reporting agencies

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reflective
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Your right to free reports from credit reporting agencies

#0, by reflective, 27 May 2009 11:57 PM

Apparently several websites and services have come into existence promising credit reports while really designed to extract some money from you (the consumer) either directly or indirectly.

Don't fall for the okey-doke on credit reports my friends...

The December 2003 Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires the three United States nationwide consumer reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union) to provide consumers a report of their credit data upon request at least once every 12 months free of charge. Read this page at the Federal Trade Commission's website for the straight story:
http://www2.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre34.shtm

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matrixone05
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Re: Your right to free reports from credit reporting agencies

#1, by matrixone05, 28 May 2009 01:24 AM

Great information... thank you.

God gives nothing to those that keep their arms crossed. ~ African Proverb.
All that is not given, is lost ~ Indian Proverb
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naphtalia
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Re: Your right to free reports from credit reporting agencies

#2, by naphtalia, 28 May 2009 05:41 PM

You know what?  I've been applying for work at retail stores.  They are pulling credit reports and offering to send me a copy...

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brnepanther
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Re: Your right to free reports from credit reporting agencies

#3, by brnepanther, 30 May 2009 01:18 AM

*stands up to podium*

As you know, I work in the financial industry. Please no complaints until AFTER I'm done. *snickers* While what you're saying is true, some services, I've found are beneficial to the consumer.

For example, I have Privacy Assist (can you guess what bank I work for?) and with that service not only do I receive an updated credit report from all three agencies quarterly (including my FICO score) whenever someone places an inquiry on my credit I'm notified via email. At any given time I can sign into their website online and simply check my credit information. With that service there is also a internet surveillance option where I can key in my social security number and account numbers and if anyone is using that information across the internet then guess what? I'm notified. Not only do I have the right to have a specialist personally handle my "claim" if I ever become a victim of identify theft, but I also have a no additional fee $25,000 insurance policy with the service.

The entire service - get this - is about 40 cents a day. Does that seem like a lot to protect your identity? You ensure everything from your car to your home, why not insure your identiy???

Any questions? *steps away from the podium*

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." -Langston Hughes
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reflective
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Re: Your right to free reports from credit reporting agencies

#4, by reflective, 01 June 2009 06:38 PM

*raises hand slowly* Actually I do have a question sister brnepanther...

From a quick search I think that you're talking about FIA Card Services, N.A.'s Privacy Assist service (your bank probably has a licensing agreement to resell it).

I don't see way to read the actual insurance policy underwritten by Travelers... would you be willing to share that with us?

I am not trying to pick at your post or you... really... I'm just curious. As we know I'm the kinda nerd who will actually read stuff.

And... um... could you walk away from the podium again... maybe a little slower this time?
(I can hear sisters hollerin at me now... "You too damn old to be messin with that girl... act your age!!!" devil)

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brnepanther
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Re: Your right to free reports from credit reporting agencies

#5, by brnepanther, 02 June 2009 12:04 AM

You threw me for a little loop and I actually had to read up on the insurance policy. I never thought to look more into it. So here's the information I've gathered:

The Identity Theft Insurance reimburses victims of identity theft for certain expenses up to $25,000*. Expenses covered include:
 
•   Lost wages (up to $500 per week for a maximum of four weeks) as a result of time taken off from work to deal with the fraud including wrongful incarceration. Lost wages must occur during the policy period.
•   Notary and certified mailing costs for completing and delivering fraud affidavits or similar documents.
•   Loan application fees for re-applying for loans when the original application is rejected solely because the lender received incorrect information due to an identity theft.
•   Long distance phone charges associated with reporting or discussing an actual identity fraud.
•   Attorney fees incurred (with prior consent) for defending suits brought incorrectly by merchants and their collection agencies, for removing criminal or civil judgments wrongly entered against an Insured Person, and for challenging information in a consumer credit report.
 
  *  Insurance underwritten by Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and its property casualty affiliates, Hartford, CT 06183. Coverage for all claims or losses depends on actual policy provisions. Availability of coverage can depend on underwriting qualifications and state regulations. Coverage not available for residents of New York.



(Here's also a copy of my Insurance Certificate ... with the important information taken out, of course.)

This Certificate of Insurance is a coverage description intended to provide important information about the protection available to an Insured Person under the Identity Fraud Expense Coverage Master Policy (the “Master Policy”). Keep this coverage description for your records. This coverage description is not an insurance policy and does not amend, extend or alter the coverage afforded by the Master Policy described herein. Terms shown in bold in this coverage description are defined in the Master Policy. The insurance afforded by the Master Policy as described herein is subject to all the terms, exclusions and conditions of such Master Policy. The policy period is specified in the Master Policy.





Policy Number: XXXXXXXX
underwritten by
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America Hartford, CT 06183 ("Travelers")
to provide insurance to an Insured Person as
described in this Certificate

Limit of Insurance for any one loss:
Limit of Insurance = $25,000
Deductible = $




The Master Policy has been issued to:
Intersections Inc.
Chantilly, VA  20151
(the “Master Policy Holder”)





General Information:
Should you have any questions regarding the Membership Program provided by the Master Policy Holder, or wish to view a complete copy of the Master Policy, please call the customer service number located in your membership materials.
Filing a Claim:
  To file a claim under the Master Policy, please contact Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America. Telephone:
 
 1-800-476-5696

INSURING AGREEMENT



   (1) IDENTITY FRAUD EXPENSE COVERAGE
        To reimburse an Insured Person for Expenses incurred by the Insured Person as the direct result of any one Identity Fraud
        discovered during the policy period.

         Only an Insured Person will be entitled to coverage under this Insuring Agreement (1).



CONDITIONS
1.   Definitions:
      (a) “Expenses” means
         (i)  Costs for notarizing fraud affidavits or similar documents for financial institutions or similar credit grantors or credit agencies
              that have required that such affidavits be notarized.
         (ii) Costs for certified mail to law enforcement agencies, credit agencies, financial institutions or similar credit grantors.
         (iii) Lost wages as a result of time taken off from work to meet with, or talk to, law enforcement agencies, credit agencies and/or
               legal counsel, to complete fraud affidavits, or due to wrongful incarceration arising solely from someone having committed
               a crime in the Insured Person’s name up to a maximum payment of $500 per week for a maximum period of four weeks.
               Lost wages shall not apply in the case of wrongful incarceration absent all charges being dropped or an acquittal.
         (iv)  Loan application fees for re-applying for a loan or loans when the original application is rejected solely because the lender
               received incorrect credit information.
         (v) Charges incurred for long distance telephone calls to merchants, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions or similar
              credit grantors, or credit agencies to report or discuss an actual Identity Fraud.
         (vi)   Reasonable attorney fees incurred, with the Company’s prior consent, for:
              a. defense of lawsuits brought against the Insured Person by merchants or their collection agencies,
              b. the removal of any criminal or civil judgments wrongly entered against an Insured Person, and
              c. challenging the accuracy or completeness of any information in a consumer credit report.
      (b) “Identity Fraud” means the act of knowingly transferring or using, without lawful authority, a means of identification of an
            Insured Person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of Federal law or
            a felony under any applicable state or local law.                      
      (c) “Insured Person” means any natural person who is currently subscribed to a Membership Program or affinity group that has
           been specifically expanded by the Master Policy Holder to include the protection afforded by the Master Policy.
      (d) “Master Policy Holder” means Intersections Inc.
      (e) “Membership Program” means a membership program sponsored by the Master Policy Holder and that is specifically named
           within an endorsement attached to the Master Policy.
      (f)  “Policy Period” means the dates shown in the Master Policy.
2.   Exclusions
      The Master Policy does not apply:
       (a) to loss due to any fraudulent, dishonest or criminal act by an Insured Person or any person acting in concert with an Insured
           Person
, or by any authorized representative of an Insured Person, whether acting alone or in collusion with others;
      (b)  to loss other than Expenses;
      (c) to an Identity Fraud that was discovered, or Expenses incurred, when an individual was not an Insured Person.
      (d) to loss due to nuclear reaction, nuclear radiation or radioactive contamination, or due to any act or condition incident to any of
           the foregoing; or
      (e) to loss due to war, whether or not declared, civil war, insurrection, rebellion, revolution, or to any act or condition incident to
          any of the foregoing.
3.   Policy Period - Discovery - The Master Policy applies only to Identity Fraud, occurring anywhere in the world, which is discovered
      during the Policy Period and is reported to the Company during the Policy Period or within 30 days following the termination of
      either
      a. this Policy; or
      b. membership of the Insured Person in a Membership Program.
4.   Limits of Insurance - Under Insuring Agreement (1), the limit of the Company’s liability per Insured Person for loss covered under
      the Master Policy shall not exceed the applicable Limit of Insurance shown in the Declarations. Under the Master Policy, all losses
      incidental to an act or series of related acts or arising from the same method of operation, whether committed by one or more
      persons, shall be deemed to arise out of one occurrence and shall be treated as one loss. However, solely with respect to Insuring
      Agreement (1), should one such act cause a covered loss to more than one Insured Person, the available Limit of Insurance
      under the Master Policy and the deductible amount shall apply to each Insured Person separately.
      Regardless of the number of Membership Programs that an Insured Person is a member of, the Company’s liability to such
      Insured Person for loss covered under the Master Policy shall not exceed the applicable Limit of Insurance shown in the
      Declarations.
5.   Deductible - The Company shall be liable only for the amount by which any loss exceeds the applicable Deductible Amount as
      shown in the Declarations. This Deductible Amount applies to each and every loss and shall have no aggregate limitation.
6.   Recoveries - Any recoveries, less the cost of obtaining them, made after settlement of loss covered by the Master Policy will be
      distributed as follows:
      (a) first, to the Insured Person, until the Insured Person is reimbursed for any loss that was sustained by the Insured Person that
      exceeds the Limit of Insurance and the Deductible Amount, if any;
      (b)   then to the Company, until the Company is reimbursed for the settlement made; and
      (c) then to the Insured Person until the Insured Person is reimbursed for that part of the loss equal to the Deductible Amount, if
      any.
      Recoveries do not include any recovery from insurance, suretyship, reinsurance, security or indemnity taken for the Company’s
      benefit.
7.   Ownership Interests Covered - This Policy shall be for the sole use and benefit of the Insured Persons and the Master Policy
      Holder
.  It provides no rights or benefits to any other person, entity, or organization.
8.   Insured Duties When Loss Occurs - Upon knowledge or discovery of loss or of an occurrence which may give rise to a claim
      under the terms of the Master Policy, the Insured Person shall give notice thereof as soon as practicable to the Company, and
      file detailed proof of loss, duly sworn to, with the Company within four months after the discovery of loss.  If the loss involves a
      violation of law, the Insured Person shall also notify the police.
      Upon the Company’s request, the Insured Person shall submit to examination by the Company, subscribe the same, under oath
      if required, and produce for the Company’s examination all pertinent records, all at such reasonable times and places as the
      Company shall designate, and shall cooperate with the Company in all matters pertaining to loss or claims with respect thereto. 
      Compliance with all terms and conditions of the Master Policy are conditions precedent to recovery under the Master Policy.
      The Insured Person shall keep books, receipts, bills and other records in such manner that the Company can accurately
      determine therefrom the amount of any loss. At any time subsequent to the reporting thereof to the Company, the Company may
      examine and audit the Insured Person’s books and records as they relate to a loss under the Master Policy.
9.   Other Insurance - If there is any other valid and collectible insurance which would apply in the absence of the Master Policy, the
      insurance under the Master Policy shall apply only as excess insurance over such other insurance.
10. Action Against Company - No action shall lie against the Company unless, as a condition precedent thereto, there shall have
      been full compliance with all terms of the Master Policy, nor until 90 days after the required proof of loss has been filed with the
      Company, nor at all unless commenced within two years from the date when the Insured Person first discovers the loss. If any
      limitation of time for notice of loss or any legal proceeding herein contained is shorter than that permitted to be fixed by
      agreement under any statute controlling the construction of the Master Policy, the shortest permissible statutory limitation of time
      shall govern and shall supersede the time limitation herein stated.
11. Subrogation - In the event of any payment under the Master Policy, the Company shall be subrogated to all the Insured Person’s
      rights of recovery therefore against any person or organization, and the Insured Person shall execute and deliver instruments and
      papers and shall take whatever other actions are necessary to secure such rights for the Company. The Insured Person shall not
      take any action after the discovery of any loss that would prejudice such rights.
12. Changes - Notice to any agent or knowledge possessed by any agent or by any other person shall not effect a waiver or a change
      in any part of the Master Policy or stop the Company from asserting any right under the terms of the Master Policy; nor shall the
      terms of the Master Policy be waived or changed, except by endorsement issued by the Company and made to form a part of the
      Master Policy.
13. Assignment - Assignment of interest under the Master Policy shall not bind the Company until its consent is endorsed herein.
14. Concealment or Misrepresentation - The Master Policy is void as to any Insured Person if, at any time, said Insured Person
      intentionally conceals or misrepresents a material fact concerning either the insurance afforded by the Master Policy or a claim
      under the Master Policy.




"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." -Langston Hughes
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brnepanther
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Re: Your right to free reports from credit reporting agencies

#6, by brnepanther, 02 June 2009 12:09 AM

crying That was a whole lot of hot mess. Sorry, I tried to work it but it wouldn't format it like I wanted it to.

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." -Langston Hughes
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reflective
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Re: Your right to free reports from credit reporting agencies

#7, by reflective, 02 June 2009 03:44 AM

@ sister brnepanther
Your post is perfectly readable and exactly what I was looking to read... thanks! smile

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