Over the past few years the amount of identity thefts have unfortunately been on the rise but one way to keep an eye on what is going on with your accounts and personal information is to obtain an annual credit report. By checking your credit report you will be able to view your account history at TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. These three companies are the top ones for viewing your credit report and having the ability to keep track of anything that may be reported to the credit bureau, any new accounts that are opened as well as any companies that have asked for a credit report on you including the credit card companies and any banking institutions.
You have the option of requesting your annual credit report by phone, via the internet so you have the ability to print your own company or by having one mailed to your home, whichever is the best option for you. The added benefit of the annual credit report is that you can request a free one every 12 months, more often than 12 months you will be charged a small charge but if you are worried about your credit rating or fraud in your name it may be worth having your account checked more often than once a year.
With the three companies listed you also have the opportunity to issue a fraud alert on your account. This alerts any creditors and banking institutions that you have been a victim of identity theft and they will have a plan in place to protect your account from future happenings. One downfall of the fraud alert is that fact that it may take longer for you to be approved for any loans that you apply for but in the long run it may be better to have to wait than have to worry about your identity being stolen or compromised again. When you have requested a fraud alert it will usually stay on your file for about 90 days so you will have to renew it if you want it to stay on your account after that period of time.
