Here is part 2 of my series on Identity Theft a crime running like mad all over this country, I hope this is helpful(I really hope you never have to worry about this!).

If an Identity Theft is opening new credit cards under your name, these accounts are likely to show up on your credit report.  You can find out by ordering a copy of your credit report from the three nationwide consumer reporting companies.  If you have lost any personal Information-or if it has been stolen-you may need to check all your reports more frequently for the first year.

Monitor the balances of your financial accounts.  Look for unexplained changes or withdrawals.  Other indications of identity theft can be:

1.  Failing to receive bills or other mail.  This could mean an indentity theft has submitted a change of address form.

2.  Receiving credit cards you did NOT apply for.

3.  A denial of credit for no apparent reason.

4.  Receiving calls from debt collectors or companies about merchandise or services you didn't buy or receive.

Geeting your Credit Reports

FREE ANNUAL CREDIT REPORTS

An amendment to the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the major national consumer reporting compies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

Since September 1st 2005, free reports are accessible to ALL Americans, regardless of where they live.

I can not put the web sites here for the Credit Reporting company but here is other information on them.

Here is what I could find for annual credit report (just put the words together and you have the website) or call toll-free 1-877-322-8228 or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:

Annual Credit Report Servive

PO Box 105281

Atlanta GA 30348-5281

(You are not supposed to contact the 3 companies seperately just contact this comapny as listed above)

Other Rights to Free Reports

Under Federal Law, you're entitled to a FREE report if a company takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, Insurance or Employment, and you request your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action.  The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company that supplied the information about you.  You're also entitled to one free report a year if you're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days, if your on Welfare, or if your report is inaccurate because of fraud.  Otherwise, a consumer reporting company will charge you up to $9.50 for additional copies of your report.

TO BUY A COPY CALL

1.  Equifax    1-800-685-1111

2.  Experian   1-800-397-3742

3.  TransUnion    1-800-916-8800

I hope this information is very helpful, if so remember to VOTE.

There will be a part 3 coming soon!