March 7th, 2023 10:04 AM by Richard Sardella MLO.100007700/NMLS 233568
ALERT: YOUR NAME AND PERSONAL INFORMATION ARE BEING SOLD BY EXPERIAN, TRANSUNION AND EQUIFAX!
Colorado Home Mortgages is sharing this notice to help our valued clients understand what happens from credit inquiries. This is part of our continued commitment to you as your trusted resource for anything that is Colorado housing.
Reach your CHM team at 303-471-4445 anytime we may assist.
PLEASE READ AND FORWARD TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Having your credit checked is an important and necessary step in the home buying process, as well as something that is done on a regular basis for any number of reasons - increasing a credit line on your Visa, applying for insurance, or buying a car. But very few people realize that each time their credit is checked, the "inquiry data" that the credit bureaus (EQUIFAX, TRANSUNION & EXPERIAN) has on file has now become a commodity. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS BEING SOLD BY THE CREDIT BUREAUS. THAT'S RIGHT - THE CREDIT BUREAUS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO INCREASE THIER REVENUES AT YOUR EXPENSE.... AND WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION!!! These "INQUIRY LEADS" include your NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBERS, (INCLUDING UNLISTED), CREDIT SCORE, CURRENT DEBT, AND DEBT HISTORY, PROPERTY INFORMATION, AGE, GENDER AND ESTIMATED INCOME. They are selling your personal, confidential information and MAKING MILLIONS. Your privacy is being sold, not just once, but over and over again. The companies that are purchasing this information at a premium price will do whatever it takes to recoup their investment and turn a hefty profit. In the Mortgage industry for instance SUPER SNEAKY bait and switch tactics are being used to lure clients away from their reputable lender. Clients have even been called by these lenders and told that the lender they had been speaking to previously "passed on" their information to them, because they knew that they would be able to offer a much better interest rate/term and took advantage of the consumer with high priced rate buy downs and excessive fees. Also, the majority of "PRE-APPROVED CREDIT OFFERS" are generated by these "INQUIRY LEADS" and they arrive VIA US MAIL....
THIS IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF IDENTITY THEFT IN THE US!
THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU CAN MAKE IT STOP RIGHT AWAY.
The consumer credit reporting industry has provided a way to "opt out" and remove your name from these lists. You can contact them by phone at 1-888-567-8688 or on line at WWW.OPTOUTPRESCREEN.COM . You must opt out at least 48 hours prior to having your credit checked to make sure it is processed in time. You can choose a five year or lifetime option (The lifetime option requires a signed form). If a credit report needs to be run prior to the 48 hour waiting period- at least you are aware and informed, and can be on the lookout for suspicious phone calls or mailers from someone who has purchased your information.
WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION
https://consumer.gov/section/scams-identity-theft
https://www.ojp.gov/about/offices/office-victims-crime-ovc
https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/
https://privacyrights.org/