| Consumer Affairs warns about 'not-so-free'
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) encourages people to check their credit reports annually. This is an important way consumers can safeguard against identity theft, credit fraud or unauthorized charges, and check for errors or inaccuracies that can affect a credit decision. Legislation that became effective in South Carolina on June 1, 2005, gives consumers the right to receive a FREE copy of their credit report once a year. However, if ordering your credit report online, consumers are warned to stay away from misleading Web sites claiming to offer free credit reports, then enrolling the unsuspecting consumer in a monthly reporting service costing $11.95 each month. SCDCA has received numerous complaints from consumers who are further victimized when emails trying to cancel the service go unanswered and the Web sites offer no information on cancellation.
'Security Risk' Blocks U.S. Troops Overseas from Free Credit Report Site
No Free Online Access for Millions of Americans YONKERS, N.Y., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Millions of U.S. citizens outside the country -- including several hundred thousand members of the armed forces -- are not permitted to see their personal credit information on the Web site set up by law to provide free access, over security concerns that an offshore user might create. Four years ago, the U.S. Congress mandated creating the http://www.annualcreditreport.com site that gives consumers free access to one report per year from each of the three major credit agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The law that created that site, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 -- known as FACTA, or the FACT Act -- was designed to protect U.S.
For more information
Generally, you will need to freeze at all three bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax and Experian - to make it effective. It's possible, however, that a bureau doesn't have a report on you - and it's silly to pay to freeze something that doesn't exist. So before you apply, get a copy of your free annual credit report from each bureau to see who has a report on you. You will also want to check the freeze terms at each bureau before deciding. How to apply: TransUnion has its system up and running. Send your name, Social Security number and a credit card number and expiration date (for the $10 charge) to TransUnion, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, Calif., 92834-6790. If you are a victim of ID theft, freezes and thaws are free. For more information, call 1-888-909-8872.
Wall Street in rally mode
Stocks rallied near midday Tuesday, recovering from the previous day's selloff, as investors welcomed Hewlett-Packard's earnings and questioned whether the recent spate of bad news could make another Fed interest rate cut more likely. The Dow Jones industrial average (Charts) added 1.1 percent almost two hours into the session, while the S&P 500 (Charts) index gained 1.3 percent. The Nasdaq composite (Charts) gained 1.6 percent. Stocks tumbled Monday, with the Dow falling below 13,000 for only the second time since August, as Goldman Sachs' dour outlook on the financial sector and a weak report on home builder confidence sparked a broad market selloff. After such a retreat, stocks bounced a bit Tuesday, aided by the news out of HP and perhaps speculation that the Federal Reserve is bound to cut interest rates again at the December 11 meeting, or even ahead of it.
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