Improvements made in identity theft reporting process

Northwestern Financial Review, May 15-May 31, 2003

Identity fraud victims will have to call only one toll-free telephone number to notify the three major credit reporting companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion - the Consumer Data Industry Association announced. Under the program, when a victim calls one of the credit reporting companies, the company contacted will share the information with the other two.

The companies will follow a standard three-step process of posting a credit alert on the victim's file, removing the victim from pre-approved offers of credit or insurance, and mailing a copy of the credit file to the victim.