Some info you should know ...

[Axman]

Just wanted to let everyone know who hasn't already heard, the four major
credit bureaus in the US will be allowed, starting July 1, to release your
credit info, mailing addresses, phone numbers, etc., to anyone who requests
it.

If you would like to 'opt out' of this release of info, you can call
1-888-567-8688. It only takes a couple of minutes to do, and you can take
care of anyone else in the household while making only one call. You'll just
need to know their social security number. Be sure to listen closely since
the first opt out choice (press '1') is only for two years.

Make sure you wait until they prompt you to press '3' on your phone keypad to
opt out for good. They will then ask you for a telephone number to verify
street address, name and social security number. That is all that is
required.

 

[Jfur]

whoa!!!! thanks! :|

 

[db]

tks

 

[AaronP]

it could just be a scam to get SS numbers. Anyways, its a busy signal.

 

[rootaxs]

Nope. This is not a scam.

Check out FTC.Gov for more info.

 

[kcklla]

Damn government:|stay out of my damn life and let me live

 

[AaronP]

actually, your anger is misplaced, the govt is helping you increase your privacy by making these agencies give you the option of opting out.

Thanks Government!

 

[wyvrn]

Cool thanks for the info.

 

[cjchaps]

Way ahead of you guys...
This is a repost

Original Thread.

 

[Carbo]

<< Thanks Government! >>

Aaron, you sniveling moron, isn't it enough you're showing your ignorance in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge thread? Must you display it so proudly here, too?

---

Your rudeness is off topic for this thread and completely unwarranted. Take a week away from AnandTech to consider showing more respect for your fellow members when you return.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[mchammer187]

thanks , busy tho

 

[palad]

From Snopes.com:



<< The key point is that -- contrary to the text of the above dire warning -- credit bureaus cannot sell your credit information to &quot;anyone who requests it.&quot; Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1997, businesses seeking to obtain personal information from credit bureaus must have a &quot;permissible purpose&quot; in order to access credit reports. (Permissible purposes include checking the backgrounds of persons to determine their creditworthiness before selling or renting property to them, extending them loans or credit, or considering them for employment.) This restriction remains in force, it did not change on July 1, and it still applies whether or not you call the number listed above.

What has changed is that due to the recent implementation of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act) the banking, insurance, and securities industries are now allowed to operate under the same corporate affiliation. (This act set aside legislation passed during the Depression era, which had created legal barriers that prevented mergers between banks, insurance companies, brokerage firms, and other financial institutions.) Because of consumers' concerns that new financial conglomerates could violate their privacy by sharing huge new databases of sensitive customer information with third parties, Congress added a provision to the act requiring that all financial service companies send privacy notices providing a &quot;reasonable opportunity&quot; to opt out of this information-sharing to all their customers by July 1. (These notices must also tell you the kinds of information the companies collect about you and how they use that information.)

>>



Check out the full article here.