Identity Theft?
- Thread starter tarkovsky
- Start date
Every one should keep an eye on there own credit report.
http://www.equifax.com/home/en_ca
You can easily see who is running credit checks on you and catch it before it is to late.
http://www.equifax.com/home/en_ca
You can easily see who is running credit checks on you and catch it before it is to late.
Ontario Law
Under Ontario Law, residents of Ontario have the right to post an alert on their credit bureau. When such an alert is posted on your credit bureau file, any time an application for credit is received, the company processing the request MUST contact the customer at the telephone number identified on the alert, to ensure the request is legitimate.
This link explains the process.
http://trustees.bankruptcycanada.com/ontario-credit-bureaus.htm#protection
Here is the government website detailing this.
http://www.gov.on.ca/mgs/en/News/108180.html
Two cautions:
1) Placing an alert on your file will delay the approval process for any credit products you apply for, since the lender is required to contact you prior to granting a new credit facility.
Also, when applying, be sure to disclose to the credit grantor that you have placed an alert on your file. Some lenders will decline you outright otherwise, believing that someone is trying to impersonate you.
If you have placed an alert on your file and a company grants you credit without speaking directly with you, at the telephone number your specified, I would strongly consider whether you wish to do business with this company, since they are ignoring the law, and also ignoring the explicit instructions you placed on your credit bureau.
2) If you move, change telephone numbers, etc, remember that it is your responsibility to update the phone number on your credit bureau alert. I have seen many cases where an alert was placed several years earlier, and the phone number on the credit bureau is no longer in service. This will result in (sometimes) lengthy delays in the approval process, since the customer must contact the credit bureau, update their information, and then wait for the lender to obtain another credit bureau showing the new information, and then contact them. In these cases, do not get mad at the lender. Remember, they are following your instructions and following the law!
This will also impact your credit score since you will 2 (or more) inquiries on your credit bureau for the same request.
Under Ontario Law, residents of Ontario have the right to post an alert on their credit bureau. When such an alert is posted on your credit bureau file, any time an application for credit is received, the company processing the request MUST contact the customer at the telephone number identified on the alert, to ensure the request is legitimate.
This link explains the process.
http://trustees.bankruptcycanada.com/ontario-credit-bureaus.htm#protection
Here is the government website detailing this.
http://www.gov.on.ca/mgs/en/News/108180.html
Two cautions:
1) Placing an alert on your file will delay the approval process for any credit products you apply for, since the lender is required to contact you prior to granting a new credit facility.
Also, when applying, be sure to disclose to the credit grantor that you have placed an alert on your file. Some lenders will decline you outright otherwise, believing that someone is trying to impersonate you.
If you have placed an alert on your file and a company grants you credit without speaking directly with you, at the telephone number your specified, I would strongly consider whether you wish to do business with this company, since they are ignoring the law, and also ignoring the explicit instructions you placed on your credit bureau.
2) If you move, change telephone numbers, etc, remember that it is your responsibility to update the phone number on your credit bureau alert. I have seen many cases where an alert was placed several years earlier, and the phone number on the credit bureau is no longer in service. This will result in (sometimes) lengthy delays in the approval process, since the customer must contact the credit bureau, update their information, and then wait for the lender to obtain another credit bureau showing the new information, and then contact them. In these cases, do not get mad at the lender. Remember, they are following your instructions and following the law!
This will also impact your credit score since you will 2 (or more) inquiries on your credit bureau for the same request.
JohnFK said:
My workplace gave the accountants the wrong address, even after I checked to make sure it was correct.
It was already sent out by the time I checked again so there was nothing I could do but hope the mail wasn't opened. From what I understand, you're supposed to treat your SIN like it's your secret password but companies treat them like anything but.