Credit bureaus move to speed handling of identity theft

NEW YORK -- The nation's three major credit bureaus are trying to make it easier for consumers to sort out problems stemming from identity theft.

Starting this month, consumers can notify any one of the agencies -- Equifax, Experian or TransUnion -- that they've been victimized by an identity thief, and that agency will relay the information to the other two bureaus.

All three will then put a "security alert" on the consumer's credit file, remove the person's name from mailing lists for preapproved offers of credit cards and insurance, and mail the consumer a copy of his or her credit report. They also promise to speed up the removal of fraudulent items from credit reports after the victim files a police report.

"It's an effort to relieve the consumer of some of the hassle," said Norm Magnuson, spokesman for the Consumer Data Industry Association, the trade group for credit reporting agencies based in Washington, D.C. "And it should help reduce the chance they'll be further victimized."

The toll-free numbers to contact the credit bureaus are:

Equifax: (888) 766-0008

Experian: (888) 397-3742

TransUnion: (800) 680-7289

Besides contacting the credit agencies, consumers also should contact the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Clearinghouse, either by phone at (877) 438-4338 or on the Web at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Consumers can report identity theft as well as get help in dealing with it, including online affidavit forms.