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TU fax - February
7, 2002
February 7, 2002
Ms.
Christine Baker
(address deleted)
Re: Christine Baker v. Trans
Union, LLC; Cause No.: 801 2001 CV 1751 UN; In the Justice Court of Mohave
County, Kingman, AZ
Dear Ms. Baker:
I write to answer your
January 25, 2002 letter and January 29, 2002 letter. I am still investigating a
few of the questions that you had and was waiting until I had everything before
I sent you a letter. Because you want the information immediately, I write with
the explanations that I do have. There were several questions that you raised
and I address them below in turn:
Questions:
1) What does
Trans Union recommend for fraud alerts?
Trans Union has a standard
fraud alert statement it places on files that alerts inquirers that the person
is a victim of fraud. The statement requests the inquirer contact the consumer
at the provided phone number to verify he/she applied for credit.
2)
What does Trans Union do after notification of fraud?
If the
consumer notifies Trans Union of the fraud and provides the fraudulent accounts,
then Trans Union adds the fraud alert statement, investigates the accounts that
are reported by the consumer as fraudulent, and sends the consumer an updated
copy. If Trans Union is notified of fraud by a creditor, then Trans Union sends
the consumer a letter stating that it was contacted by a creditor that he/she is
a victim of fraud and requests he/she contact Trans Union.
3) How
does a fraud alert affect new credit offers?
When a creditor reviews
the file, the file will show a fraud alert statement. This should not affect any
new credit offers; however, all credit offer determinations are made by the
individual creditor, not Trans Union.
4) How are the accounts listed
on the credit report?
Public records first, adverse accounts second,
then the positive trades are arranged from the most recently verified/updated to
the oldest, not in alphabetical order.
5) What are Trans Union's
procedures for deletion of unauthorized inquiries?
Inquiries are
made by companies with a permissible purpose as outlined in the FCRA.
Technically, there is no such thing as an unauthorized inquiry because the
standard is whether a company has a permissible purpose in pulling your credit
report. You do not always have to give a company permission to pull your credit
report under the FCRA. However, if the creditor who made the inquiry sends in a
letter to Trans Union requesting its deletion, the Trans Union will delete it.
Trans Union will also delete it if the consumer provides a letter from a
creditor requesting its inquiry deletion.
6) What is the email and
fax information to dispute an item?
www.transunion.com fax
714-447-6032
7) What is the proper authorization so someone other
than the consumer can monitor your credit report while you are on vacation?
Trans Union will process a request to send a credit file to someone
other than you, but must be sent to your address. That person, however, can not
make any changes to your file.
In order for Trans Union to speak with
someone else regarding your file, Trans Union will need a Power of Attorney.
8) The User Changeable PIN.
I am forwarding on your
suggestion about the user changeable pin to Trans Union. Because the FCRA does
not require a user changeable pin, however, Trans Union cannot be held liable
for damages for not offering user changeable pins.
9) Professional
Recovery #2729555
You requested information regarding the details of
the verification of this account. This was verified on October 10, 2001 by
telephone. George at Professional Recovery verified the account with your name,
address, and social security number. The creditor also verified that its client,
Pacific Bell, requested that it transfer the account to American Agencies. The
account balance was zeroed out, it was marked transferred and verified on 11/01
(the month the change was made.) Again, their contact information is:
Professional Recovery
3005 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118
(408) 978-4000
10) Trans Union Consumer Disclosures
Trans Union Disclosures are when Trans Union accesses your file either
to send you a copy of your file, review the file, or process a dispute. As
stated on the credit file, these can not be viewed by creditors inquiring on
your file. Only you and Trans Union see this information.
11) Compass
Bankcard inquiry
Our records reflect that this inquiry was made on
6/26/01, not 4/26/01. Its address and phone number are:
POB 2210
Decatur, AL 35699
(256) 552-1583
I hope this answers your
questions. Additional, as I mentioned to you earlier, Trans Union does not have
any additional information about your inquiries nor does Trans Union tell Fair
Isaac to count an inquiry as a score lowering inquiry.
Your Disputes
with Trans Union
I hope the above answers your questions. I am still
waiting for information on how the inquiries are listed on credit reports. I
believe they are in chronological order but I need to verify this for certain.
Additionally, I understand that you believe that Trans Union did not investigate
your disputes. I think, because of your privacy concerns, if I explain what
happened you will understand why Trans Union asked for more identifying
information. Trans Union had two files that were coming up with your
information. One file listed you. The other listed a Christian Baker. Both
listed your address and date of birth. Because of this, Trans Union wanted to
ensure that there was no fraud involved. Trans Union referred your file to the
Mixed/Confused File Investigators. They then requested a copy of your driver's
license and social security card. In effect, this was one of the safeguards that
Trans Union was using to ensure privacy and prevent fraud. Because you did not
supply the requisite information as requested, your accounts were not
investigated per our procedures. Had you provided that information as requested
by the investigators, your disputes would have been investigated.
After
you filed the lawsuit, I requested that Trans Union initiate the disputes based
on my conversations with you. The results of those investigations are reflected
on the most recent credit report that I have sent you. This investigation was
not part of your initial dispute but was undertaken at my request as Trans
Union's lawyer to understand what you were complaining of in your lawsuit and
explain what happened. I hope you now understand what happened in your situation
and I hope my letters have been of assistance to you.
You had stated
earlier that you were interested in settling the matter. Trans Union is willing
to settle your case for $250. Please let me know either way if you will accept
this offer.
Very truly yours,
Amanda Stamps Lewis
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