Free Equifax Credit Report + Fico Score from Household Bank

[hackmole]

Yeah, it might be a scam to get your ID and social security number cause I put in my information and it said something like it wasn't able to identify me and to phone their office. I wonder how many phone calls I'm going to get and how much extra mail I'm going to get. Sometimes I wish I could hack the phone to give those people on the other end an ELECTRIC shock when they phone me for all that crap.

 

[TheToOTaLL]

Sweet, thanks!

 

[justdad]

nice thanks, happy new year.

 

[vinjince]

Its not a scam. I had already signed up before for something free. I just reactivated my account and did the survey and logged in and now it has scorepower for 0.00.


Thanks I was REALLY needing this.

 

[brucekatz]

Household Bank. NO, NO, NO!!!
I never apply anything from them, and they keep sending me "you are approved." After many call asking them stop sending me junk mails and sharing info with others. It does not stop. Why I am angry? Every 4 months, the bank inquires my credit history; too many inquire will affect one's credit rating.

I never ask anything from them, I don't know why and how I am on their list. It is illegal to inquire credit history without consent, and I have contact all 3 credit burua, nothing has be done. It is not a big deal now, but I am more worried about identity theft in th future. I am think filling a compliant to AG. Good luck to myself.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: BG4533
Just got mine. That was really easy and I was going to do it soon here anyway. I wonder if I can try this again in a few months. Thanks.

Yes, you can do this over and over again. It's been floating around FW for a while and I've done it myself. Just fillout the household survey info w new, fake info and when you get to the Equifax page put in the username/pwd you used the first time. Most companies update monthly at most so doing it a week after the first sign up will probably yield the same results.

To get in on the open/close dormant acct train, yes in a lot of situations it's better to leave them open. When they look at things like avg and oldest age of your accts and your balance/total avail ratio it can be to your benefit. I do generally recommend that people close dept store (Sears/Macy's/etc) cards because they typically come w lower credit lines, the rates are 20+%, and they rarely offer a savings benefit. The one thing alot of people do run into is mortgage companies asking them to close accts during the application process. This is usually because they look at see your have X amt of credit vs making Y/year and they consider it a risk that you'll use that credit and not be able to repay the mortgage. You can usually reopen these accts right after settlement depending on the company.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: brucekatz
Household Bank. NO, NO, NO!!!
I never apply anything from them, and they keep sending me "you are approved." After many call asking them stop sending me junk mails and sharing info with others. It does not stop. Why I am angry? Every 4 months, the bank inquires my credit history; too many inquire will affect one's credit rating.

I never ask anything from them, I don't know why and how I am on their list. It is illegal to inquire credit history without consent, and I have contact all 3 credit burua, nothing has be done. It is not a big deal now, but I am more worried about identity theft in th future. I am think filling a compliant to AG. Good luck to myself.

These are 'soft inquiries' and won't affect your FICO. Call 888-5OPT-OUT if you haven't already and get off the list. It will take some time to go into effect, I had the same problem w Citibank a few years ago (sending me offers for student cards at 19% none the less) and it took a while but they did stop.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: brucekatz
Household Bank. NO, NO, NO!!!
I never apply anything from them, and they keep sending me "you are approved." After many call asking them stop sending me junk mails and sharing info with others. It does not stop. Why I am angry? Every 4 months, the bank inquires my credit history; too many inquire will affect one's credit rating.

I never ask anything from them, I don't know why and how I am on their list. It is illegal to inquire credit history without consent, and I have contact all 3 credit burua, nothing has be done. It is not a big deal now, but I am more worried about identity theft in th future. I am think filling a compliant to AG. Good luck to myself.

Those are 'soft inquiries' and won't affect your FICO. Call 888-5OPT-OUT if you haven't already and get off the list. It will take some time to go into effect, I had the same problem w Citibank a few years ago (sending me offers for student cards at 19% none the less) and it took a while but they did stop.

Corrected. The "you are pre-approved" letters that people get in the mail are "soft inquiries" and are legal. The requesting company only sees the customer's credit score and total of balances, but does not get to see details like payment history, etc. If you want them to stop, call 1-888-5OPT-OUT and follow the directions. These, or this inquiry with Household, will not be a "soft inquiry".

I do recommend that people do NOT take part in this "Hot Deal". Household Finance has a very nasty reputation in the lending business. It is almost certain that they will use the information you provide them here as sales leads in order to market to you in the future. Very good sales leads at that, complete with full names, addresses, SSN's, and customer-requested credit bureau. And as you are requesting this information first, they now have a "relationship" with you and can telemarket to you even if you are on the Federal Do Not Call list.

Enjoy

 

[iahk]

You don't give Household bank SSN... they refer you to equifax's site and from there on in it's the normal FICO product they provide. And as someone stated above, you don't have to provide them with accurate info. All that matters is you fill in the form with some information to get to the link to equifax.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Vic
These, or this inquiry with Household, will not be a "soft inquiry".

I do recommend that people do NOT take part in this "Hot Deal". Household Finance has a very nasty reputation in the lending business. It is almost certain that they will use the information you provide them here as sales leads in order to market to you in the future. Very good sales leads at that, complete with full names, addresses, SSN's, and customer-requested credit bureau. And as you are requesting this information first, they now have a "relationship" with you and can telemarket to you even if you are on the Federal Do Not Call list.

There may be a communication gap here, but it certainly seems that the inquiries brucekatz is referring to are soft inquiries related to an offer for them to extend credit to him. Soft inquiries are when a company requests a limited copy of your report such as this for marketing purposes or when an existing company you have a business relationship with is updating their records. Hard inquiries only happen when you attempt to open an acct.

You seem to have also missed the point on not providing real info to Household as iahk pointed out. I think it's pretty safe to say that they will attempt to use the info to market you in the future. I'll even go out on a limb here and say that the whole point of them offering free credit reports. Not that I have any reason to defend Household's business practices, but something like this wouldn't lead me to characterize them with a "nasty reputation". They're probably paying Equifax a greatly discounted amount for every credit report pulled, filtering out the crap and marketing to what's left. If anyone is "nasty" here, it's us for taking advantage of it, but I would never call the kettle black so I won't even go down that road.

As far as the Do Not Call list goes...

A telemarketer or seller may call a consumer with whom it has an established business relationship for up to 18 months after the consumer's last purchase, delivery, or payment - even if the consumer's number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. In addition, a company may call a consumer for up to three months after the consumer makes an inquiry or submits an application to the company. And if a consumer has given a company written permission, the company may call even if the consumer's number is on the National Do Not Call Registry.

This is not an inquiry or an application, you are entering a contest which I don't believe qualifies. Even if they were, this would only matter if you were so inclined to provide them your real information. As previously mentioned, this has been floating around the FW Finance forums for almost 3 months with many, many happy people including myself. For the record, I have not received one phone call or direct mail.

 

[Acts837]

Thanks, Entered my work info with Household because I have dealt with them in the past (3x's) and they suck! After I entered the sweepstakes it sent me to equifax so I could use my previous login id. I'm curious though because the referal link had a descriptor from household. What will come of this? Only time will tell.

 

[sat4fun]

I have had a Fraud statement on my SSN with all three credit agencies and it is the best thing. Sometimes it is a PITA, but it stops the crooks in their tracks. I highly recommend it to all.

 

[markjrubin]

What's a fraud statement?

 

[brucekatz]

Thanks for all respones, I do feel better about those univited soft inqures on my credit history.

It is pain dealing with Household bank, I even once received an "account agreement", if I don't agree, I need to do certain things... The problem is I never have an account with them. Almighty awful, whatever they had on file, which I "agreed???" with them before.

 

[daclayman]

awesome find OP

BTW - don't EVER sign up for Radio Shack credit. You have been warned.:beer:

 

[Wildcats]

Call this number to protect your privacy and prevent your credit info from being shared:

1-888-5OPT-OUT [888-567-8688

Option 2.
Listen to the options. Do not say "one" after the tone.
Say "two" after the tone.

"Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit bureaus can release your credit information to people with a legitimate business need. The credit bureaus also can sell lists that are used by companies to make unsolicited offers for credit and insurance.

Consumers who want to have their names removed from the lists compiled by the three largest credit bureaus in the United States (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) can call toll free: 888-5OPT-OUT [888-567-8688]


Consumer Privacy

Granted, with the "Patriot Act", you have no privacy....but at least you can try to prevent some Identity Theft.


US Dept of Justice - Identity Theft help

 

[sat4fun]

Originally posted by: markjrubin
What's a fraud statement?

It is a statement that is added to your credit file that requires the creditor to contact you directly before any new account is opened. It is great. IMO it should be the standard operating proceedure. I do not get to take part of "instant credit approvals", but who needs that anyway. I always have to call a number to comfirm my identity. Call all three agencies and mention that you suspect that you are the victim of identy fraud and they will add this statement. They will also send you a free credit report.

 

[Wildcats]

sat4fun: Thanks. Good advice!

It may be a bit more complex that just a call though. See this info on the Emperian web site:
90 day security alert .vs. 7 year victim alert

Main "fraud" link on the Experian site:
Fraud info link on Experian web site

They don't want to make it TOO easy for you to prevent fraud. After all, they are in business to work for lenders, NOT to protect your privacy.

 

[geoffkin]

For those who know, I did get a few new cards this year. I was too tempted at all the free $50 gift cards and free DVD players they are giving out!!!
So will it help my credit score, to cancel all those new 2003 cards now that I have the FREE gifts?! That way, my average account age will be ancient again?! Seems to make sense, would this be smart to do?

 

[Wildcats]

Certainly smart to do.... If you don't need them, make sure that they are cancelled (so that no one else can use them).

Don't think that a "cancelled" card is permanently cancelled though. Some credit-card issues will easily re-instate a "cancelled" credit card because they are "happy" that you are back. For example, your spouse or significant-other (or ex) could re-instate your credit card (because he/she knows your SSN, birthplace, etc). Someone that got access to your "private" info could also re-instate your card.

Many (most?) databases that hold your personal info are very insecure to "internal" employees.

Cheers!

 

[freebee]

Ahhha the score is messed up. It says I have a 775 credit score, even though I have fairly short credit history and no more than 10k in credit on 2 credit cards.

 

[Madcat207]

Freebee.. No, your score is NOT messed up. If that is what it shows, that is what EVERY other credit check will ALSO show...

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: geoffkin
For those who know, I did get a few new cards this year. I was too tempted at all the free $50 gift cards and free DVD players they are giving out!!!
So will it help my credit score, to cancel all those new 2003 cards now that I have the FREE gifts?! That way, my average account age will be ancient again?! Seems to make sense, would this be smart to do?

Leave them open.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/Yourcreditrating/P41876.asp

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=52&threadid=176104&highlight_key=y&keyword1=credit&keyword2=close

Certainly there are instances where you would want to close an acct (if it has an annual fee and no points/cash back/etc jumps out as an obvious one) but for the most part leave them open.

MODS: If the FW Finance link is a no-no pls remove and accept my apologies.

 

[Wildcats]

Bypass the Household Bank "information collecting" survey and go directly to the "Free Equifax Credit Report" link....

Registration link to obtain credit report

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
There may be a communication gap here, but it certainly seems that the inquiries brucekatz is referring to are soft inquiries related to an offer for them to extend credit to him. Soft inquiries are when a company requests a limited copy of your report such as this for marketing purposes or when an existing company you have a business relationship with is updating their records. Hard inquiries only happen when you attempt to open an acct.

You seem to have also missed the point on not providing real info to Household as iahk pointed out. I think it's pretty safe to say that they will attempt to use the info to market you in the future. I'll even go out on a limb here and say that the whole point of them offering free credit reports. Not that I have any reason to defend Household's business practices, but something like this wouldn't lead me to characterize them with a "nasty reputation". They're probably paying Equifax a greatly discounted amount for every credit report pulled, filtering out the crap and marketing to what's left. If anyone is "nasty" here, it's us for taking advantage of it, but I would never call the kettle black so I won't even go down that road.

As far as the Do Not Call list goes...

A telemarketer or seller may call a consumer with whom it has an established business relationship for up to 18 months after the consumer's last purchase, delivery, or payment - even if the consumer's number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. In addition, a company may call a consumer for up to three months after the consumer makes an inquiry or submits an application to the company. And if a consumer has given a company written permission, the company may call even if the consumer's number is on the National Do Not Call Registry.

This is not an inquiry or an application, you are entering a contest which I don't believe qualifies. Even if they were, this would only matter if you were so inclined to provide them your real information. As previously mentioned, this has been floating around the FW Finance forums for almost 3 months with many, many happy people including myself. For the record, I have not received one phone call or direct mail.

I was unaware that the free credit report came directly from Equifax. I assumed that Household pulled it themselves. My bad there.

OTOH, my opinion of Household comes from 9 years in the financial services industry, where they have a hideous reputation, particularly in home mortgages. I have on many occassions personally witnessed both their tactics and the damage they do to people. I wouldn't do business with them if they were the last lender on earth.

As for the Do Not Call issue, this most certainly counts as an inquiry for services. Contests do qualify. And you don't have to go out on a limb to say that that is the reason why they are offering this promotion.