Poor Man Survival
Self Reliance tools
for independent minded people…
ISSN 2161-5543
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
Other Credit Reporting Agencies You Probably Didn’t Know Exist
Checked and updated for 2019. Since these are
available every 12 months, it is a good idea to check these near or around the
same time each year.
A lot of companies make their money by collecting and selling
data – your personal data. In the past, it
was often difficult if not impossible to see what they were telling prospective
lenders, landlords, even employers about you. Under the FCRA and/or FACT Acts,
many consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) are now legally required to send you
a free copy of your report
every 12 months, as well as provide a way to dispute incorrect information.
Some
have an online request form, but some require snail mail with proof of
identity. (Some are shady and really try to hide this option.) You probably
won’t want to bother checking all of them, but if you’ve experienced any sort
of rejection or adverse reaction in these areas the cause might be found inside
one of these databases. Keep in mind that you may not have a file with all of
these places. Requesting a copy of your own consumer reports does not hurt your credit score.
Credit-Related
Experian,
Equifax, and TransUnion. The three major credit bureaus track your credit
accounts, payment history, and other related information like bankrupts and
liens. Free copy of each once every 12 months
You
can also now freeze your credit reports for free, but you must contact each
bureau separately. For the contact info, please see Big
List of Ways To Protect Your Identity: Free Credit Monitoring, Free Credit
Locks, and Free Credit Freezes
CoreLogic
Credco. One
of the largest credit-related CRAs and often used by mortgage lenders, your
CoreLogic Credco Consumer File can contain: previous homeownership and mortgage
info, rental payment history, any reported delinquencies, and other debt
obligations like child support. Free copy once every 12 months.
§ 877-322-8228
CoreLogic
Credco. One
of the largest credit-related CRAs and often used by mortgage lenders, your
CoreLogic Credco Consumer File can contain: previous homeownership and mortgage
info, rental payment history, any reported delinquencies, and other debt
obligations like child support. Free copy once every 12 months.
§ 877-532-8778
§
LexisNexis. One of the
largest personal information databases that includes public records, real
estate transaction and ownership data, lien, judgment, and bankruptcy records,
professional license information, and historical addresses on file. Free copy,
must mail in form.
§ 866-897-8126
Innovis. A supplementary
credit report and identity verification provider. Free copy once every 12
months.
§ 800-540-2505
SageStream,
LLC (formerly ID Analytics) Per their site, they are a “a credit reporting
agency that produces credit reports and scores from our repository of consumer
information contributed by a wide array of companies including leading
financial services organizations, wireless providers, utilities, retailers,
auto lenders and many others” Free copy, must fax or mail in a written form.
§ 888-395-0277
Banking-Related
Chexsystems. A consumer
information database used by an estimated 80-90% of all banks to help determine
the risk of opening new accounts. Think of it as the banks’ version of a credit
bureau. If a person commits check fraud or overdraws their account, it will be
listed here. In addition, the simple act of opening or closing a bank account
may be recorded in their database. Having a negative ChexSystems record can
leave you blacklisted from opening bank accounts at most major banks. Free copy
once every 12 months. You can now request your report online.
§ 800-428-9623
CrossCheck,
Inc. Provides
check verification services for various industries, including automotive sales
and repair, building supply, home improvement, retail, medical, dental, and veterinarian
industries.
§ 800-843-0760
Global
Payments Check Services, Inc. Provides check verification services for various
industries.
§ 800-638-4600 x410
TeleCheck. Per their site,
they provide “industry-leading check acceptance, check processing and risk
analytics services to merchants and financial institutions.” One of the major
companies that protect businesses and banks from bad checks. Must order by phone
or mail.
§ 800-366-2425
Certegy
Check Services. Per
their site, a “check risk management company that provides verification,
guarantee and risk analytics to thousands of businesses that choose to accept
checks as a form of payment for goods or services.” Clients include
check-cashing stores and casinos. Free copy once every 12 months. Must order by
phone or mail.
§ 800-237-3826
Early Warning Services. A collaboration between a group of big banks including Bank of America, BB&T, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. Provides fraud prevention and risk management in relation to bank accounts and payment transactions. Must be ordered by phone.
§ 800-325-7775
Subprime-Related
(Payday Lending)
The
following companies focus on subprime customers with clients including payday
lenders, title loan lenders, rent-to-own stores, and subprime auto loan
providers.
Teletrack (affiliated
with CoreLogic).
§ 877-309-5226
FactorTrust. Free copy once
every 12 months. Owned by TransUnion.
§ 844-773-3321
Clarity
Services, Inc.
§ 866-390-3118
DataX
Ltd.
§ 800-295-4790
Microbilt
and subsidiary Payment Reporting Builds Credit (PRBC). Microbilt is a
provider of credit data for the “approximately 110 million underserved and
underbanked consumers in the United States.” Free copy once every 12 months.
§ 888-222-7621
It is not just credit bureaus that have a file on you. If you
have recently applied for a job, made an insurance claim, been denied a return
at a retail store, rented an apartment, or had other business transactions,
there is likely a database file with your name on it. Here is how and where to get a free copy.
NOTE:
For more than a decade my wife and I
did not use credit, we paid cash for everything including our home-we were
completely debt and credit free and as a result due to the American way of
business we got dinged on homeowners and auto insurance which treated us as if
we had “bad” credit. I confronted our
agent and asked if they could buy their home outright for cash-of course they
couldn’t. We were an anomaly in America. Reluctantly, we contacted our bank and were
approved in about 90-seconds for a Visa card.
For six months we made small charges and paid each purchase off in full
to build up a credit file. Soon other
credit offers piled up in our mail box.
We took advantage of one other and made the same good payment schedule. Within a year our credit rating jumped 75
points and increases monthly to the point where we now have a better than
average credit rating. Ironically,
our insurance premiums won’t decline until they renew later in 2019!
News of Interest
What
to Feed Your Family When the Power Goes Out
Winter storm heading your way? Check out CR's no-cook meal
ideas and food safety advice.
Freedom. Self-Reliance. Action.
Special Offer for
our Readers
72-hour Emergency Meal
kit that's being offered contains 16 total servings of such delicious meals as
Blue Ribbon Creamy Chicken Rice, the always-loved Granny's Homestyle Potato
Soup and the stick-to-your-ribs breakfast favorite Maple Grove Oatmeal.
This kit normally sells for $27, plus shipping and handling and
is rated 4½ out of five stars by customers.
While supplies last, these kits are available for only $21.95
and that includes Priority Shipping [we were force to increase prices due to
another round of USPS price hikes]. Go here for this deal:
Yours for smarter
living,
Bruce ‘the
Poor Man’
Additional FREE Resources
Every day, people clean out their garages or attics and give
away things they don't want, completely unaware that many of the items they
donate are valuable to preppers.
These items end up in secondhand stores and can often be
purchased for a fraction of what they would cost new. You just have to be
patient and search. Here you'll find a list of items you should look for,
especially if you're a prepper on a budget.
1. Boots - These are expensive brand new, but you can often
find them for under 10 bucks a pair in thrift stores. They don't have to be
pretty, but you do want them to be water tight. Inspect the boots and look for
tears in the sole. You can always buy shoelaces and waterproof spray. Having
several pairs of boots stashed away ensures you'll always have a dry pair to
put on...
More
notes of interest…
Living Frugally In Suburbia
You live differently than your neighbors.
You live differently than your neighbors.
14
Frugal Food-Rescuing Tips from Grandma
These depression-era frugal tips still work today!
These depression-era frugal tips still work today!
8 Simple Ways to Put More Money in Your Pocket
Have more money without working harder!
Have more money without working harder!
Knowing
When and How to Stockpile Groceries
Stocking up could save your grocery budget!
Stocking up could save your grocery budget!
Develop a Well-Rounded Prepper
Library
When the topic of a prepping library comes up,
what do most people talk about? Chances are the U.S. Air
Force survival manual, SAS survival manual, Army Field Manual 21-76, or something from Ragnor Benson.
When
people get into prepping they typically start with stockpiling, then may
gravitate towards self-sufficiency. For example, someone may start off with
stockpiling canned goods, then move towards mylar bags and
freeze dried foods, then finally arrive at prepsteading, farming, and
gardening.
Most people who live in the suburbs can have a small garden, maybe
some laying hens, and fruit trees. This allows just about anyone to grow some
of their own food.
As preppers progress from stockpiling to prepsteading, shouldn’t
their library also progress?
Chances are a lot of preppers do not have a single book on
gardening, homesteading, canning and preserving food… etc. Even less will have
books on literature, science, and math.
If we are prepping for a complete collapse of society, shouldn’t
we also stockpile books for future generations? If something were to happen
today – plague, nuclear war.. etc – what types of books would the reader have
on hand to teach their children, or grandchildren?
What good does it do to survive the next plague, nuclear war… if
future generations do not have access to resources? This means real books
made from paper and not electronic books for e-readers.
Why real books?
·
A real book can be dropped, and dropped several times without
damage.
·
Real books do not require electricity.
You’ve got 2 hours until disaster strikes. Are you prepared?
If you’ve watched any apocalyptic movie ever, you’re familiar
with the grocery store scene.
You know which one I’m talking about. Anxious dad rushes isle by isle gathering
water and canned food for his family while everyone around him gradually turns
from innocent customer to aggressive looter.
At my little farmstead, we have used tarps in
gardening, to cover wood, as a shade area for our chickens, and to protect our
outdoor equipment. Tarps are very useful and when you invest in the higher
quality types, they last! Read more and make sure you you add these to your
preparedness supplies!
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3 comments:
Holy crap Poor Man-had no idea so many of these reporting agencies exist & have access to your personal data-thanks for pointing this out. Although I try to keep a low profile, our lives are an open book to the consumer & government pry masters...frankly, I'm sick of it.
I always learn about new and useful resources here-you're the 'king of content'!
Aye, Aye Captain-good post as always!
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