Shapiro Issues Consumer Alert: Check Your Credit More Often Through COVID-19 Emergency

May 11, 2020 | Topic: Consumers

HARRISBURG”•Attorney General Shapiro today alerted consumers that TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian are providing free credit reports on a weekly basis to users until April 2021. Normally, each report can only be accessed for free once per year.

“My Office encourages Pennsylvanians to take advantage of tools like these to protect themselves during the COVID-19 emergency,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “Increased access to credit reports during this crisis will help consumers across the Commonwealth ensure that they’re safe from scammers throughout recovery. I also urge consumers to report any suspicious calls or emails about COVID-19, unemployment applications, or stimulus checks to my Office.”

After visiting AnnualCreditReport.com and entering the prompted information, Pennsylvanians should take these steps to ensure the accuracy of their report:

  • Verify all business names and payment dates are correct in the report’s transaction history;
  • Verify all addresses, additional lines of credit, and accounts are correct;
  • Dispute any unfamiliar or incorrect information—the Office of Attorney General sent a letter to credit reporting agencies reminding them of their obligation to resolve these disputes quickly for Pennsylvania consumers.

Consumers can sign up for text scam alerts, which offer tips for consumers to avoid becoming a victim of a scam, warn about new scams or update subscribers on consumer protection issues. Pennsylvanians can sign up for these tips from our Office at https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/consumer-alerts/. Consumers can also file a complaint about an active or potential scam at https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/.

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