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If you were one of the individuals affected then you may be at risk of credit fraud. Take the following steps to stay on top of the issue.Step 1: Verify if your information was at risk through the Equifax site.Note: I would not recommend enrolling in their identity theft protection due to some questionable verbiage in their terms of service agreement.Step 2: Review your credit report for any suspicious accounts and verify the accuracy of the information reporting. Report any suspected fraud to the credit bureaus.Step 3: Enroll in credit monitoring to stay alerted of any changes on your credit report.Step 4: You can also request a credit freeze from each credit bureau. You will have to call each bureau to request the freeze with each of them.Here Are Their Numbers:Equifax: 1-866-349-5191Transunion: 1-800-916-8800Experian: 1-877-284-7942Step 5: Enroll identity theft protection if desired to add another layer of security. There are a number of services out there that provide this. Some include credit monitoring. Research each service before deciding which to buy.This event is unfortunate and it’s a pain to go through all of these steps. However, be sure to take action before your credit is impacted.

You’ve been notified that your personal information may have been exposed in a public data breach. With cybercrime booming, it was probably a matter of time. Here’s what to do next.Read the notice you receive — in its entiretyLegislation has been enacted on a state-by-state basis requiring private or governmental organizations to notify affected consumers when a data breach occurs. The laws vary by state, so the requirements for what the notification says and when it must be sent vary. Either way, it’s important for you to actually read what is sent to you. Your plan of action will depend on what type of information has been compromisedProtect usernames and passwordsYour unique usernames and passwords are generally considered PII. Should you be notified that these may have been compromised during a breach, consider activating two-factor authentication if possible. Change both your username and password as soon as you can — even if you don’t know which one may have been compromised. Remember, your account is only as safe as the strength of your password.Review bank and credit card accountsWith the convenience of online banking and mobile phone apps, reviewing bank statements and transactions has never been easier. If you even suspect that a specific account has been compromised, you need to vigilantly review each and every transaction to make sure there are no unauthorized charges. If you do discover unauthorized charges to your account, immediately report the fraudulent activity to the bank, so as to not be held liable.Safeguarding your Social Security numberA data breach exposing Social Security numbers can be extremely harmful to consumers. A compromised Social Security number can not only affect victims in the here and now, but can also affect them for years to come.As far as the present is concerned, get ahold of all your credit reports. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that each of the three major consumer credit bureaus provide consumers a free copy of their credit report every 12 months. (Hint: Play your cards right and request a credit report from a different credit bureau every four months to better monitor your accounts throughout the year.) As you receive each credit report, thoroughly scrutinize each listed account. Pay particular attention to any new accounts opened or hard inquiries made within the time frame of the data breach you were informed about.Even if your Social Security number is compromised, there are built-in protections for this situation. Consumers can request that a fraud alert or credit freeze be added to their credit files.When you institute a credit freeze, it restricts access to your credit report and prevents credit card issuers or other lenders from accessing your report. You may also want to consider a , which is a statement in your credit reports that alerts anyone reviewing the reports that you may be a victim of fraud or identity theft.Both fraud alerts and credit freezes are free to add to a credit file. Carefully explore each option to decide which works best for you.Sign up for a credit-monitoring serviceMany companies victimized by a data breach will offer credit-monitoring services at no cost to those affected. Take advantage of this offer. Even when the services are not offered, it would be wise to sign up for a monitoring service, like the free credit-monitoring service offered by Credit Karma, which notifies you of important changes on your TransUnion or Equifax credit reports so you can check for suspicious activity.Bottom lineA data breach doesn’t have to mean your personally identifiable information is gone forever. With some research and consideration, you can discover ample resources for the taking.You should always take any notification of a data breach seriously, routinely monitor your accounts for unauthorized charges, and request a copy of your credit reports at least quarterly. You should also consider adding a fraud alert or credit freeze to your credit files, as well as use a credit-monitoring service from here on out.

Amanda CothrumYou’re one of my best biggest lovers here on Quora.This how it works if you request your own credit report and how the version differ from the landlord requests it.In the field off my studies as an credit expert, we all try to work out our best for the customers.You’ve found the perfect place to rent, and now the property manager tells you all you need to do is fill out an application, so she can run a credit check—gulp.Whether you’ve got great credit, bad credit, or no credit, credit checks probably make you a little uneasy. What if there’s a problem?To help you feel more at ease, I’m going to answer some common questions about landlord credit checks, preparing yourself for one, and your options if your credit isn’t stellar.Can a Landlord Really Check My CreditYes, landlords and property managers can legally screen you as a potential renter, and the screening process often involves a credit check. However, you must give your permission in writing. Your signature on the rental application may count as written permission, or you may be asked to sign a separate credit screening document.Property owners generally check credit using services offered by landlord associations, tenant screeners, and major credit bureaus or by asking you for a physical copy of a report. Be prepared to give the landlord the following information if they intend to order the report:Full nameAddressSocial Security numberDate of birthLandlord Associations will supply tenant credit checks to the landlords for a fee. Depending on the association, the credit check may show up on your credit report as a hard inquiry which may cause a slightly negative drop in your credit score.Tenant Screening Services may also provide credit reports to landlords. However, some of these organizations may not. Some reports the landlord can request may also include any prior evictions, bankruptcies, or judgments, and any other background information they require prior to offering tenancy.Credit Bureaus also provide the landlords with the credit reports, however, these services that are offered by Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax are usually shown as a soft inquiry on your credit report, and they require you to initiate the credit check yourself.What’s Included in a Rental Credit CheckWhat landlords check in a rental screening varies. Some may check only your credit score. Others may require more information. These “tenant screening reports,” as they’re often called, frequently include various reports and details:Standard credit reportsCredit scores or credit ratingsCriminal and sex offender background checksResidence and eviction historiesEmployment verification and historiesSome landlords may also check your public bank and legal records and even dig into your social media profiles to uncover anything they’d consider unacceptable.“People don’t realize there is a full tenant screening. It’s beyond (a standard credit report) in most cases, particularly in the case of a large rental company,” says Rod Griffin, director of public education for Experian.The format of these reports depends on the company supplying them, but in terms of credit information, a report should generally contain the same credit details you would see if you ordered your own credit report.Here’s what landlords usually see in standard credit checks:Loans (current and past)Bankruptcies, foreclosures, and short salesMinimum payment amounts for debt accountsLate payment historiesCredit historiesCredit scoresWho Pays for a Landlord Credit CheckWith a rental application, you’ll most likely pay for the credit check. The check is usually included in the application fee. Concerned about paying that fee when you’re not sure you’ll be approved? You may not have a choice, but if you do, consider the DIY credit check strategies below.What if There’s a Problem with My Credit ReportMany landlords consider credit one of the most important parts of making a leasing decision. What credit score is needed to rent a house can differ from landlord to landlord, but you can expect the minimum to be somewhere between 600 and 620.Certain items may be deal breakers for property owners, however. These could include the following:Car repossessionsCredit card charge-offsAccounts currently in collectionsOther things that matter to most landlords besides credit include income, criminal history, and eviction history.If a landlord uses information from a consumer report to take “adverse action” against you, they must give you the reason in writing and include information about how to order your own free credit report.In other words, if your report contains something negative that the landlord uses to make their decision, you’re entitled to know what this is, and you can request a free copy of your report.Adverse action can result in a denial of your application, but it can also include a requirement for a cosigner, a request for a larger deposit, or an increase of the monthly rent offer, according to(FCT) the Federal Trade commission.What can you do to ensure there are no surprises? Check your own credit in advance and tell the landlord about any potential problems that could be an issue.How Do you Check your Own CreditWill you be renting a home or apartment in the not-too-distant future? Prepare yourself by getting your credit report in advance. An easy way is to find credit expert or sign up for a free credit score from credit .comThe score a landlord receives may be a slightly different number, but all credit scoring models generally take into account the same five factors:Payment historyDebt amountAccount mixCredit history ageNew credit accountsWith your own credit report in hand, ask the property manager or landlord to review the report and see whether it’s worth it for you to apply. You can also ask them if they’ll let you use a service like Experian Connect to purchase a credit report that you can share with people you authorize. Equifax offers a similar service called Identity Report, and TransUnion’s service is called SmartMove.The landlord may still want a full tenant screening, but if you can provide your own credit report up-front, they can tell you whether you have a chance before you agree to lengthier—and possibly pricier—processing.Can I Rent if I Have Bad CreditIf you have bad credit, you might be wondering whether you can rent at all—but don’t worry!“Just because you have bad credit doesn’t mean you aren’t going to pay your rent on time,” says Jeff softley , Director president of Experian , a company that helps renters build their credit by paying through an online portal.Landlords know that renters usually don’t have perfect credit. Often the biggest concern is whether you pay your rent on time. Historically, information about rent hasn’t been included in standard credit reports and confirming on-time rent payments can be a tedious process of contacting former landlords.But recently, some rental payment history has started to appear on some credit reports, and companies like RentTrack can help people build credit through on-time, trackable payments.“Experian was the first company to include positive rent information in credit reports,” Griffin explains. Experian gathers this information from three companies: ClearNow, WilliamPaid, and RentTrack.When tenants Pay rent using one of these online platforms, the payments get reported to Experian—and TransUnion also reports rental payments when available. However, note that you or your landlord have to sign up for one of these services for your rent payments to be included in your credit file.It’s also important to note that if you’ve had unpaid rental payments that were eventually turned over to a collection agency, the collection account will show up on your credit report. Accounts in collection can severely lower your credit score, making it more difficult to rent another place in the future.So be prepared to explain your situation if necessary and take steps to pay off those accounts to show that you’re committed to meeting financial responsibilities.Can I Rent with No Credit HistoryIf you’re a student, a recent immigrant, or newly divorced, you may have a particularly hard time renting for the first time, especially if you haven’t established your own credit history.But if you can find a place, consider paying rent through a rental payment reporting company like RentTrack to build your credit. In the meantime, a landlord may rent to you—even if you have no credit—if you can find a consigner with good credit. To increase your chances of approval, you could also offer to pay the first and last months’ rent or a higher security deposit.If none of those options work, consider looking for a cheaper place to rent where the landlord may have less strict credit requirements.Once you’re in, start building your credit. Pay down balances on your credit cards, make all payments on time, pay more than the minimum payments, and avoid carrying large balances on your accounts.How to Pass A Rental Credit CheckIf you feel that there is even the slightest chance you may not pass a rental credit check, there are a few things a potential tenant can do that will hopefully improve your chances.Find someone to co-sign for you so the landlord has a guarantee that they will get the rent payment, even if you were to default.Be completely honest and up front with the landlord about your finances and show them the progress you have made regarding paying your debt and rebuilding your credit.Offer to pay the rent in advance or offer more for the security deposit to show good faith and your intent to pay what you oweMake sure to show the landlord solid proof of your monthly income or offer to allow them to take the rent via direct depositPay a bit more for monthly rent as a compromise. However, this would probably want to be very last on your list of things to doLandlords are always looking for that perfect tenant, so they have little to worry about especially when it comes to their rent being paid on time. Either as a potential tenant or a landlord, you should educate yourself and always be aware of different scams that may be going around. Federal Fair Housing Guidelines, as well as the standards of tenant screening, should always be followed and adhered to, and if there are any red flags, you should dig a little deeper for more information.Watch to Watch for as a TenantIt is best to find a landlord that is not long distance because this can certainly be a red flag for any tenant. If the landlord is not in the area, then typically they will use some kind of management company or other type of property managers to help oversee the properties. If this is not the case, you may want to be wary of a scam the landlord might be pulling on his tenants.Never go by an oral lease. Always have your lease in writing and retain the signed copy for your own records as well. If the landlord is not willing to offer you a written lease, then this should be a red flag and may mean they will try to scam you out of money.Bottom line: Finally, if the landlord doesn’t have a tenant screening process in place as discussed above and does not utilize tenant screening services at all, then you may find that the landlord isn’t as high quality as you would expect. It may mean that they don’t care as much about the property or they may be running some kind of scam.Just like a landlord is always on the search for the quality prospective tenant by running tenant screening reports and checking credit reports; the tenant should also do their research on the type of landlord they are going to have as well.Thanks.