Comment by rrauenza | Hacker News Reader

Comment by rrauenza | Hacker News Reader

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So ... what happens if I list myself as Active Duty? They also have a 7 year extended plan.

http://www.equifax.com/credit/fraud-alerts/&

3 Main Types of Alerts and Length of Effectiveness:

  Initial Fraud Alert: 90 days
  Active Duty Alert: 1 year
  Extended Fraud Alert: 7 years

Extended Fraud Alert Request Form

To place an extended fraud alert on your credit file please send to Equifax – via Fax or US Mail - a valid police report, law enforcement agency report, or US Postal service report that allege mail theft. In addition, please provide a photocopy of one item from each of the categories below in order to verify your identification and address. The item you select from the identity category must contain your Social Security number and the item you select from the address category must contain your current mailing address.

Why do I need a police report when I have every major newspaper supporting my case?

Extended alert seems to apply only in cases of mail theft. Completely different from a massive on-line data breach, of course.

I think I should submit the form and include a copy of the articles on the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, ...

Active Duty means Active Duty in the military, so I'm assuming they'd require some documentation.

We're learning that making reasonable assumptions about Equifax is a shot in the dark at best. I wouldn't assume a damn thing with them at this point

I doubt it.

On the other hand, the US Military does not take lightly misrepresentation of serving...

That reflects some provisions of the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act, which limits what debt collectors and landlords can do when someone is called to serve. Interest rates on loans are reduced to 6%. Debt collection efforts are restricted. That law is from 1940, and is written with the assumption that creditors, too, must support the war effort.

Someone on reddit [0] seems to have signed up for that option accidentally, so it would appear they don't require any documentation.

[0] https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/6zrwdd/soo...

I did, too. Didn't ask for anything.

IANAL: Claiming active duty when not maybe subject to prosecution under the Stolen Valor Act and/or various types of fraud.

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