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Debix Newsletter
October 2011

In this Issue:
* Shopping for a Car or House? Prepare for Possible Multiple Credit
Checks
* Customer Story: Elizabeth's Mortgage Application Denied
* The Impact of Child Identity Theft


Shopping for a Car or House? Prepare for Possible Multiple Credit
Checks
Advice from OnCall Investigators when Making Your Next Big Purchase


George, an OnCall Investigator, often talks to customers who ask why
multiple credit checks are being done on their credit report without
their knowledge. In many cases, the customer is shopping for a new
car or thinking about buying a home. George knows what is happening
in these cases: credit inquiries are being done when a customer is
car or house-shopping, often without the person's knowledge or
permission.

Let's say you've starting the house hunt, and have looked at several
houses but haven't found the right one. In the meantime, your real
estate agency could have run a credit check on you, as well as the
mortgage broker you talked to about being pre-qualified for a loan.

Each credit check on your record can drop your score by about five
points, and they'll stay on your record for six months. If multiple
credit checks are made in a short period of time, they will cause
quite a dent, albeit temporary, on your credit score.

The surprising part is these credit checks can be done even if you
merely express interest in a car loan or home mortgage. What you may
not realize is that by asking for a quote, you are authorizing your
credit report to be pulled. A Social Security number is not needed
for the inquiry; your name and home address is enough. So if you're
going to several dealerships or work with several real estate agents,
your credit history will rack up a list of requests.

So if you are car shopping or house hunting, do your research first.
Determine what kind of car you want or what home type and
neighborhood, then figure out which car dealer or real estate agent
you want to work with to complete the transaction. By working with
just one entity, you'll significantly lower the number of credit
inquiries. Or if you do want to shop around, be blunt: Tell the car
dealer or realtor not to check your credit without your express
permission.

Protect Your Family with Debix! -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/7a219c5ab5/a0eb88ddc9/775bafe9f7
Or Call 866-747-5214 between 9am-5pm Central.


Customer Story: Elizabeth's Mortgage Application Denied
Mortgage Application at Risk due to Previous ID Theft

Dealing with the aftermath of identity theft or a credit file mix up
can leave you frustrated and angry, especially if you discover it in
the middle of a time sensitive transaction like applying for a
mortgage. OnCall Investigator Paul recently assisted someone in this
situation and tells her story.

"When my client Elizabeth submitted her mortgage application, the
lender informed her she would not be approved because a credit check
identified an existing mortgage in her name for more than $230,000.
Knowing this was not her mortgage, Elizabeth thought it would be a
quick and straightforward process to call the Credit Bureaus
directly, explain a mistake had been made, and have the erroneous
account removed from her file. This was not the case, and after
trying in vain to resolve the situation on her own, she called Debix
to help."

At the point Paul became involved, Elizabeth was at risk of losing
the house she wanted because her mortgage application was not
approved. The fraud on her file was there before she became a Debix
customer. Paul was able to expedite the process and have the credit
bureaus commit to a resolution date which allowed Elizabeth to regain
control of her mortgage process and move the case forward. Paul
says, "It is a great feeling when you know you can help someone
remove an obstacle and help them reach their goal."

Elizabeth felt strongly enough about the benefit of the service
provided by Paul and Debix to write, "I wanted to say how much I
appreciate your Investigation team. Paul has been great in helping
me get my accounts straight. I appreciate good customer service and
plan to continue using your product because of it."

Protect Your Family with Debix! -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/7a219c5ab5/a0eb88ddc9/c19bd524d8
Or Call 866-747-5214 between 9am-5pm Central.


The Impact of Child Identity Theft
Make Sure Your Family is Protected

Child ID theft can be a devastating experience. This crime often
goes undetected for years allowing thieves time to build a
complicated web of open accounts and debts that can be difficult to
resolve. When child identity theft victims enter the world as young
adults, their dreams are often at risk or delayed due to poor credit
and other fraudulent activity. Unfortunately, many children tend to
uncover child ID theft when it's too late like applying for student
loans, car loans, apartment leases, and mortgage applications. They
are forced to sort out these problems instead of focusing on their
future.

October 16-22 is Protect Your Identity Week -
www.protectyouridnow.org , and the theme is child identity theft.
Here are some stories of a few child ID theft victims' struggle
before turning to Debix for assistance.

Hanna: When nineteen-year-old Hanna was preparing for college, she
applied for her first bank card. Her application was promptly
rejected because the bank's credit check found roughly $16, 000 in
debt attributed to her Social Security number. This discovery and
all the required clean up impacted her ability to apply for student
loans for her first year of college. Stephanie: After the application
for her first credit card was denied in 2001, Stephanie, a recent
college grad requested a copy of her credit files to investigate. She
was shocked to receive a report inches thick, and filled with
mortgages, car loans, cell phone bill collections, and credit card
debt dating back to when she was only 12 years old. Stephanie
attempted to resolve these issues on her own but continued to
struggle with the effects of the theft into her 30s. She was even
turned down for a mortgage on her first home because of these
problems. Jaleesa: When Jaleesa turned 21 last year she applied for
her first credit card and was turned down. Upon checking her credit
report, she noticed that an account was opened when she was 17 and in
foster care. The account was in default, ruining her credit. This
problem put her plans on hold. She knew getting her own apartment
after graduation would have to wait until her identity and clean
credit was restored. It is important to resolve these issues before
they negatively impact your child's future.

Protect Your Family with Debix! -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/7a219c5ab5/a0eb88ddc9/96049db1c5
Or Call 866-747-5214 between 9am-5pm Central.

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This message was sent by Bo Holland, CEO of Debix Identity Protection

Debix Identity Protection
823 Congress Avenue, Suite 300
Austin, Texas 78701
US