***WARNING:RANT*** DAMN IT COUNTRYWIDE!!! SHIT!! SHIT!!! FUCK!!!

[jojo54]

*&#@^$*&#@*%&@&#&*$%@*$*%&@%#**#&#^#%$^%$&#*#*$^$%$%$^$&%*#^#%$%^%&%*$^#%#%#%$%%*$*$&^#%#^%^%%$^#&#&#*##^$^%%%

FUCK!!!!!

Damn Countywide sent hub & I a letter, saying one of their fucking employees STOLE clients' fucking personal information and fucking sold it to a 3rd party!!!!! Guess whose name was on that fucking list???? SHIT!! FUCK!!

We need this like we need a fucking hole in the head.

Countrywide is all apologetic and offering 2 yrs free monitoring service. WTF??? That's not going to fucking help us when someone opens a credit card in our name and trashes it!!! DAMN IT TO HELL!!!

I haven't seen anything in the media, about this yet. Sorry for all the cussing, but I feel a little better. Now, I have to start with the hours of phone calls to flag everything. This sucks.

[LiberalHeart]

1. Put a freeze on your credit. Now. n/t

[jojo54]

5. Yep. Very good idea.

Now, why didn't Countrywide suggest that? Hmmmmm....

[eshfemme]

38. Actually, sometimes a credit freeze doesn't even work.

You forget that the personal credit score system is only effective if the person extending the credit is actually vigilant in checking it. Although the economy is dismal right now, there's been enough stories of people still finding fake accounts in their names after instituting a freeze that I would recommend that you be extra vigilant about watching your credit file.

On a side note, the credit industry is something that needs to be regulated just as much as the banking industry as they go hand in hand when it comes to robbing the middle class. Their practices are frankly two of a kind.

[ingac70]

2. A guy on local RW radio...

said 2 days ago he got on of those letters, as did a lady who called in.

I am with Countrywide, but don't have a letter...yet. If I get one I'm going straight to a lawyer.

[bigscott]

20. to do what exactly?

I am with countrywide as well - it would be the third time in the past 3 years i got a letter from someone telling me my information was compromised - and I only have 2 credit cards.

not sure what you think getting a lawyer involved will do - except cause you to lose money

FWIW i got a letter 3 years ago my info was compromised and there have been ZERO inquiries into my credit report (free service from the company that fucked up)and no untoward issues. I know this can be a problem but with BILLIONS of records being compromised, the chances of something happeneing to you are small.

[slackmaster]

34. You won't get anywhere suing Countrywide for this

Blood, turnip, etc.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. Call you bank and credit card companies and let them know what's happened.

Tell them to cancel your old accounts and open new ones.

[thunder rising]

4. What nationality was that employee? Is there any indication of an arrest or conviction?

I've screamed this for years. When our nations personal data is stored in a foreign country ... it's no longer our nation.

[jojo54]

12. They know which employee did the dirty,

so I'm assuming (I know, I know, Ass of U and Me), that they'll take legal action.

[ailsagirl]

29. Here's the story...

http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2008/sep/16/countrywide-client-information-open/

[ET Awful]

6. Relax . . . there are steps you can take to prevent any fraudulent activity.

First, go to creditboards.com (they'll have all the links you need, etc.)

Second, immediately put a security freeze on your reports with each of the three major bureaus. This prevents ANY requests for your credit report, thus preventing any new accounts from being created without your knowledge.

That step two will basically bring any fraud attempts to a screeching halt if you act quickly.

[jojo54]

9. I don't know if I can relax, ET.

I'm livid.

But thanks for your information. If putting the freeze on will prevent any new accounts being opened, then maybe that will take care of the situation. Will get on it right away.

[wtmusic]

7. 1st step: find out exactly what information was compromised.

2nd step: find out who the third party is (if possible)

It could have been emails sold to a spam emailer or something equally harmless (relatively speaking).

It may not be as bad as it sounds. Good luck.

[lonestarnot]

8. Go to esperian website and lock down your credit. They will notify 2 other reporting agencies,

Transunion and whatchafuckit, can't think of it. :P Costs 5 bucks for a credit freeze.

[Caliman73]

15. Agree with lonestarnot

It is easier than calling all of your creditors. My wife did that before we married. Someone stole her identity and opened up a phone account. She called to get a Fraud Alert placed on her accounts with one of the big 3 agencies. It is a pain in the ass, because anytime she wants to open credit they deny her until she clears it, but she has been safe for a few years now.

Sorry about your situation. Frickin greedy people!!

[54anickel]

40. I thought it was 10 bucks to each of the 3 entities per individual. Not sure if that's

good forever or has to be renewed. Will cost $10 to temporarily lift it if you want to apply for credit, here in WI would have to free both. I was one of the lucky ones who had their SSN printed on the outside of my state tax booklet a couple of years ago when WI outsourced the printing. Caught something just a couple weeks ago where it's happened yet again, the state providing a database file with the SSN included and the 3rd party printer printing the field. :eyes:
They gave us 1 year free access to watch our credit but if we wanted to see our actual scores or freeze our records we'd have to pay.

edit to add link
http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html

[MadHound]

10. I've had this happen with a former place of employment.

What you need to do is contact the credit agencies and have them put a hold on any new credit lines opened in your name. That way, if somebody tries to get a CC or loan in your name, they will contact before approval to make sure that it is really you opening up the line of credit.

[valerief]

11. If I want to keep my job (I inferred) I have to agree to let a

company perform a background check on me. I have no problem with that, except that the company is ChoicePoint, known to sell ssns and addresses. I had to make a choice. Pay my bills now and kiss my future good-bye or go broke now and kiss my future good-bye. So far I'm still employed but with the recent financial scandals we saw a mile away, I'm not sure how long that will last.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/general/2005-03-04-choicepoint-stops-selling_x.htm

Last month, ChoicePoint said it was notifying about 145,000 Americans that their Social Security numbers and other personal information may have been viewed by criminals posing as legitimate ChoicePoint customers. ChoicePoint learned of the breach in October, but delayed disclosing it because it said California authorities had asked it to keep quiet to protect the fraud investigation. A similar breach involving 7,000 to 10,000 ChoicePoint records occurred in 2002.

ChoicePoint said it will stop selling information products that contain sensitive consumer data, including Social Security numbers, to small business customers, except in limited cases where the products support federal, state or local government purposes.

[jojo54]

14. I am so hoping that your credit remains safe.

good luck with your job and your identity.

[valerief]

23. Good luck to you. I don't think any American is safe. I think a plan is

in place now and there's no escape.

[LiberalEsto]

13. Call the Secret Service & report it

They're under the Treasury Dept. -- or were -- and they investigated when someone stole my husband's name and Soc Sec number and started taking out credit cards in his name several years ago.

[ailsagirl]

16. et tu? Welcome to the club. Got one of those myself

:grr:

[jojo54]

19. I feel for ya, ailsagirl.

"Immediate action required" has a whole new meaning these days.

[ailsagirl]

26. Yes-- I've already jumped into action but it really ticks me off

big-time that Countrywide is sending me emails and ads urging me to insure my car. Yeah, right. I think I've done all I can but you never know... :grr:

Good luck to you :hi:

[greenbriar]

17. I got that last week as well

I didn't get all freaked out...should I

[jojo54]

18. Just like thunderrising said,

you never know who's buying the info.

Maybe you shouldn't get all freaked out like I did - I had just opened the letter when I posted. Needless to say, I'm livid. Read the other posts and follow their advise. I'm going to.

Just proves that you can't trust ANYBODY anymore.

[ailsagirl]

28. Sign up for the two-year free program then have a look at your

bank information and make sure no one knows your account number. I completely changed my acct # and so I'm hoping I've got everything covered. You can't overdo protecting yourself. Good luck

[Coventina]

21. We got the same letter.

Chances are, everything will be just fine.

If not, hold on to the letter and sue the pants off Countrywide. They've admitted guilt in the letter. If your credit gets trashed, and does not get resolved & restored in a timely manner, you have a legal remedy.

[cyberpj]

22. I got one as well. SIGH. Here's info I found on fraud alerts:

How do I request a "fraud alert" be placed on my file?
You have the right to ask that nationwide consumer credit reporting companies place "fraud alerts" in your file to let potential creditors and others know that you may be a victim of identity theft. A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you. It also may delay your ability to obtain credit. You may place a fraud alert in your file by calling just one of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. As soon as that agency processes your fraud alert, it will notify the other two, which then also must place fraud alerts in your file.

Equifax: 1-877-576-5734; www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com/fraud
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com


An initial fraud alert stays in your file for at least 90 days. An extended alert stays in your file for seven years. To place either of these alerts, a consumer credit reporting company will require you to provide appropriate proof of your identity, which may include your Social Security number. If you ask for an extended alert, you will have to provide an identity theft report. An identity theft report includes a copy of a report you have filed with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency. For more detailed information about the identity theft report, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

[Xithras]

24. I got one too. Do a credit freeze.

Costs a little money, but it's worth it.

[maxpower]

25. Happened to me too

Then I received a letter from BNY Mellon saying they lost a box of tapes that contained my personal information. I am fucked as well.

[Greyhound]

27. They didn't happen to mention anything about the "employee" or to whom

the information was sold, did they?

[ailsagirl]

30. yes... see #29 for article

[prayin4rain]

31. My University sent me a letter like that :( n/t

[slackmaster]

33. UC San Diego had the same thing happen a few years ago

Shit happens even in a well-managed institution that isn't in deep financial trouble.

[slackmaster]

32. I got that letter from Countrywide too - My advice for you

Go ahead and sign up for Triple Advantage. That is the same service offered by the (most say annoying) FreeCreditReport.com, which actually a product of one of the big credit agencies (Experian).

You get a very nice three-column printout of your credit reports from the big three credit reporting agencies. For a given loan or credit card, you can easily view information that all three companies have on file. Errors stick out like a sore thumb, so you can get them corrected. That with the monitoring service for free is a VERY good deal for free. (I would not pay the standard $120 per year for it.)

Definitely put 90-day fraud alerts on all three companies. That is free. You can put permanent security holds on for $10 per company ($30 total) if you are really worried about it.

Countrywide is all apologetic and offering 2 yrs free monitoring service. WTF??? That's not going to fucking help us when someone opens a credit card in our name and trashes it!!! DAMN IT TO HELL!!!

Actually, getting early notification of that kind of event will help a lot if it does happen. To put this into perspective, when I had my ID and Social Security number stolen in 1985, it set into motion a sequence of events that got me arrested on a felony charge. Someone opened credit cards in my name, bought a shitload of merchandise, and never paid for it. That was a REAL hassle. Now you can prevent that kind of thing from happening.

Sorry for all the cussing, but I feel a little better. Now, I have to start with the hours of phone calls to flag everything. This sucks.

You can probably get the whole thing sewn up in less than an hour.

I think Countrywide should have included all of the personal information they have about the offending ex-employee with that letter.

<Don LaFontaine>

Payback. This time, it's for real.

</Don LaFontaine>

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

35. Got one too!

In the same boat. :pals:

[tandot]

36. We just bought a house in March using Countrywide.

We haven't received anything yet.

I just got a new debit card from B of A because my old one might have been compromised. This is really pissing me off.

[TornadoTN]

37. Add us to the growing list of "Compromised"

Got the letter today. Add this to the growing list of blunders and reasons to hate Countrywide. I'm sure they'll call me tonight trying to get me to REFI - like they do pretty much every night of the week as it is.

[54anickel]

39. I'm so sorry for what you're being put through. I've been there and have written

letters (and a few posts here) about how we are all at the mercy of a credit rating that we have little to no control over. Nearly EVERYTHING is based on your credit score, but you have to pay to look at it. You have to pay to protect it. You put it at risk every time you apply for a job or a service that demands your SS# to run a credit check on you. Want to stop all those credit offers in the mail? They'll want your SS# to successfully stop them. I could go on and on but it would just turn into yet another rant.