Membership Questions
When can I begin using my benefits?
How long does it take to receive my credit report?
No. As a PrivacyGuard member, you can request a new credit report at no additional charge.
Can you make corrections to my credit report?
Can you make corrections to my credit report?
No. Only the appropriate institution can change your records. However, PrivacyGuard provides members with printable dispute forms as well as toll-free assistance in helping you to understand your reports.
How secure and confidential is your website?
How secure and confidential is your website?
The PrivacyGuard website runs on a highly secure web server. Also, the advanced SSL connection scrambles or encrypts data on pages where secure information is transmitted, further safeguarding your information while it passes through cyberspace. In addition, PrivacyGuard meets the requirements of both the VeriSign and Cybertrust security seals.
PrivacyGuard ensures that your information remains confidential between you and the respective credit agencies. For more information, please visit our
Privacy Policies.
How do I cancel my membership?
What is your Privacy Policy?
Where do you get the information for the comprehensive credit report?
Where do you get the information for the comprehensive credit report?
The information in your credit report comes from the three national credit reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. The information is merged into one easy-to-read report, which gives a complete picture of your credit history. All information is kept strictly confidential.
Do you have a copy of my reports?
Is my credit score available to me at any time?
Where can I find my membership number?
Where can I find my membership number?
Your membership number can be found in your membership materials or in the welcome email that was sent to you after you enrolled in PrivacyGuard. If you have not received this email, please call customer service to obtain your member number.
Benefit Questions
What is my credit score?
What is my credit score?
Your credit score is a numerical value that reflects your creditworthiness, or your ability to pay back a loan. Your score is calculated from the information on your credit report using a standard formula that analyzes your payment history, credit usage, length of credit history, bankruptcies, and more. The higher the credit score, the better. A low credit score may indicate to potential lenders that you are a bad credit risk and have trouble paying off debt, whereas a higher score indicates that you handle your finances responsibly and can be trusted to pay back loans. Knowing your credit score allows you to improve your rating and obtain less costly loans.
Are VantageScore® Scores™ used by lenders?*
Are VantageScore® Scores™ used by lenders?*
Your VantageScore® credit scores™ are provided by VantageScore Solutions LLC. The VantageScore model, with scores ranging from 300 to 850, was developed jointly by the three major national credit reporting agencies - Experian®, TransUnion®, and Equifax®. The version of VantageScore provided here is used by some, but not all, lenders. Your score(s) may not be identical or similar to scores received directly from those agencies, from other sources, or from your lender.
What information is included in my credit report?
What information is included in my credit report?
Your credit report consists of four main categories of information:
- Personal information: Includes your name, current and previous addresses, social security number, telephone number, date of birth, and current and previous employers.
- Credit History: The majority of your credit report is comprised of information on credit accounts that were opened in your name. Details about these accounts, including the date the account was opened, the credit limit or amount of the loan, the payment terms, balance and a history of your payment records on each account is also included. Closed or inactive accounts, depending on the manner in which they were paid, stay on your report for 7-11 years from the date of their last activity.
- Credit Inquiries: Each time a third party, such as a creditor, potential lender, or insurer pulls your credit report, it is recorded on your file as a credit inquiry. Inquiries remain on your credit report for up to 2 years.
- Public Records: Public records obtained from government sources including bankruptcies, tax liens, collections and records of overdue child support are also recorded on your credit report. Public information stays on your credit report for up to 7 years.
How often should I check my credit report?
How often should I check my credit report?
You should check your credit report on a regular basis. Your credit worthiness can have a significant impact on your financial future. With good credit, it is easier to take out loans, mortgages and auto leases and you are more likely to receive low-interest credit cards. Even if you do pay all of your bills on time, checking your credit report consistently may alert you of inaccuracies on your credit file, or of signs of potential Identity Theft.
Who can look at my credit report?
Who can look at my credit report?
Anyone with a legitimate business need or a permissible purpose can gain access to your credit history. This includes potential lenders, doctors, landlords, utility companies, creditors, insurers, car dealers, lawyers and potential employers. Permissible Purpose is defined in section 604 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) which specifies who can access your credit report and why.
What is the difference between a single-bureau credit report and a triple-bureau credit report?
Do all three national credit reporting agencies have the same information on file?
Do all three national credit reporting agencies have the same information on file?
The three national credit reporting agencies do not have the same information on file. While many creditors and lenders report information to all three agencies, some only report to one or may chose not to report to any. Therefore, each agency contains different records depending on who reported to them, and what was reported.
Why is it important to check my information from all three national credit reporting agencies?
Why is it important to check my information from all three national credit reporting agencies?
Because the three national credit reporting agencies are independent of one another and do not exchange information, one credit agency may have records about you that another does not. By checking your information from all three national credit reporting agencies, you can see precisely what others see when they inquire about your credit. In addition, you can ensure the accuracy of your credit records and avoid Identity Theft.
What is credit monitoring?
What is credit monitoring?
PrivacyGuard Credit Monitoring continuously examines your accounts for changes made to your credit file including inquiries, derogatory information, accounts opened in your name, or changes to your public records. If certain changes have been detected, you will be sent an alert via email on a daily basis. We'll also send you an all-clear notification on a quarterly basis, if there are no changes to your credit record.
What is a credit inquiry?
What is a credit inquiry?
When a third party looks at your credit information, this is called an inquiry and is recorded on your credit report. Credit inquiries are classified as either hard or soft depending on who looks at your credit information. A hard inquiry is generated when a potential creditor or lender checks your credit history for the purpose of lending you money. This type of inquiry can directly affect your credit score because if you have too many hard inquiries, a potential creditor may think you have asked for too many loans, and therefore would not be a good credit risk. Unlike hard inquiries, soft inquiries do not adversely affect your credit score, and occur when your credit is checked for other reasons, such as when you pull your own credit report.
Will ordering my credit report appear as an inquiry on my credit report?
Isn't everyone entitled to a free credit report annually?
Technical Questions
Why was I unable to access my credit report?
Why was I unable to access my credit report?
PrivacyGuard often delivers online credit reports in seconds. But there are instances when we are prohibited from doing so. These include:
- We are unable to verify your identity. Before receiving your credit report, you must complete an authentication process. If some or all of these verification questions are answered incorrectly, you will have the option of going through further verification over the phone with a trained representative from our Credit Information Hotline.
- The credit bureau does not have adequate information on file to compile a credit report. Individuals with little or no credit history will generally not be able to view a report.
- We are experiencing a temporary technical issue.
- One of the three credit bureaus is temporarily down.
I forgot my Username and Password. What should I do?
What is your authentication process and what happens if I don't get authenticated instantly?
What is your authentication process and what happens if I don't get authenticated instantly?
When you request a credit report through our service for the first time, you are required to go through an authentication process so that we can verify your identity and assure that your credit file is disclosed only to you. For your protection, if your identity cannot be authenticated you will have the option of going through further verification over the phone with a trained representative from our Credit Information Hotline.
Why can't I use the calculators and/or the What-If-Simulator tools on the website?
Identity Theft Questions
What is Identity Theft?
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is when someone steals your personal identity and assumes your identity as their own. This can include opening up new accounts in your name, applying for loans or mortgages, and make charges to your credit cards, all which can affect your credit rating and hurt your financial future. Identity Theft remains as one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S, affecting millions of Americans each year.
What can I do to protect myself from Identity Theft?
What can I do to protect myself from Identity Theft?
One of the best ways to protect yourself from Identity Theft is to regularly monitor your credit file. By keeping on top of your credit, you can view recently opened accounts and detect possible signs of Identity Theft.
Where can I learn more about personal Identity Theft?
*Your PrivacyGuard membership includes VantageScore and VantageScore® Scores™. Although these scores are not used by lenders to evaluate your credit, they are intended to reflect common scoring practices and are designed to help you understand your credit. Your scores are calculated using specific algorithms and are based on information from the files at the three major credit reporting agencies. Your scores may not be similar to scores you receive directly from those agencies or from other sources
