The contact information for placing a Security Freeze alert is:

Equifax: CSC Credit Services
Security Freeze
PO Box 674438
Houston, TX 77267-4438

Experian: Experian Security Freeze
PO Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion : TransUnion Security Freeze
PO Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Under Federal law, you are also entitled to place a Fraud Alert on your consumer files and a free copy of your consumer file, known as a “consumer disclosure,” after you are the victim of fraud. For more information on your rights under Federal law, see our Blog entry on How to Secure Your Credit Reports After Identity Theft under Federal Law.

The post How to Secure Your Credit Reports After Identity Theft under Wisconsin Law appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.

Of the 1,252 people who told the FTC that their files had been mixed with other consumers’, 30 percent also complained that the credit-reporting agencies failed to correct the mistakes after being asked. The others did not indicate whether they had sought to have the information corrected.

You can read the rest of the article at this link: TheColumbusDispatchonCreditRpts.

The post Mixed Files Found to be Big Problem in Credit Reporting appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.

The post Good News Article on Problems with Credit Reporting Errors appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.

The post Errors in Credit Reports due to Mixing and Matching a Relative’s Data Most Prevalent appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.

The post Wisconsin Court of Appeals Upholds Arbitration Clause Against a Consumer Despite Its Class Action Ban appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.

Wisconsin law at Wis. Stat. 48.981 governs the reporting of suspected child abuse. The identity of the reporter is kept confidential.

The law makes reporting mandatory for employees in certain occupations such as physicians, nurses, dentists, social workers, school employees including teachers and administrators, school counselors, child care workers, EMTs, police and other law enforcement officers, among others. Any of these employees that have “reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen by the person in the course of professional duties has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that a child seen by the person in the course of professional duties has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall … report as provided in sub. (3).” There are exceptions noted at sub. (2m). Failing to report when it is mandatory can subject the person to a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months or both.

All other employees may report suspected child abuse, but doing so in not mandatory. Permissive reporting still provides the same protections as mandatory reporters.

An employee reporting suspected abuse who has a good faith belief of abuse is immune from liability for making such a report if the investigation does not find abuse occurred. There are a few exceptions, for example, the perpetrator cannot self report and still be immune.

The protection provided to an employee that reports suspected child abuse is under Section 48.981(2)(e). This section prohibits an employer from discharging an employee from employment for making either a mandatory or permissive report. Act 81 amends this section to now include the additional protections from “discipline or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment, or threatened with any such treatment for doing so.” It appears to essentially prohibit any adverse employment action in retaliation for making mandatory or permissive reports of suspected child abuse.

The post New Employee Protections in Wisconsin for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.

Mandatory arbitration clauses force you to bring claims in arbitration, rather than in court. These clauses are generally anti-consumer because it keeps information about claims hidden from the public as well as the outcome of claims. The clauses also take away your right to have your dispute decided by a jury of your peers in open court. Many arbitration panels are viewed as biased, in favor of industry, as industry is in arbitration with these panels repeatedly while the consumer is before them maybe once in a lifetime, among other reasons.

More information on this bill is at:

http://blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-franken-introduce-legislation-to-provide-justice-to-wireless-customers_

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/franken-blumenthal-bill-would-allow-cell-phone-users-to-sue-carriers/2011/10/04/gIQANrueLL_blog.html

The post Consumer Mobile Fairness Act Proposed in U.S. Senate appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.

The nomination now moves to a vote on the Senate floor.

The post U.S. Senate Banking Committee Approves Cordray to Lead Consumer Financial Protection Bureau appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.

The post Renting and Your Credit Reports appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.

Attorney Gordon Leech
Milwaukee, WI
414-678-1681
grl@rosedejong.com

The post White Class Action Notice for Bankruptcy Entry on Credit Reports appeared first on Wisconsin-Consumer Blog by Gordon Leech.