Consumer complaint received 2022-04-11
Company: Early Warning Services, LLC
State: NC
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Other personal consumer report
Issue: Identity theft protection or other monitoring services
Sub-issue: Problem canceling credit monitoring or identify theft protection service

Complaint:
I have been a victim of identity theft - someone has opened XXXX checking accounts at different institutions dating back to XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( to my knowledge, there could be more ). The XXXX institutions were XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX, and XXXX XXXX. All three of these banks, as well as a few of the other banks, use a " consumer reporting agency '' known as EarlyWarning to run a consumer report. They do not run credit checks or use XXXX ; they ask EarlyWarning ( who is either a major partner of, or owned by these banks ) for a banking history and credit report -- though they are very specific not to call it a credit report for legal reasons. The banks then get the consumer report from EarlyWarning and allow the bank account to be opened. 

I have contacted all of these banks, all three credit bureaus ( plus XXXX ), XXXX XXXX, the FTC, and EarlyWarning. EarlyWarning specifically states that they are not required to place a freeze on any accounts because they are a consumer reporting agency, not a credit reporting agency. As such, people can continue to open checking accounts with my information if they want to and, if I find out about it, I have to call the bank, close the account and then call EarlyWarning to have the account removed from my record. EarlyWarning refuses to put anything in place ( and claim legally they do not have to ) to proactively prevent people from opening accounts using my information, or letting the banks know that they should be reaching out to me for additional verification. 

Similarly, all of the banks have stated that they can't put any sort of block on my social security number and that people can continue to open accounts with my information and there's nothing that I can do. 

I'm fortunate in that no money has been taken yet and no damage has been done to my credit, but it is extremely frustrating that all I hear from everyone is " make sure you freeze your credit, '' which I have done a long time ago and it has no impact on these checking accounts being opened ( since no formal credit check is run ). 

My primary complaint is the EarlyWarning ( which most people don't know exists and there is very little information about online ) is the primary agency that allows these fraudulent accounts to be opened and they are not required to do anything to protect me as the consumer from having this identity theft occur. 

For more information on EarlyWarning : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Option # XXXX ) I called on XX/XX/XXXX - They said they will mail me a report in 10 days and I can dispute existing things but can not place a future freeze. Then the representative pretended she could not hear me and hung up. 

I called back on XX/XX/XXXX, spoke to XXXX. He tole me it would take 15 calendar days before they send me email with report ( I received the report on XX/XX/XXXX ). I then signed up for an account via that email that I received, like I was told. I then uploaded my FTC Report through secure portal on XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, they sent me mail saying that the accounts listed on the report had been blocked but that they were not able to place any freeze on my account ( see attached documentation ). I called back in on XX/XX/XXXX because the information was unclear and again, a representative pretended they could not hear me and hung up.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation