Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, the three nationwide credit reporting
companies, continue to encourage victims of Katrina and Rita to take steps to
protect their credit standing and to deter identity theft. The companies
announced the following policies which all three have agreed upon to assist
consumers as they deal with their financial affairs:

* Victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will receive free credit reports;

* Victims should visit http://www.annualcreditreport.com on the Web to
access their free credit reports online. This service is available even
if a victim has previously accessed a free credit report from this
Website;

* Victims should consider adding a "hurricane victim" statement to their
credit file. This statement will be conveyed to creditors and lenders
who view the report; and,

* Victims should call special toll free numbers to obtain information on
how to receive a free report as well as to speak directly with live
consumer assistance representatives. These consumer assistance
representatives can, when necessary, work to verify identities and
discuss other options such as placement of fraud alerts on credit
reports. The numbers are as follows:

Contact Information:

Equifax: 800-685-1111 or http://www.equifax.com

Experian: 866-966-1067 or http://www.experian.com

TransUnion: 877-680-7275 or http://www.transunion.com

The national credit reporting companies have already reached out to more
than 16,500 creditors, lenders and others who furnish data to their systems to
provide guidance on data reporting practices that will aid hurricane victims
and sensitize lenders to victims' situations. Specifically, data furnishers
have been given information on how to report deferred payment plans and also
to include natural disaster codes on accounts affected by the Gulf Coast
storms.
In addition to providing credit reports and special assistance free of
charge, the nationwide credit reporting companies also urge victims of Katrina
and Rita to take the following steps:

* Send letters immediately to creditors explaining the situation and
inquiring about any special programs or handling being offered to
hurricane victims;

* File a change of address form with the U.S. Post Office once settled
into a new address, even if the address is for the short term. This
will help ensure that consumers receive their bills and credit card
statements -- enabling them to keep track of their financial situation
while also keeping these documents out of the hands of potential
identity thieves. Consumers who may not yet have a permanent address
should consider obtaining a locked P.O. Box to protect their forwarded
mail;

* Order a credit report only after knowing that the address change has
taken effect; and,

* Examine credit and bank accounts and look for any impact, and take
immediate steps to resolve any discrepancies.

Those who suspect they are victims of fraud should quickly report and
resolve the matter. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion suggest the following
steps for dealing with fraud:

Step 1: Fraud alert
Contact one of the three credit reporting companies to request that a
fraud alert be placed on their credit files. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion
share this information so consumers only need to contact one company to have
an alert placed on their credit files.
Note: Consumers should be aware that adding an alert to their credit file
may prevent them from opening an account unless the creditor is able to
contact them and positively confirm their identity and that they are applying
for credit.

Step 2: Review all three credit reports
Consumers should review their credit files from Equifax, Experian and
TransUnion. Look for signs of identity theft such as suspicious inquiries,
unfamiliar new accounts and unfamiliar new addresses.

Step 3: File a police report
If a consumer is a victim of fraud or identity theft, he or she should
contact their local police department to file an identity theft report. Record
the officer's name and the report number and keep a copy of the identity theft
report in a safe place.

Step 4: Complete the Federal Trade Commission's Universal Fraud Affidavit
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a fraud report form online at
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Consumers should complete the fraud affidavit
form, sign it and have it notarized, and sent to those companies that opened
fraudulent accounts in their name.

Step 5: Notify financial institutions
If consumers find fraudulent activity on their accounts, they should
report it to the creditor's fraud department. Include copies of the police
report and the FTC's Universal Fraud Affidavit with the report. Follow up to
ensure all accounts are correctly resolved and keep copies of all
communications for future reference.

Step 6: Provide follow-up information to the credit reporting companies
Mail copies of the completed fraud affidavit and identity theft report to
the fraud departments at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Follow up to ensure
all account concerns are correctly resolved and keep copies of all
communications for future reference.

About Equifax
Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) is a global leader in turning information into
intelligence. For businesses, Equifax provides faster and easier ways to find,
approve and market to the right customers. For consumers, Equifax offers
easier instantaneous ways to buy products or services, and better insight into
and management of their personal credit. Headquartered in Atlanta, Equifax
reported annual revenue of over $1.3 billion in 2004, and employs over 4,600
employees in 12 countries in North America, Latin America and Europe. Equifax.
Information That Empowers.
For more information, please visit http://www.equifax.com.

About Experian
Experian is the global leader in providing value-added information
solutions to organizations and consumers. It has an unrivaled understanding
of individuals, markets and economies around the world. Experian provides
information, analytics, decision-making solutions and processing services. It
assists organizations in understanding their markets and customers and helps
them find, develop and manage profitable customer relationships to make their
businesses more profitable. Experian promotes greater financial health among
consumers by enabling them to understand, manage and protect their personal
information and helping them control financial aspects of key life events.
Experian works with more than 50,000 clients across diverse industries,
including financial services, telecommunications, health care, insurance,
retail and catalog, automotive, manufacturing, leisure, utilities, e-commerce,
property and government. A subsidiary of GUS plc with headquarters in
Nottingham, UK, and Costa Mesa, Calif., Experian's 12,000 people in 28
countries support clients in more than 60 countries. Annual sales exceed $2.5
billion.
For more information, visit the company's Web site at
http://www.experian.com. The word "Experian" is a registered trademark in the
USA, EU and other countries and is owned by Experian Ltd. and/or its
associated companies.

About TransUnion
TransUnion is a leading global information solutions company that
customers trust as a business intelligence partner and commerce facilitator.
TransUnion offers a broad range of financial products and services that enable
customers to manage risk and capitalize on market opportunities. The company
uses leading-edge technology coupled with extensive analytical capabilities to
combat fraud and facilitate credit transactions between businesses and
consumers across multiple markets. Founded in 1968, Chicago-based TransUnion
employs 4,100 associates that support clients in more than 30 countries. Visit
us at Transunion.com.