Consumer Information

On this page, you will find information relating to topics of interest to consumers doing business with the Broward County Records Division.

	Credit Reports – Obtaining and Understanding Them
	Go Google Yourself
	Recognizing and Avoiding Predatory Lending Practices
	Defending Yourself Against Identity Theft
	Public Records Exemptions

The County Records Division is providing the links on these pages for informational purposes only.  No endorsement or sponsorship of these links exists or is implied.

Credit Reports – Obtaining and Understanding Them

Your credit is essentially your reputation for paying debts.  Understanding your credit reports and credit scores is important.  First, lenders use these items to determine whether you are an acceptable risk.  This could impact your purchase of a home, car, cellular service, insurance and other items.  Secondly, developing an understanding of your credit report and checking it regularly will help you to guard against identity theft.

Basic Credit Report Information

	There are three credit bureaus which may have a file on you.  They are Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union (see Contacts and Links of Interest for contact information).
	You have a right to know what is in your credit report.
	There is no charge for your credit report if you have recently been denied credit, are unemployed or on welfare, or your report is inaccurate due to fraud.
	Only businesses with a legitimate business need can access your credit information.  You must give authorization for employers to access your credit report, or for any reports containing medical information to be released.
	You can dispute inaccurate or fraudulent information by contacting the credit bureau.
	Credit bureaus may provide your name and address to companies wishing to send you unsolicited offers.  Each offer should include a 1-800 number you can call to be removed from their mailing lists.  You can also request that the credit bureau remove you from the list they provide to companies for this purpose.

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What Is In Your Report?

	Identifying Information – Your name, address, social security number, birthday (these are not factors in scoring)
	Trade Lines – These are your accounts, such as charge cards, auto loans, mortgages, etc.
	Inquiries – A list of everyone who has accessed your credit report for the past 2 years
	Public Records & Collections Items – This information comes from courts and collections agencies.  It may include bankruptcies, foreclosures, suits, liens, etc.

A credit score (sometimes called a FICO score) is a number used by lenders to determine whether you qualify for a service.  It is essentially an assessment of the risks involved in loaning you money or providing you a service.  There are different types of credit scores, depending on the company providing them and the calculation model they employ.

	Factors Influencing your Credit Score
	The length of your credit history
	Your employment history
	Your bill payment history (do you pay on time?)
	Bankruptcy (these appear on your credit report for 10 years)
	Criminal Convictions
	Your debt-to-income ratio
	- Divide your monthly payments by your gross monthly income – creditors generally want to see a 40% or less debt-to-income ratio
	Your current assets (savings, investments, property)
	The number of inquiries made about your credit
	- Any time you apply for a loan or charge account, companies query your credit report.  Too many queries can lower your score.

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Contacts and Links of Interest

Credit Bureaus:

Equifax
To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Hearing impaired call 1-800-255-0056 and ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at
1-800-685-1111 to request a copy of your report.

Experian
To order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write:
P.O. Box 2002, Allen TX 75013
TDD: 1-800-972-0322

Trans Union
To order your report, call: 800-888-4213 or write:
P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
TDD: 1-877-553-7803

Federal Trade Commission – Fair Credit Reporting

MyFICO.com – Credit Education

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Go Google Yourself A surprising amount of information about us exists on the internet. Google is a search engine which performs web searches, image searches, group searches, and news searches. 

It is a good practice to enter your personal information into a search engine occasionally to see what comes up.  Try entering:

	Your full name
	Your Social Security Number
	Your home telephone number

A search on a home telephone number often yields the associated address and a map to that location.  Some search engines have integrated with the telephone book to provide this information. 

If you find information that is incorrect or inappropriate, look for a link on the webpage to contact the web master.  Send this party an email requesting that your information be changed or removed.  Addresses are often associated with the information contained in your local telephone directory.  Contact your local telephone company to have them correct this information or to request an unlisted telephone number.

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Recognizing and Avoiding Predatory Lending Practices

Predatory Lending Practices – There are many forms of predatory lending.  Several such practices are described below.

	Potential borrowers are pressured into including false information on loan applications or are asked to leave signature lines or other lines blank.
	The lender or broker alters information entered by the borrower on the loan application.
	Excessive fees are financed into the loan.  Banks generally charge 1-2% of the loan amount in fees to originate the loan.  Predatory lenders often finance fees around 8% into a loan.
	Borrowers pay interest rates which are higher than their credit warrants.
	Loans are made based on equity without regard to borrower’s ability to pay.
	A loan has prepayment penalties.  These penalties negatively affect a borrower’s ability to pay off a loan early and can impact the ability to refinance.
	Loans are made for considerably more than the property is worth.  Refinancing is generally not possible if a borrower owes more than the property is worth.
	A single premium credit insurance policy is financed in the loan amount.  Rather than making regular payments for an insurance policy, a borrower is compelled to make one up-front payment and this payment is financed into the loan.
	Balloon payments make sense for some borrowers but can be extremely harmful to others.  Balloon payment mortgages require borrowers to pay off the entire loan balance in one large (balloon) payment after some number of regular payments.  Borrowers must often refinance to make the balloon payment.
	Borrowers are sold loans with negative amortization, wherein the regular payment does not cover the principal and interest on the loan.  Despite making regular payments, the loan balance increases.
	Loan flipping occurs when lenders encourage or pressure borrowers into frequent refinancing.  Benefits are often not sufficient to cover the fees charged for each refinance.
	Lenders place pre-dispute mandatory binding arbitration clauses in loan contracts.  These clauses limit the borrower’s access to injunctive relief for abuses and borrowers can be required to pay arbitration costs and travel long distances.

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Tips to Avoid Predatory Lending

	Deals that sound “too good to be true” usually are.
	Ignore high-pressure sales tactics and lenders or brokers who try to rush you.
	Always shop around, do not take the first loan you are offered.
	Look at the total cost of the loan, not just the monthly payment. Consider items like points, fees, insurance, and prepayment penalties.
	Never sign a blank document or a document somebody promises to fill in later.
	Before closing your loan, get a copy of your final loan terms and conditions. Go over them with somebody you trust and do not sign if anything looks substantially different at closing.

Contacts and Links of Interest

Center for Responsible Lending – A Resource for Predatory Lending Opponents

Federal Reserve Board – Looking for the Best Mortgage

Federal Trade Commission – Consumer Complaint Form

Mortgage Broker’s Association – Predatory Lending Resource Center

Southeast Florida Better Business Bureau

Defending Yourself Against Identity Theft

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.  The FTC reports that there were 161,819 victims of identity theft in calendar year 2002.  Florida has one of the highest

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Tips to Avoid Identity Theft

	Do not respond to phone calls or emails from unknown solicitors seeking personal information.
	Do not leave documents containing identifying information lying around your house or workplace.  Keep them in a secure location.
	When discarding documents containing your social security number, credit or debit card information, or utility and phone bills, shred or destroy them.  Don’t just throw them away.
	Read your credit card bills thoroughly before paying them.
	Pay attention to billing cycles and contact creditors if bills arrive late or do not arrive.
	Mail bill payments and checks from locked mailboxes.
	Monitor your credit reports from the three crediting agencies at least annually.
	Limit the contents of your wallet.  Do not carry extra credit cards or important identity documents (social security card, passport, etc.) except when needed.  Never carry passwords or PIN numbers in your wallet.
	Photocopy, scan, or make a list of the contents of your wallet and keep it in a safe place.  Copies or scans should include both sides of each item.  A list should include account numbers, expiration dates, and customer service phone numbers for each item.

What to Do if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft

	Report the crime to the police and obtain a copy of a written police report to provide to banks and creditors.
	File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and obtain and complete a copy of its ID Theft Affidavit (accepted by most companies for purposes of describing identity theft).
	Report the crime to the three credit bureaus (contact information below) to report the crime and ask that fraud alerts be put in your file.
	If your wallet is stolen:
	- Contact credit card companies to cancel credit cards and obtain new cards with new numbers.
	- Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to report your driver’s license stolen, put a fraud alert on your file, and receive a new license.
	If your Social Security Card is stolen, contact the Social Security Administration.
	Thoroughly document your actions.

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Contacts and Links of Interest

The Federal Trade Commission – Your National Resource for Identity Theft 1-877-FTC-HELP

The Federal Trade Commission – ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name

Credit Bureaus:

Equifax

To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 and write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Hearing impaired call 1-800-255-0056 and ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111 to request a copy of your report.

Experian

To order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write:
P.O. Box 2002, Allen TX 75013

To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write:
P.O. Box 9530, Allen TX 75013
TDD: 1-800-972-0322

Trans Union

To order your report, call: 800-888-4213 or write:
P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022

To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 and write:
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
TDD: 1-877-553-7803

US Department of Justice – Identity Theft & Fraud

Social Security Administration – Identity Theft 1800-269-0271 (to report fraud)

Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Identity Theft: How to Avoid It & What to Do About It

Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Identity Theft: The Long Road to Resolution

Broward County Consumer Affairs Division

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Public Records Exemptions

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes governs public records law.  Not all records are required to be “in the sunshine.”  The Florida Legislature has created many exemptions to public records law.  If you qualify under these exemptions, you can request that certain information be redacted from public records available on this website.

Exemptions apply to certain personal information about *:

	Current or former law enforcement officers and their families
	Current or former judges and their families
	Current or former prosecutors and their families
	Current or former firefighters and their families
	Current or former human resources managers and their families
	Current or former code enforcement officers and their families

* Note: This is not a comprehensive list.  For more information about exemptions, click here.

If you qualify for one of the public records exemptions and wish to have your information exempted from public review, contact the Search Supervisor of the County Records Division to discuss your needs.  Contact by phone: 954-357-8240 or by email: jterwilliger@broward.org.

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