- Who is Early Warning?
- You may have been referred to Early Warning because of information reported to us by financial institutions about your checking or savings account history and activity. The entity that referred you to Early Warning may have made a decision to take action that is adverse to you (such as declining to open a new bank account or declining to accept a payment). This decision was made by the entity that referred you to us, and not by Early Warning.
Early Warning is a nationwide consumer reporting agency that complies with applicable provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). We are owned by seven of the country’s most respected financial institutions – Bank of America, N.A.; Branch Banking & Trust; Capital One, N.A.; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; PNC Bank, N.A.; U.S. Bank, N.A.; and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.- What information is in your Early Warning consumer report?
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Information about you: Your name(s), date of birth, Social Security number, address(es), phone number(s), etc.
Information about your accounts: Information about your bank account history and activity, including the bank’s name, account number, account status, account balance, and transactions on the account.
Inquiries: A list of entities that recently obtained information about you from Early Warning.
View sample Early Warning consumer report (also known as a file disclosure)
- Who has access to your Early Warning consumer report?
- The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) strictly limits who can have access to your Early Warning consumer report and how your Early Warning consumer report can be used. Such entities must have “permissible purpose” (as defined by the FCRA) in order to obtain and use your Early Warning consumer report.
- How is Early Warning different from other consumer reporting agencies?
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Early Warning is considered a consumer reporting agency. We collect and report information about your banking account and transaction history.
Other nationwide consumer reporting agencies such as Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, report information about your credit history. For example, they collect and report information about your loan paying history and the status of your credit card accounts. They also report what is commonly referred to as your FICO credit score. You can learn more, including how to obtain your credit report from the nationwide consumer reporting agencies, at www.annualcreditreport.com. - Does Early Warning provide a credit score?
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No. Early Warning provides a Deposit Score which uses deposit account behavior to assess risk for new account opening. This score is different than a credit score you may receive from the nationwide consumer reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion).
To request your Early Warning Deposit Score, please call 1-800-745-1560 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday.
- Does your Early Warning consumer report affect your credit score?
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No, your Early Warning consumer report does not affect the credit scores generated by the consumer reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax).
- Can you place a fraud alert on your Early Warning consumer report?
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No. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Early Warning is not required to place fraud alerts on consumer reports. If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud or identity theft, you should contact one of the nationwide credit reporting agencies and place a fraud alert on your credit report.
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
For more information on fraud alerts, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website. We want to help you [link to 13.0 Avoid ID Theft, Online Fraud & Scams] avoid ID theft, online fraud and scams. Once you receive your consumer report, we urge you to check it carefully for inaccurate or incomplete information. If you find incomplete or inaccurate information on your report that you believe was caused by identity theft, please contact us for additional assistance.
- Can you place a security freeze on your Early Warning consumer report?
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No. Under state laws, Early Warning is not required to place security freezes or fraud alerts on consumer reports. If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud or identity theft, you should contact one of the nationwide credit reporting agencies and place a security freeze or fraud alert on your credit report.
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
For more information on fraud alerts, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website. We want to help you avoid ID theft, online fraud and scams.
- You have a Power of Attorney. Can you request an Early Warning consumer report for the principal?
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Yes, you can request a consumer report for the principal. Please attach a copy of the power of attorney when you request the consumer report.
- Is Early Warning a collection agency?
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No. Early Warning is a consumer reporting agency that complies with applicable provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Early Warning will never contact you to collect money owed.
How to avoid debt collection scams - Can you opt out of Early Warning’s services?
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No, you can’t opt out. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Early Warning is able to provide consumer reports to financial institutions and financial entities with permissible purpose (as defined by the Act).
Early Warning will not use or sell your personal information for marketing purposes.
- Are we providing the help you need?
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We strive to provide exceptional customer service. If you had exceptional service or we didn’t quite meet your needs, please let us know so we can better serve you in the future.
By phone
1-800-745-1560, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through FridayBy mail
Early Warning
Attn: Consumer Services
16552 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
- Do you owe a bank money for a checking or savings account?
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If you already know that you have a negative balance in a bank checking or savings account, the easiest way to resolve the problem is to contact the bank directly. The bank will help you understand your options.
- You paid the money that you owed. How do you update your Early Warning consumer report?
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Provide a copy of documentation (a paid receipt and/or official letter) from the financial institution to Early Warning. Early Warning will update your file to reflect the charge was paid.
Mailing Address
Early Warning
Attn: Consumer Services
16552 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 - Are you unsure if information in your consumer report is causing a bank or a merchant to decline to do business with you?
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We can send your consumer report to you so that you can review your banking history.
Request your consumer report - How long does information stay on your Early Warning consumer report?
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Information stays on your Early Warning consumer report for varying amounts of time, depending on the type of activity being reported. In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, negative records will not be included in your Early Warning consumer report if they are older than seven (7) years. Items that are not negative, but neutral or positive (e.g. identity information, account activity) can be reported on an ongoing basis or indefinitely.
- You filed for bankruptcy. How do you update your Early Warning consumer report?
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Provide a copy of your bankruptcy discharge paperwork to Early Warning, confirming that the reported bank account is included in the discharge. Early Warning will update your file to reflect the current status of the record.
Mailing Address
Early Warning
Attn: Consumer Services
16552 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
We want to help. Please choose the contact option that is most convenient for you.
By phone
1-800-745-1560, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday
By mail
Early Warning
Attn: Consumer Services
16552 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
By fax
480-656-6850
In-person
1-800-745-1560
Call to schedule an in-person appointment at our Scottsdale, Arizona office.
How to print and complete your identification form
1. Download and print the consumer identification form
2. Complete, sign and date the form
3. Provide a copy of one these types of identification:
- Driver’s license
- ID card
- Passport
- Other government-issued identification
If you have a power of attorney and are requesting the consumer report for a principal, please also include a copy of the power of attorney.
How to send your identification form
By mail
Early Warning
Attn: Consumer Services
16552 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
By fax
480-656-6850
Electronically through our secure transfer portal
To send your consumer report to us via our secure transfer portal, go to consumerservices.earlywarning.com. When prompted for the Early Warning email address, enter consumerservices@earlywarning.com. Follow the online instructions to create your User ID and password and upload the documents to be transmitted to Early Warning. If you need technical assistance with our secure transfer portal please call 1-877-639-4457.
Our secure transfer portal is solely for sending/receiving documents to Early Warning Consumer Services that contain sensitive personal information. The secure transfer portal is not monitored for questions or comments. If you have a question or comment about your consumer report, please call us at 1-800-745-1560.
Why we request your personal information, including your Social Security number
Early Warning takes the privacy and security of your personal information very seriously. When you contact us about your consumer report, we may request certain information to verify your identity prior to releasing such personal information. We also use this information to generate your consumer report. Incomplete information may hinder us in responding to your request. The personal information you provide to us will only be used to respond to your request. We do not share or sell this information with any unauthorized parties.
What to expect from Early Warning after you’ve made your request
Once your identity has been verified as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, your Early Warning consumer report will be sent to you by U.S. mail or electronically within fifteen (15) days*, unless otherwise required by your state of residence (please allow time for U.S. mail delivery).
Consumer reports will be provided to residents of the below states in accordance with state laws:
- Rhode Island: 4 business days
- California, Connecticut and Louisiana: 5 business days
- Maine: Promptly
Due to the sensitive nature of the information contained in your consumer report, we do not provide this information over the phone.
*In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, your consumer report will be sent to you within 3 calendar days if you notify Early Warning that you have been a victim of identity theft and you provide the information required by the Act.
1-800-745-1560
Call Center Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
Due to the sensitive nature of the information contained in your consumer report, we do not provide this information over the phone.
When should you dispute your consumer report?
If you believe any information in your Early Warning consumer report is incomplete or inaccurate, you may dispute that information by contacting us. Early Warning does not charge a fee for investigating disputed information.
- How long does the consumer report dispute process take?
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Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Early Warning has up to thirty (30) days to complete the dispute process (unless otherwise required by applicable state law). However, most disputes are completed in less than 30 days.
- What happens when my dispute is completed?
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Depending on the outcome of the dispute, the information may either be removed, updated or retained on your Early Warning consumer report. You will be notified in writing, by U.S. mail, of the outcome of the dispute within five (5) business days of the dispute being completed (please allow time for U.S. mail delivery).
- What should you do if you don’t agree with the outcome of the dispute?
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If you have already disputed information contained in your file and you do not agree with the outcome of the dispute, you may add a brief statement setting forth the nature of the dispute to your consumer report. Your statement will be included in future consumer reports issued about you.
Your statement must be brief (100 words or less). An Early Warning Consumer Services Representative can assist you with the length of the statement upon request. Your statement must not include the names of other individuals or businesses, and may not contain profanity. Your statement must pertain to the information contained in your file. You may mail, fax or upload your written statement to our secure transfer portal. Please include your Consumer ID Number and indicate the specific item of information to which you want to add the statement of dispute.
Upon your written request, Early Warning will provide you with a description of our reinvestigation procedures, including the contact information for any furnisher of information involved in the reinvestigation of your dispute.
How to dispute your report
If you believe your consumer report contains incomplete or inaccurate information, you may dispute such information by contacting us. Early Warning does not charge a fee for investigating disputed information.
A dispute must be in writing and include all of the following items:
• Your consumer ID number, found on the first page of your consumer report
• A description on the specific information that is incorrect (such as the routing and account numbers or the contribution reference number)
• A detailed description of why you believe the information is inaccurate or incomplete
• Copies of all supporting documentation for each dispute
Written disputes will be submitted to the financial institution that furnished the information to Early Warning as part of the reinvestigation process.
Colorado residents may file disputes by phone by calling 1-800-325-7775, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday.
How to send your dispute
By mail
Early Warning
Attn: Consumer Services
16552 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
By fax
480-656-6850
Electronically through our secure transfer portal
To send your consumer report to us via our secure transfer portal, go to consumerservices.earlywarning.com. When prompted for the Early Warning email address, enter consumerservices@earlywarning.com. Follow the online instructions to create your User ID and password and upload the documents to be transmitted to Early Warning. If you need technical assistance with the secure transfer portal please call 1-877-639-4457.
Our secure transfer portal is solely for sending/receiving documents, with sensitive personal information, to Early Warning Consumer Services. The portal is not monitored for questions/comments. If you have a question/comment about your written dispute, please call us at 1-800-745-1560.
Colorado residents may file disputes by phone by calling 1-800-325-7775, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday.
What happens after you send your written dispute?
Early Warning will submit the information you provide us to the financial information that furnished the information you are disputing. Upon receiving a response from the financial institution, Early Warning will review all documents relative to your dispute. Depending on the outcome of the dispute, the information may either be removed, updated or retained on your Early Warning consumer report. You will be notified in writing, by U.S. mail, of the outcome of the dispute within five (5) business days of the dispute being completed (please allow time for U.S. mail delivery).
Due to the sensitive nature of the information contained in your consumer report, we do not provide this information over the phone.
What to do if you don’t agree with the outcome of the dispute
If you have already disputed information contained in your file but Early Warning’s reinvestigation did not resolve your dispute, you may file a brief statement setting forth the nature of your dispute.
An Early Warning Consumer Services Representative can assist you with the length of the statement upon request. Your statement must not include the names of other individuals or businesses and may not contain profanity. Your statement must pertain to the information contained in your file. You may mail, fax or upload your written statement to our secure transfer portal indicated in the Contact Information section of this report. Please include your Consumer ID Number and indicate the specific item of information to which you want to add the rebuttal statement.
Upon your written request, Early Warning will provide you with a description of our reinvestigation procedures, including the contact information for any furnisher of information involved in the reinvestigation of your dispute.