I’ve been watching the bank’s credit card site closely, and no other fraudulent charges have shown up, but their reporting runs a couple of days behind, so I’m not totally out of the woods yet.

The good news is that my new temporary card arrived quickly and appears to work (at least the pump at two different gas stations accepted it), so I’m not facing a weekend without E-Z Credit.

Speaking of E-Z Credit, Commander Dave points out in the discussion group that having a fraud alert on one’s records can make it hard to take advantage of special financing deals (like the ones department stores love to run: open an account today and take 10% off everything you buy). That’s true, but right now, I’d rather feel safer.

I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend; the taxes are done and there’s no religious school on Sunday because of Passover (unfortunately, I can’t go to the YMCA and work out on Sunday, either, though it’s not due to Passover). I have uttered a mighty oath that I will clean up the junk on the dining room table this weekend so that it can be used again, and also that I will replace the under-the-sink water filter; I am sure I’ll utter some mighty oaths in the process, too.

Shabbat Shalom!

I happened to mention my problems to my boss when I talked to him later on, and he suggested I call the credit bureaus to have a fraud alert put on my records. That’s not something I would have thought of, so I’m glad he suggested it. The process might be easier during the business day when there are people available to help, but it works at night, too — differently at each of the credit bureaus.

• Experian pointed to their “Fraud Center” right from their home page and let me add the fraud alert online. Quick and easy.
• Equifax buried the information on how to add a fraud alert deep in the site (they are really interested in selling you your credit report, though!); I couldn’t do it online, but their toll-free number (800-525-6285) was fairly easy to deal with.
• Trans Union had an easy link to tips to protect yourself from credit fraud right on their home page, but it wasn’t quite so easy to figure out how to get a fraud alert added (the answer: call 800-680-7289). Their automated system was a lot more painful to use than Equifax’s, but I think I got the job done.

So now I gotta find everyone who has my credit card on file and give them the new credit card number. If that’s the most trouble I have from this, I’ll be very happy. Not as happy as if I didn’t have to do it at all, but such is life.