If you’ve been evicted, there’s a good chance that your housing problems aren’t over, even if you’ve turned your financial situation around. Evictions are a serious matter, which is why having an eviction on your record could bring long-lasting consequences. Let’s discuss where evictions records show up, where they don’t show up, and how you might avoid an eviction or clear an old record. Got a legal question? Get legal advice in minutes. Real Lawyers. Real Answers. Right Now. Get your answer How would an eviction affect me in the future? There are two main ways an eviction can affect you. First, being evicted doesn’t erase any money you owed to your landlord. If you owed back rent, the court that issued your eviction will generally give your landlord a judgment that allows them to collect the money you owed, plus court and other collection costs. Second, landlords often won’t rent to someone with an eviction. It shows that you had a serious problem with a past landlord through either not paying rent or committing serious rule violations. For these reasons, you want to avoid one whenever possible. One option is to use mediation to reach some other type of settlement. You may also want to research if your state has a current eviction moratorium or try to work out a payment plan with your landlord. Do evictions show up on background checks? There are both direct and indirect ways an eviction can show up on a background check. Housing court case: A landlord gets an official eviction by going to housing court (the exact name of the court varies by jurisdiction). Public court records include when a tenant has had an eviction filed against them as well as the outcome of those proceedings. Most landlord background checks check these

COVID-19 has led to a marked increase in online transactions, triggering a huge spike in cases of identity theft. There are many steps you can take to reduce the odds of becoming a victim, such as recognizing the telltale signs of identity theft. Another way you can protect yourself is by implementing a credit freeze, which can help curb the flow of personal data.  Understanding what a credit freeze does and how to use it effectively will help you add an additional layer of protection to stop identity theft before it happens. Worried about identity theft and fraud? Prepare the documents needed to file reports and freeze accounts. We make it fast, affordable, and simple. Get started now Is freezing my credit a good idea? Credit card fraud can create years of problems for victims. Though nothing provides fool-proof protection against fraud, a credit freeze is a simple tool (with legally mandated compliance) that stops the credit bureaus from selling your data. When you do want a creditor to access your credit report, you enter a PIN to temporarily unfreeze it.  The added layer of protection makes it much more difficult for scammers to open accounts in your name because they can’t access your credit report. A credit freeze protects against fraud as long as you keep that PIN secure. It’s also free and has no impact on your credit score. Since COVID-19 identity theft schemes are on the rise, now could be a good time to consider using this tool. How do I put a freeze on my credit? You can request to have your credit frozen through the three main credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax—online. You can also print a Credit Freeze Request and mail it to each credit bureau individually. Along with the letter, you will need: