Because I recently found fraudulant charges on one of my credit cards, I contacted Experian to file an Initial Fraud Alert on my credit report. I initially tried doing this thru their website, but got a message that my "request couldn't be processed at this time - try later". I believe this happened because I probably answered one of their system's identity verification questions wrong. (This question asked about a car loan that I finished paying off at least 2-1/2 years ago, and I wasn't sure anymore with whom the loan was.)
So, a few minutes after getting this message from the website, I tried their automated phone system instead. At the end of the process, it said that an Initial Fraud Alert was already on file. I know that I haven't previously filed an initial fraud alert. Could one have been filed by my credit card company, after I reported the fraudulent charges to them?
Should I be concerned that someone else may have put this fraud alert on my file, or could it be that this message was generated because of my original attempt to do this online at their website? Or am I being paranoid about this?
Also - It's my understanding that, when filing an initial alert, I'm entitled to a free credit report. Neither Experian's online system nor their automated telephone system offered to send me one, so I'd like to talk to someone at Experian about this.
I tried calling an actual person at Experian, but all roads seem to lead to automated systems only. Can anyone provide me with either an e-mail address or a phone number for me to contact an actual person there?
Thanks!