4/9     I received a letter from Cal saying my name was stored on that stolen
        laptop.  Should I really place a "credit alert"?  And would doing so
        hurt my credit rating?
        \_ it can't hurt to place a credit alert. and I don't see how/why
           it would affect your credit rating.
        \_ Yes.  File the report.  Not filing if the threat proves real
           could devastate your credit for decades.  Filing when you don't
           need to will hardly matter.
           \_ Should I file the 90 day initial alert or the extended alert,
              which requires a police report?  Should I refile the 90 day
              alert every 90 days for the rest of my life?  This is a serious
              question.  If it makes sense to file an alert now, and one can
              never predict when the stolen information will (no longer) be
              used, it seems to make equal sense to keep the alert on forever.
              BTW it seems that an alert will show up on the credit report.
              \_ Depends how vulnerable you feel.  90 day alert is simple
                 to place so you might as well do that asap.  Policy report
                 may or may not be a hassle to get.
                 \_ Jeesh, it is a bunch of cal students isn't it?  Someone
                    should get the police report and put it up on the web.