Equifax security freeze help8/11/2023 ![]() If you do not want to put your information into another automated computer system, you can call the agencies directly. You will be asked to provide information. To set up your own credit freeze, go to the freeze page at each credit agency's website individually: Equifax, TransUnion, Experian. Users on Twitter report trying again and again to secure credit freezes, with both the website and phone systems failing. ![]() With millions of people feeling vulnerable after the hack and scrambling to secure their most important information, getting a credit freeze has been more difficult than usual in the past few days. The agencies advise you to plan ahead and lift a freeze a few days before actually applying for new credit. The reporting agencies tell you that this may delay a legitimate credit request.īut for those who don't feel comfortable with the way the credit reporting agencies are handling their treasure trove of personal information, a notification to the agencies and day or so delay may be a fair price to pay for added security. If you are able to determine which credit agency your potential lender is using to run your credit, you can even save yourself some fees by just requesting the freeze to be lifted on that one. The only notable thing is that you will need to notify the credit bureaus to lift the freeze before you ask a lender to approve you for credit. When your credit is frozen you can continue to operate your financial life just as you typically would. What we're recommending is that people don't bother with the package Equifax is offering and just place freezes with the three credit bureaus instead." "The problem is that it is incomplete protection and it only lasts for a year. ![]() "Equifax is offering something that it says functions like a credit freeze," says Mike Litt, consumer program advocate with US Public Interest Research Group. It's helpful, but it is often after the fact. These are services that will let you know when someone is looking at your credit and may contact you about a new account opened in your name. If you freeze it, it isn't as valuable.Īs such, they are more likely to offer you fraud alerts and other credit monitoring products. That's because your data is the product that they sell to other people and companies. The credit reporting companies do little to make getting a credit freeze easy: you have to ask each of them individually, pay a fee (usually) to put it in place, ask each of them specifically to lift the freeze and often pay another fee. How is it different from fraud alerts or other credit monitoring? The company did not immediately respond to request for comment.Ĭonsumer protection organizations like the National Consumer Law Center are further calling for Equifax to waive the fees for credit freezes at all three credit bureaus. It's also unclear whether Equifax would still charge you a fee to lift the freeze. In response to public outcry, Equifax announced that fees to freeze your credit will be waived for the next 30 days.īut even that doesn't totally protect your information since your data isn't fully frozen until it is on ice at all three credit bureaus. If you're a resident of certain states - like Maine or South Carolina - it's free. The costs to freeze and lift the freeze on your credit vary based on where you live and for each credit reporting agency, but commonly range from $2 to $10 per agency. This can be done temporarily, either for a set time or for a particular party, like a landlord or lender. Your credit information will still be released to your existing creditors and any debt collectors who may come calling.īut, if you want to open new lines of credit, you'll need to lift the freeze first. It doesn't damage your credit or stop your credit report from evolving by your own actions. The goal is to prevent anyone from opening any new accounts. A credit freeze limits who can see your credit report information.
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