It acts like a less-strict version of a freeze on my Equifax credit report. The TrustedID Premier service does go a step further. Related: 5 things to do if you're worried about the Equifax breach And Equifax has made one year free for anyone who signs up before November 21. Typically, these services alert you if someone has opened an unauthorized account in your name, but only after the fact.īut it would be helpful to have in place for the time being. But Equifax has since updated its policy.)Ī monitoring service might not be necessary if I already have a freeze on my report. (Initially, signing up for the service limited your rights to sue. But when I tried again on Thursday, I received the same online message.ĭefeated, I decided to at least sign up for the credit monitoring service that Equifax is offering, TrustedID Premier. Later on Wednesday, the company issued a statement that said it was experiencing a high volume of freeze requests and that the system was offline for about an hour to address technical difficulties. An automated voice told me that all lines were busy and I was disconnected. So then I called the Equifax hotline to see if I could put set up a freeze over the phone. The thing is, I need to put a freeze in place at all three, including Equifax. This is the message I got when I tried to freeze my Experian credit report on Wednesday. Instead, the message provided contact information for the two other credit rating agencies - Transunion and Experian. Please try back later." There was no explanation, and no number to call. We cannot process your security freeze request online at this time. But then I got this message: "We're sorry. To put the freeze in place, I had to submit my name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address in an online form. Related: What's a credit freeze and should you do it? On Wednesday, I returned to the Equifax website to freeze my credit and finally sign up for the monitoring. I think the extra protection is worth the effort and potential hassle. But I'm not planning on opening a new loan or credit card anytime soon. In New Jersey, where I live, it costs $5. The drawback is that it could get annoying when I want to open a new account myself, requiring me to contact the credit agency to temporarily lift the freeze - and it could cost a small fee depending on your state. "The only way to prevent new account identity theft is through a freeze," said Mike Litt, consumer program advocate with U.S. It blocks businesses from accessing my report, as long as I don't already have an account with them. Please note that you can have either a security freeze or credit report lock on your Equifax credit report, but not both.Ĭlick here to review who can view your credit report if you have a security freeze or lock.After talking to experts, I decided that I should put a freeze on my credit reports as well. A credit report lock allows you to lock and unlock your credit report online or by mobile app using identity verification techniques such as usernames and passwords. Credit report lock: A credit report lock generally has the same impact on your credit report as a security freeze.Download this form for mailing instructions. You can place a security freeze on your Equifax credit report online after creating a myEquifax account, by phone, or by mail. Freezes must be placed, lifted or removed separately with each of the three nationwide credit bureaus. Unless you temporarily lift or permanently remove a freeze from your credit report, it can’t be accessed to open new accounts (subject to certain exceptions). Security freeze: A security freeze generally prevents access to your credit report to open new credit accounts.You can place a fraud alert online after creating a myEquifax account, by calling (800) 525-6285, or by mail. Download this form for mailing instructions. That bureau will send your request to the other two, so you do not have to contact all three. Fraud alerts are free, and you can contact any of the three nationwide credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) to request a fraud alert. This can make it harder for someone to open unauthorized accounts in your name. Fraud alerts encourage lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity, such as contacting you by phone, before opening a new credit account in your name or making changes to existing accounts. Fraud alert: A fraud alert is a notice on your credit report that alerts creditors you are or may be a victim of fraud, including identity theft. See more about the various options below. We recommend choosing the ones that best suit your credit activity. You don’t need to choose a single option.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |