![]() ![]() Once you've taken care of your business, you can freeze your credit once again. You may want to enroll in a credit-monitoring program, but be aware that these often carry additional costs. Creditors now have access to your data, but criminals also have the opportunity to open accounts in your name if your information has been compromised. Once you impose the thaw, make sure you monitor your credit report. If you're planning lots of financial moves without a clear timetable, such as applying for a mortgage, you can simply thaw your credit report indefinitely.Ĭontact each of the three major credit bureaus either by going online, calling them on the phone, or by mail. To place, temporarily lift, or permanently remove a security freeze from Experian and TransUnion, the other two major credit reporting agencies, you'll still need a PIN number. "Credit freezes are consumers' best protection against new account fraud, and consumers should take advantage of free freezes, lifts, and removals at the three major credit bureaus to help reduce the risk of identity theft," says Maureen Mahoney, policy analyst for Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. Any previously frozen credit reports will remain frozen until a consumer changes the report's status. If you've lost your number, a new one can be requested by downloading, filling out, and mailing this form to Equifax. Your old Equifax PIN will still be valid in these instances. However, if you want to manage your Equifax report by phone or by mail, Bistritz-Balkan says you'll still need a PIN number. A username and password will be necessary to thaw or lift your credit freeze online, she says. "We wanted to create an online experience that enables consumers to securely and conveniently manage security freezes and fraud alerts," says Nancy Bistritz-Balkan, Equifax's vice president of consumer education & advocacy. To create the account you'll have to provide information such as your name, Social Security number, and home address. Now, you need to open a new online account with Equifax in order to manage your credit, even if you've already been issued a PIN number by the company. The temporary lift for some reason did not allow the credit checks like I assumed it was supposed to do.Before the new law was enacted, Equifax would give you a PIN number to initiate a credit freeze. My mortgage refinance went through and I was able to sign up for T-Mobile Money. All of a sudden, everything went through. I went back to the sites and permanently removed the credit freeze. Later that same day, by sheer coincidence, my mortgage processor emailed me that my credit was still frozen. I confirmed on each bureau's site that the temporary lift was still in effect. It just so happened that my credit freeze was temporarily lifted for another 30 days because I am refinancing my home right now as well. It kept failing and it wouldn't tell me why. I applied to T-Mobile Money a few days ago, which obviously requires a credit check. I assumed that this would allow any credit checks to pass through as if it was not frozen at all. If you need, you can temporarily lift your freeze for a set duration or until a designated date. If you're like me, you have your credit frozen (Experian calls it "locked") on all 3 major credit bureaus because it's easy and there's not much downside to doing it, at least in the U.S. TLDR A temporary lift from a credit freeze is not the same as permanently removing the freeze. Here, please treat others with respect, stay on-topic, and avoid self-promotion.Īlways do your own research before acting on any information or advice that you read on Reddit. Get your financial house in order, learn how to better manage your money, and invest for your future. Banking Megathread: FDIC, NCUA, and your cash.Private communication is not safe on Reddit. Scam alert: Ignore any private messages or chat requests.
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