Consumer Alert
Free credit freezes are here
Free credit freezes and year-long fraud alerts are here, starting September 21st, thanks to a new federal law. Here’s what you should know:
Free credit freezes
Security freezes, also known as credit freezes, restrict access to your credit file, making it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Starting September 21, 2018, you can freeze and unfreeze your credit file for free. You also can get a free freeze for your children who are under 16. And if you are someone’s guardian, conservator or have a valid power of attorney, you can get a free freeze for that person, too.
How will these freezes work? Contact all three of the nationwide credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If you request a freeze online or by phone, the agency must place the freeze within one business day. If you request a lift of the freeze, the agency must lift it within one hour. If you make your request by mail, the agency must place or lift the freeze within three business days after it gets your request. You also can lift the freeze temporarily without a fee.
Don’t confuse freezes with locks. They work in a similar way, but locks may have monthly fees. If you want a free freeze guaranteed by federal law, then opt for a freeze, not a lock.
Year-long fraud alerts
A fraud alert tells businesses that check your credit that they should check with you before opening a new account. Starting September 21, 2018, when you place a fraud alert, it will last one year, instead of 90 days. Fraud alerts will still be free and identity theft victims can still get an extended fraud alert for seven years.
Credit freezes and the military
If you’re in the military, you’ll still have access to active duty alerts, which let you place a fraud alert for one year, renewable for the time you’re deployed. The active duty alert also gives you an added benefit: the credit reporting agencies will take your name off their marketing lists for prescreened credit card offers for two years (unless you ask them to add you back on).
You can place a fraud alert or active duty alert by visiting any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. The one that you contact must notify the other two. You also can find links to their websites at IdentityTheft.gov.
Issues with a credit freeze
If you think a credit reporting agency is not placing a credit freeze or fraud alert properly, you can submit a complaint online or by calling 855-411-2372. If you think someone stole your identity, visit the FTC’s website, IdentityTheft.gov, to get a personalized recovery plan that walks you through the steps to take.
For more information, check out Place a Fraud Alert, Extended Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes, and Credit Freeze FAQs. And if you’re considering a child credit freeze, you also may want to read Child Identity Theft.
Credit Bureau Contacts
Contact the national credit bureaus to request fraud alerts, credit freezes (also known as security freezes), and opt outs from pre‑screened credit offers.
Equifax
Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
800-685-1111Experian
Experian.com/help
888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)Transunion
TransUnion.com/credit-help
888-909-8872
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In reply to Hello, My computer was just by Katrinaw2019#
If someone took over your computer and got into your files, don't use your bank account or credit card online for now. Don't let the hackers get into your computer to "fix" things.
Use computer software that you trust to scan your computer. The software should scan your computer to check for malware or other problems. If you don't have software, you could go to a store that offers computer tech support. Explain what happened and ask them to check your computer for malware.
In reply to Credit freeze dos not work - by Dueren1956
Your credit freeze can still be in effect, even if you get unwanted calls about lowering your interest rates on credit cards. If you put a freeze on your credit reports, you put a limit on who can see your credit report.
People who make unwanted calls can get your name and address from public listings. They can say they got your information from credit reporting companies, but they might be lying.
Your credit freeze stays in effect until you ask the credit reporting company to lift it. This FTC article tells more about Credit Freezes.
In reply to Have tried for hours to use by Unsatisified
If you think a credit reporting agency is not placing a credit freeze or fraud alert properly, you can submit a complaint online or by calling 855-411-2372.
In reply to If someone gets my personal by Carlos
Each credit bureau should provide you with a unique PIN or password when you place a freeze on your credit report. You need to have that PIN or password if you choose to lift the freeze.
In reply to Transunion is easy and by Sunann
If you think a credit reporting agency is not placing a credit freeze or fraud alert properly, you can submit a complaint online or by calling 855-411-2372.
In reply to Do I need to freeze credit by Neel
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, which makes it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. You can choose whether you want to protect your information at one, two or three credit reporting bureaus.
In reply to Do both members of a married by nh
Usually, each member of a married couple has a credit report. A person's credit report has information about where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued, or filed for bankruptcy. Even if a married couple has some joint credit - like a mortgage - they have their own credit reports. Each person has to ask for their own credit freezes. This article about credit freezes has links to the credit bureaus and more information.
In reply to Can a freeze or unfreeze for by Jabo
You should have gotten a PIN or password at each credit bureau when you froze your report at that bureau. When you want to unfreeze your report at a bureau, you have to contact the bureau and give your PIN or password before it will unfreeze your credit report. There is no central source for unfreezing all the reports at once. Read more about credit freezes.
In reply to Be careful! EXPERIAN REFUSES by cr250Ram
If you think a credit reporting agency is not placing a credit freeze or fraud alert properly, you can submit a complaint online or by calling 855-411-2372.
In reply to I was disputing a claim on my by Ewi201
When you dispute error on your credit report, contact the credit reporting company and the business that gave the information. Credit reporting companies usually have to investigate your dispute within 30 days and send you an answer in writing. This article tells more about disputing errors.
You are not required to sign up for a security freeze, monitoring or other services so that a company will review your dispute.
You can ask Equifax why you're signed up for the security freeze and other services. See if there is a contact number or email on the message they sent you.
In reply to If you put a freeze on your by chick
The credit bureau should have given you a PIN or password when you asked to freeze your account. You need the PIN or password when you ask to lift the freeze.
A freeze stays in place until you ask the credit bureau to lift it temporarily or remove it. If you make the request online or by phone, a credit bureau must lift a freeze within one hour. If you make the request by mail, the bureau must lift the freeze no later than three business days after it gets your request.
You can report problems you have with a credit bureau to the FTC at www.FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give goes into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations.
In reply to I think someone from the by ange
If you think a credit reporting agency is not placing a credit freeze or fraud alert properly, you can submit a complaint online or by calling 855-411-2372.