It’s Time To Freeze Your Credit
In the news over the past couple of years we’ve all heard about breaches at companies like Equifax and major financial institutions. Those breaches have led many Americans to wonder about the safety and security of their personal information. Many have asked:
Am I safe online?
Is my personal information compromised?
Do I have to worry about someone setting up a credit card in my name?
If you are one of those Americans, a new free solution has been granted for you by the credit bureaus.
That solution is called a credit freeze. Maybe you’ve never heard of a credit freeze but what it does is it prevents creditors from being able to gather your credit file. If you choose to “unfreeze” it before you go to that lender they will be able to secure your information in order to process the request. This would prevent anyone who had your information from going out and getting a credit card in your name because their request would be denied.
As of September 2018, it is now free for you to freeze and unfreeze the credit file of you and your dependents. If you wish to keep from having a lending organization access that file or even because you want to take control of that information worry not, it is now free.
Also, keep in mind that these large credit bureaus make countless sums by selling your records to credit card companies and lending agencies for those on demand requests. Such requests also have the potential to lower your credit score as well.
If you wish to freeze your credit please contact the following agencies by phone, mail or online:
Online: TransUnion
By Phone: 888-909-8872
By Mail: TransUnion LLC
P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016
Online: Equifax
By phone: 800-685-1111
By Mail: Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5788
Online: Experian
By phone: 888-397-3742
By Mail: Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
You may also be one of the many millions of Americans who recieve mounds of junk mail that include pre-approved cards. If you are tired of getting these and wish to opt out you have two choices: you can opt out for five years or permanently.
To opt out contact the major consumer reporting companies at 1-888-567-8688 (toll free) or optoutprescreen.com.