From what I'm seeing, you have to pay Equifax to be able to lock your credit report. What's up with that? Why should I have to pay them, and they state it doesn't completely lock it - other credit agencies still have access to it. Will I have to pay each of the 3 to get it locked?? Aren't they required to allow me to lock my report? I do…
From what I'm seeing, you have to pay Equifax to be able to lock your credit report. What's up with that? Why should I have to pay them, and they state it doesn't completely lock it - other credit agencies still have access to it. Will I have to pay each of the 3 to get it locked?? Aren't they required to allow me to lock my report? I don't need another monthly subscription charge, I'm on a fixed income!!
There’s a distinction between a credit lock and a credit freeze. The credit bureaus offer both, for the purposes of clarity and because they love you. And incidentally so they can upsell you solutions to the problems they created. In any case, go on each of the three credit bureau sites and set up a “credit freeze” and that is free. If they want money it’s not the correct option.
Be careful. There are credit report freezes which are free. Each credit bureau also offers credit "locks" which are fee-based. Use the link that Jeff provided to get to the credit freeze.
When I froze my Experian credit report, I got an email from them that my credit was unlocked - turned out the report was still frozen but they were trying to sell me their "CreditLock" service. No thanks.
There is no charge to freeze or unfreeze your reports. However, all three of them have different subscriptions and monitoring they are trying to sell, ignore those and just freeze your credit. No debit/credit card required to do so.
We have been affected periodically by various breaches. After each one, the hacked company coughs up "free" credit monitoring. I wonder who will cough that up this time.
Jen, I would never deal with those offering “free” because very often they are third-party contractors or other free agents who will actually be stealing the data that you give while they give you nothing for free.
Isn't that scam that "free" is for a certain period, say 1 year? After that, if you want to continue the service there's a charge? Something like that?
The only one that keeps asking me for a credit card is Trans Union. The other two are frozen. They didn’t charge anything. I don’t think that they are supposed to charge.
I have done this since the 90's with all 3 credit agencies for my husband and I (when we filed a tax return for our refund and were told we had already filed). In addition to the freeze, every 6 months I check our credit reports (for free as well). Sometimes, like you, I can't find the free option. I just put it aside and try it again the next day and always find it. They sometimes make it really hard. Just keep hunting, it's there.
If you've set up an account and are signed in, go to https://service.transunion.com/dss/dashboard.page? Click on the top left-hand box that says "Credit Freeze." As someone else has explained, a "lock" - similar but different - costs money.
I found that too a while back in 2022. Experian was free, but the other two were paid subscriptions. There is the suspicious part of me that feels like they are all scammers of some sort, mining info without our consent.
Not true. They all try to sell you some kind of "advanced" protection but you don't need to do that. You can freeze your credit with all of them at no cost. You don't need their other services.
From what I'm seeing, you have to pay Equifax to be able to lock your credit report. What's up with that? Why should I have to pay them, and they state it doesn't completely lock it - other credit agencies still have access to it. Will I have to pay each of the 3 to get it locked?? Aren't they required to allow me to lock my report? I don't need another monthly subscription charge, I'm on a fixed income!!
There’s a distinction between a credit lock and a credit freeze. The credit bureaus offer both, for the purposes of clarity and because they love you. And incidentally so they can upsell you solutions to the problems they created. In any case, go on each of the three credit bureau sites and set up a “credit freeze” and that is free. If they want money it’s not the correct option.
Good point, I've updated my comment to note freeze is the proper term.
Be careful. There are credit report freezes which are free. Each credit bureau also offers credit "locks" which are fee-based. Use the link that Jeff provided to get to the credit freeze.
When I froze my Experian credit report, I got an email from them that my credit was unlocked - turned out the report was still frozen but they were trying to sell me their "CreditLock" service. No thanks.
There is no charge to freeze or unfreeze your reports. However, all three of them have different subscriptions and monitoring they are trying to sell, ignore those and just freeze your credit. No debit/credit card required to do so.
Just additional info, please consider freezing your deceased loved ones! This was suggested by the funeral home of my mother
Wow, that’s something to put in your will letter!
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/difference-security-freeze-credit-report-lock "A security freeze (also known as credit freeze) of your Equifax credit report is regulated by federal law. You can place, temporarily lift or permanently remove a freeze on your Equifax credit report for FREE online, by phone or by mail."
We have been affected periodically by various breaches. After each one, the hacked company coughs up "free" credit monitoring. I wonder who will cough that up this time.
Jen, I would never deal with those offering “free” because very often they are third-party contractors or other free agents who will actually be stealing the data that you give while they give you nothing for free.
Lots of wolves in sheep’s clothing!
Ticketmaster just coughed up an offer to me after their security breach. Seems like there’s one every few months now. Before that it was AT&T…🤦🏼♀️
And blue cross. And a big federal veteran/hr database. Various universities. Even one of the big 3 credit agencies. The list is endless.
Isn't that scam that "free" is for a certain period, say 1 year? After that, if you want to continue the service there's a charge? Something like that?
But when new breaches are announced with yet another "free" credit locking service...
A business model? In yet another numbers game? --
Every day my disgust with the false matrix is renewed and enhanced.
The only one that keeps asking me for a credit card is Trans Union. The other two are frozen. They didn’t charge anything. I don’t think that they are supposed to charge.
No cost. Set up a free account on TransUnion. Then set up a freeze.
Every time I go in and try to do it they ask for my credit card, and won’t let me bypass it. What am I doing wrong?
I have done this since the 90's with all 3 credit agencies for my husband and I (when we filed a tax return for our refund and were told we had already filed). In addition to the freeze, every 6 months I check our credit reports (for free as well). Sometimes, like you, I can't find the free option. I just put it aside and try it again the next day and always find it. They sometimes make it really hard. Just keep hunting, it's there.
If you've set up an account and are signed in, go to https://service.transunion.com/dss/dashboard.page? Click on the top left-hand box that says "Credit Freeze." As someone else has explained, a "lock" - similar but different - costs money.
Thank you! 😊
No you don't. I have done it for free.
I found that too a while back in 2022. Experian was free, but the other two were paid subscriptions. There is the suspicious part of me that feels like they are all scammers of some sort, mining info without our consent.
Not true. They all try to sell you some kind of "advanced" protection but you don't need to do that. You can freeze your credit with all of them at no cost. You don't need their other services.
If I freeze my credit dies that mean I can not use my credit cards?
It does not. It is supposed to prevent any new accounts from being set up in one's name.
No, it doesn’t. I use my credit card.