How to freeze your credit with Equifax
How to freeze your credit with Equifax
Freezing your credit is one of the most effective and inexpensive means to lessen the risks of identity theft. When y'all freeze your credit, no 1 can even expect at your credit file, making it next-to-incommunicable for anyone else to open a new account in your name.
The downside is that y'all won't be able to open a new account either. Then all 3 major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — let you easily "unfreeze" your credit files, either temporarily or permanently. (You tin can set the dates and elapsing of a temporary freeze.)
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Freezing and unfreezing your credit is free across the U.s., thank you to a federal law that took effect in September 2018, 1 year after a massive Equifax information alienation.
Peradventure fittingly, Equifax gives you lot the most bang for your (free) cadet of all 3 credit bureaus when you set a credit freeze.
You'll have to create an Equifax business relationship, simply this comes with a "dashboard" on the Equifax website that gives y'all monthly credit scores and a summary of your Equifax credit report and as well lets you lot set upward a fraud alert. You can even start a dispute over inaccurate data in your credit file.
Equifax also offers a free service called "Lock & Written report" that is basically the same as a credit freeze, except that there are mobile apps for iOS and Android that let yous "unlock" your Equifax credit file with a swipe of a finger. To practise this with a credit freeze, you accept to log into your account on the Equifax website.
The difference is that Lock & Report isn't regulated past the federal authorities, and Equifax makes more money if it'due south easier to unlock your files. Equifax doesn't let you accept a credit lock and a credit freeze at the same fourth dimension.
Beneath is how to set up an Equifax credit freeze. Nosotros also accept guides on how to freeze your credit with Experian and how to freeze your credit with TransUnion.
How to fix a credit freeze with Equifax online
This is the easiest way to freeze your credit with Equifax. Go to the dedicated page on the Equifax website at https://world wide web.equifax.com/personal/credit-written report-services/credit-freeze/ and click "Get started with a freeze."
Then you'll have to fill out personal data, including your name, address, date of nativity and Social Security number. Equifax will retrieve your data and prompt y'all to fix an Equifax account. Make sure the password is unique and strong.
And so you'll be able to freeze your credit. You won't need to ready up a PIN to unfreeze information technology if yous have an Equifax business relationship — your username and password will be enough.
How to gear up upwardly a credit freeze with Equifax by telephone
Call Equifax at (888) 298-0045 between 9 a.grand. and ix p.m. Eastern time during the calendar week, and between 9 a.m. and half dozen p.m. on weekends.
You'll be asked for your proper noun, address, engagement of nascence and Social Security number to verify your identity. Once your freeze is set upwards, you'll be given a PIN that volition unfreeze your credit.
How to gear up a credit freeze with Equifax past mail
Print and fill out the form on this page. Y'all'll demand to mail information technology, along with copies of your Social Security card or pay stubs showing the number, plus copies of your driver's license, utility bills or other documents showing your address, to:
Equifax Data Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
Nosotros recommend sending the letter via certified post. The same form tin also be used to temporarily or permanently lift a credit freeze.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-freeze-credit-equifax
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