I went forwards and backwards on freezing my credit for weeks earlier than I truly did it. As a private finance editor overlaying identification theft, I knew it will make it harder for cybercriminals to open a brand new credit score account in my title — however it will additionally add a number of further steps for me to do the identical.
If you freeze your credit score, it’s a must to manually unfreeze or “thaw” it with every of the three major credit bureaus everytime you wish to apply for a brand new bank card, automobile mortgage or mortgage.
The method of freezing your credit score is not so easy both. It entails signing up for particular person accounts with Equifax, TransUnion and Experian and freezing your credit score manually on-line or by telephone or mail.
However there are two advantages that offered me on it. First, freezing your credit score is completely free. And second, you get peace of thoughts in realizing you’ve got neutralized a significant software in identification thieves’ playbook.
Why I froze my credit score reviews
Information breaches occur extra typically than you suppose, throughout a number of business sectors. And chances are high, your information has been compromised not less than as soon as.
In 2024, Ticketmaster and AT&T reported information breaches that affected hundreds of thousands of shoppers. And hacks of background search firm National Public Data and UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Change Healthcare additionally compromised the non-public information of tons of of hundreds of thousands of individuals. However in the event you’re apprehensive about new credit score accounts being opened in your title, a credit score freeze can provide some peace of thoughts.
I’ve observed an uptick within the quantity of rip-off messages I obtain on my telephone and in my electronic mail inbox over the previous 12 months. Most are simple sufficient to smell out, however some had been pretty properly researched.
I’ve acquired a wide range of messages asking me out for ribs and even providing me new job alternatives. The barrage of messages, telephone calls and emails make me suppose that at any given second — whereas distracted or in a rush to get again to my desk for my subsequent assembly — I’ll fall sufferer to a rip-off that would result in identification theft.
Freezing my credit score is likely one of the greatest methods to guard your information and cash, nevertheless it’s not foolproof. Fraudsters and identification thieves may nonetheless achieve entry to my private data through present accounts. I can restrict the injury, nonetheless.
Learn extra: 5 Signs Your Personal Data Is on the Dark Web, and What You Can Do About It
How I froze my credit score with TransUnion, Equifax and Experian
If you freeze your credit score, you may must do it with every of the three most important credit score bureaus. That requires organising accounts with every — a course of that took about half-hour on-line. Usually, you are requested for a similar data: your title, birthday and the final 4 digits of your Social Safety quantity. You then want to finish two-factor authentication through textual content or electronic mail.
TransUnion and Equifax have devoted tabs obtainable to you in your dashboard to freeze your credit score after you create an account. Just a few clicks, and I used to be all set.
Experian makes this selection a bit harder to search out. After some clicking round, I discovered two methods to activate a free safety freeze.
You may hover over “credit score” in your dashboard and click on Experian Credit Lock — Experian’s paid providing that works just like a credit score freeze however locks your credit score report immediately, amongst different options. On that web page, you may see the free “safety freeze” possibility.
You can too scroll right down to the underside of the web page whereas signed in and click on Experian Credit score Lock to get to the identical web page. All three credit score bureaus will affirm your credit score freeze through electronic mail.
In the event you do not wish to arrange on-line accounts, you may name every credit score bureau to freeze your credit score. Listed here are the numbers for every:
- TransUnion: 800-916-8800
- Equifax: 888-298-0045
- Experian: 888-397-3742
After you’ve got requested a credit score freeze, every bureau should freeze your credit score inside one enterprise day. When you’ll want to unfreeze your credit score, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax are required to thaw your credit score inside an hour. By mail, it could take as much as three enterprise days to freeze and unfreeze your credit score.
Freezing your credit score will not resolve your entire identification theft worries
Establishing the credit score freeze was easy sufficient. However I am not going to let you know that having your credit score frozen is handy. Listed here are some downsides to contemplate.
You will must unfreeze your credit score each time you open a brand new account
Freezing your credit score prevents cybercriminals or identification thieves from opening new credit score accounts in your title. However it additionally stops you. To open a brand new credit score account, you may must log into your accounts or contact every of the three credit score bureaus and quickly unfreeze your credit score.
In the event you’re pondering of applying for a new credit card, in search of your first home or pondering of taking out a new car loan, it is most likely greatest to attend till after you’ve got opened the account earlier than freezing your credit score.
False sense of safety
Freezing your credit score is an efficient step towards defending your identification, however it could actually nonetheless be stolen.
You might think about signing up for an identity theft protection service. Particular person plans sometimes begin from $7 to $15 relying on the extent of monetary and identification monitoring you need. With an identification theft safety plan, you may monitor your credit score, financial institution accounts and the darkish net in your or your loved ones’s private identifiable information, or PII.
Alternatively, you may reap the benefits of free instruments at your disposal. Overview your monthly credit card and bank statements. Additionally have a look at your medical claims historical past on-line and in your credit report. You may obtain your free credit score report on AnnualCreditReport.com.
It will not cease spam messages
If scammers have your telephone quantity or electronic mail, you will not have the ability to cease makes an attempt to rip-off you out of cash in your present accounts.
It is best to dam phone numbers and electronic mail addresses from unrecognized senders each time you obtain a wierd message. Additionally, take a minute to learn messages rigorously earlier than clicking on a hyperlink.
It will not put an finish to new credit score provides
Freezing your credit score additionally will not eradicate the spam mail and prescreened provides you obtain. Credit score freezes are supposed to forestall hard inquiries on your credit, comparable to lease purposes or making use of for a student loan. You may nonetheless count on to obtain provides from bank card firms, insurance coverage carriers and extra.
Monetary establishments you have already got a relationship with and debt collectors also can view your credit score. Below particular circumstances, so can the federal, state and native authorities.
Credit score monitoring firms like Credit score Karma and Credit score Sesame can nonetheless give you your up-to-date credit score scores.
You will nonetheless want good password hygiene
Even when your credit score is frozen, you may nonetheless must be sure to have good passwords. Make sure to not use the identical login data throughout a number of websites — utilizing the identical login is a standard tactic by cybercriminals.
If retaining observe of your passwords turns into overwhelming, think about paying for a password manager. CNET recommends Bitwarden.
It will not shield your checking account data
Even in the event you freeze your credit score, it is nonetheless your accountability to guard your checking account data from scammers.
In the event you mistakenly present any account numbers or login data to cybercriminals, contact your financial institution instantly and alter your password.
In the long run, I am glad I froze my credit score
There are professionals and cons to freezing your credit score. However with no plans to open a brand new account anytime quickly, it was price it to me. I additionally really feel safer after doing it. It is good to know I’ve thrown a wrench into any cybercriminal’s plans.
Certain, the spam messages preserve rolling in. However I am advantageous with being the gatekeeper of my monetary accounts. I make a behavior of checking my financial institution and bank card statements usually.
