How long does it take for a security freeze to be lifted? How long does it take for a security freeze to be in effect?
What is the difference between a fraud alert and a freeze? Consumer Protection & Antitrust Bureau HomeĬan I open new credit accounts if my files are frozen?.my friend told me they ask about mortgage info too if you have one.recent credit inquiries within the last two years.the current balance of those credit cards.the balance limit of those credit cards.companies with whom you have credit cards.They also then connected me to their Security Freeze Dept (and gave me the number 88 to call if I got disconnected) and was on hold another 30 min, but they were actually able to lift the freeze on my account over the phone.īe prepared and have the following info ready: I just called the 88 number that you shared above, was on hold for 35 minutes, but spoke to a real person and they sent me the PIN in the mail. pdf that was a grand total of 0kb, so I had no PIN. Thank you very much for this! When I froze my account, I received a. To format a list properly, add a space between the bullet points and list items, and add a blank line before the start of the list. Your text might contain incorrectly formatted list(s). I have attempted to automatically reformat your text with fixed line breaks. ( See Reddit's page on commenting for more information.) To create a line break, either put two spaces at the end of the line or put an extra blank line in-between lines. You might have incorrectly formatted line breaks. So if not in a rush, give it a week or two before calling. That's where the monitoring comes in handy to spot such issues.įinally, to the OP, there's a chance the PIN is also being mailed to you. Some lenders may not even check one's credit (hence freeze won't matter), but may later report a collection for a past-due debt being collected on. If you've already frozen them, you can still request free credit reports from, but many credit monitoring services won't work unless you unfreeze, signup, and then re-freeze.įor those overly concerned about the security of their credit, monitoring is essential because freezes don't stop all credit activity can be bypassed in some instances. To the OP, if you're able, signup with free CreditKarma and/orĮxperian (scroll down towards bottom for free, no credit card needed version) credit monitoring. While it's not iron-clad security, a freeze is often still worthwhile, since it adds a barrier for scammers, especially those that utilize automated methods. "You can also request the PIN directly from the customer support rep by providing more information."ĭon't get me wrong, it's understandable that 3 big credit bureaus would have a PIN recovery procedure that doesn't depend on the postal mail or other out of band methods due to people moving, etc. That last part of your reply illustrates all too well how little additional security a freeze truly offers. Here, please treat others with respect, stay on-topic, and avoid self-promotion.Īlways do your own research before acting on any information or advice that you read on Reddit. Get your financial house in order, learn how to better manage your money, and invest for your future. Banking Megathread: FDIC, NCUA, and your cash.Private communication is not safe on Reddit. Scam alert: Ignore any private messages or chat requests.