Stop bad guys from getting loans in your name. Here’s how to freeze your credit quickly and easily.
Background
There are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each one tracks your credit history and calculates a credit score.
When you apply for a loan, the lender pulls your credit report and score from at least one bureau. A bad guy can’t borrow a dime if his lender can’t pull your credit!
If a bad guy does get loans in your name, you could end up with a reduced credit score, plus debt collection notices or a judgment against you.
How To Freeze Your Credit
Freezing your credit used to be tougher. Now you can freeze anytime at no cost. (Thanks, 2017 Equifax data breach affecting 147.9 million Americans.)
You must freeze each bureau separately. Three freezes per person, six for a couple. Contact info below:
- Equifax: freeze online or call (888) 378-4329
- Experian: freeze online or call (888) 397-3742
- TransUnion: freeze online or call (888) 909-8872
The bureau may give you a PIN that you’ll need to unfreeze and refreeze in the future. Make your life easy: store your login credentials and PIN in a password manager.
Unfreeze and Refreeze As Needed
With your credit frozen, you can’t get a loan either! Just unfreeze and refreeze for free.
Schedule a temporary unfreeze to save time and stay protected. “Unfreeze me while I get this car loan, then refreeze me in one week.”
You must unfreeze each bureau separately. Mortgage lenders will pull all three bureaus. For a smaller loan, you might save time if you ask the lender which bureau they’ll pull, and unfreeze just that one. If you’re shopping lenders, just unfreeze all three.
For joint credit, both borrowers must unfreeze. Again, three per person, six for a couple.
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