Credit Freeze oops with Equifax?

[BBQ-Nut]

I just got around to freezing my credit with the 3 biggies starting with Equifax.

I got all the way thru the process, was charged $10 for the freeze, got to the confirmation page with the big bold warning that I needed to print the information below using the Adobe Print Button.

Problem was, there was no print button and the page below the generic info was blank.

For those that froze credit with Equifax, what was on this supposed page with the required info?

 

[Big_Hitter]

I don't remember having to print anything out - I've been with them about 10 months

 

[MissMolly]

It might have been the PIN number you will need if you ever want to unlock your credit report with them. All three of the credit bureau agencies gave me a PIN.

 

[braumeister]

The information page they wanted you to print out contained the 10-digit PIN they assigned. You need that in order to lift the freeze.

 

[BBQ-Nut]

Awesome.


Experian asked me to generate my own PIN to unfreeze and was not charged anything.


Transunion required me to create an account first w/ user name and password (Equifax and Experian did not) before I could get to the freeze credit request, did that, was charged $10, and I was able to generate my own PIN to unfreeze.


I guess I need to somehow contact Equifax and get a PIN?

 

[BBQ-Nut]

Just another confirmation that if something can go wrong with computers, websites and software, I'm the poster child.


Found the contact info for Equifax via the helpful Freeze/Thaw guide that was posted in this forum before.
http://www.clarkhoward.com/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide

Called the number, got to talk with an actual human relatively quickly, answered some security questions, got my transaction confirmation number and my PIN.


Whew.

 

[Dog]

Question. Can I freeze credit for DH and I or do we need to each do it individually?


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[easysurfer]

Yes, the PIN to freeze/unfreeze. I ended up printing a copy (sometimes old fashioned method is the best method) of the PINs of each credit reporting company, placed the printouts in an envelop in my safe since I expect to lock/unlock my security during my life time -- not a once a time thing.

 

[H2ODude]

Both DW and I have freezes on; after all with a SSN someone can abuse either of a couple. We were lucky in that NC is one of the states where freezing and unlocking costs nothing. I've unlocked once or twice...easy peasy...just spec for how long. Also, ask whoever needs it unlocked which one, most cases only one unlock necessary.

 

[BBQ-Nut]

Question. Can I freeze credit for DH and I or do we need to each do it individually?


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

You would need to do it individually.

Equifax and Experian only require to know SSN and DOB (along with name and address).

Transunion required me to create a user account with username and password, along with asking some security related questions. You may not know these for DH, plus you would need separate accounts for yourself and DH.

 

[Dog]

Thank you BBQ Nut!


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[gauss]

I think my heart skips a beat when I see Credit and Oops in the same sentence. ;-)

 

[JoeWras]

For future reference, learn how to use the "snipping tool" on your PC. Not sure what it is called on Mac, but they have similar.

Very useful.

 

[BBQ-Nut]

For future reference, learn how to use the "snipping tool" on your PC. Not sure what it is called on Mac, but they have similar.

Very useful.

Wouldn't have worked as the info area was blank.

 

[potto0213]

I did a credit freeze this weekend and the same thing happened to me. I guess when I want to unfreeze with Equifax I will need to jump thru some hoops to get it removed. They must have some system in place for people who cannot remember their PIN, right?

 

[BBQ-Nut]

I did a credit freeze this weekend and the same thing happened to me. I guess when I want to unfreeze with Equifax I will need to jump thru some hoops to get it removed. They must have some system in place for people who cannot remember their PIN, right?

Yes - they do.

For future reference - bookmark this page
Credit Freeze and Thaw Guide | Clark Howard

In the section for Equifax it says:

If your PIN is late arriving, call 1-888-298-0045. They will ask you for some ID and arrange for your PIN to be sent to you in 4-7 days.

In my case I just called and talked to the operator that I never got a PIN in the first place using the on-line feature. And I got one over the phone after answering some security/ID questions.


They are also sending me one by snail-mail so I have a copy for my records. Easy peasy. I'd suggest you call now to get your PIN before trying to unfreeze it.