Fun with Equifax

[RenoJay]

Six months ago when the big data breach occurred, I froze my credit at the three big reporting agencies. Two of them, Experian and Trans Union, gave me a PIN to use for unfreezing. But Equifax's website sent me in circles and, though they froze my credit, they didn't give me a PIN.

Fast forward six months. I bought a new car for cash. Before doing so I called my State Farm agent for an insurance quote. On the day I picked up the car, my State Farm guy informed me that, because my credit was frozen, the premium would be 50% higher than quoted. Apparently having a great credit score saves a lot of money with insurance premiums. He asked me to do a 30 day "unfreeze" at all the reporting agencies.

I sent Equifax a letter and documentation requesting a PIN. Three weeks later they hadn't responded. So I Googled and called a phone number. After lots of hold time, I spoke to a person who informed me this was the Equifax Canada number and she gave me a U.S. number. When I called the U.S. number, I went through some theatrics to get to a human. She had a thick accent and it sounded like she was in a call center in another country. I had to give her my social security number, address, middle name, and all sorts of other stuff that made me feel really violated. Supposedly my credit freeze is temporarily lifted now (and a new PIN is in the mail coming to me) but for all I know, I may have just told a terrorist group how to open a credit card under my name.

I feel like I need a shower after all this!!

 

[Sunset]

I thought if you had a relationship with an insurance company or bank, that they can still check your credit report even with a freeze on it. Just not issue new credit.

 

[GrayHare]

I had to give her my social security number, address, middle name, and all sorts of other stuff that made me feel really violated.

I would too. Some of that data Equifax likely did not have before, but now they can distribute it in the next hack.

 

[jazz4cash]

I thought if you had a relationship with an insurance company or bank, that they can still check your credit report even with a freeze on it. Just not issue new credit.

I agree, but when I had credit monitoring many years ago, my insurance (auto/Homeowners) company had more inquiries than any other merchant. These were routine inquiries every 60 days or so even when I was not making any policy changes.

 

[foxfirev5]

I thought if you had a relationship with an insurance company or bank, that they can still check your credit report even with a freeze on it. Just not issue new credit.

It is my understanding that they go through a third party like LexisNexis. I've had my credit frozen for years yet have still gotten insurance ratings and discounts. Its the first thing I check when I get a bill to be sure I'm getting the max discount.

 

[bUU]

I would be very upset if someone could unfreeze my credit WITHOUT providing a lot of very specific personal data about me.

 

[dtbach]

I would be very upset if someone could unfreeze my credit WITHOUT providing a lot of very specific personal data about me.

That is true. In any other industry they should have been out of business in a month and bankrupted.

 

[bUU]

You seem to have misunderstood the post to which you replied.

 

[GTFan]

I think he got it perfectly, and it doesn't look like Congress is going to take any action to regulate them. So they'll continue to do whatever they want with no repercussions.

 

[GrayHare]

Too bad we can't each copyright our credit history.

 

[bUU]

I think he got it perfectly, ...

Given that it was my comments he was replying to, I can assure you that you are wrong.