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!!
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!!