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Lift equifax freeze4/15/2024 If you'd rather talk to a human, its customer care number is 88. This can be accomplished online, by phone, or by mail.Įquifax credit freeze: You can easily freeze your credit with Equifax on its website, or via an automated phone line: 80 (80 for New York residents). You will need to place a credit freeze with each of the three major credit bureaus individually. Note: Send copies of these documents, not the originals. To verify your address, you will need to include a copy of a lease agreement, pay stub with address, utility bill, or phone bill. For your SSN, you'll need a copy of your Social Security card, pay stub with your SSN included, W-2 form, or 1099 form. For your identity, you will need to include a copy of your driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID. If you request a credit freeze by mail, you will need to provide additional documents that verify your identity, SSN, and address. Gather your informationįor each of the bureaus, you'll need to provide personal information including your full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, and home address. You'll need to freeze your credit from all three bureaus individually. The most important thing to know when you freeze your credit is that the credit bureaus will not notify each other of a credit freeze like when you report identity theft. "But keep in mind that it can be a hassle to remove a freeze from all three bureaus every time you need a credit check." "Freezing your credit is an effective, cost-free way to make it harder for thieves to open up credit cards or other financial accounts in your name," says Dana Marineau, the former vice president of communications at Credit Karma. It is also free to unfreeze your credit if you want to use it for anything such as a new credit card or if you're buying a home. Companies that you already have a credit relationship with, and the debt collection agencies that they employ, will continue to have access to your credit when you freeze your credit.Ĭredit freezes were made completely free in 2018 by the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. First and foremost, freezing your credit will not prevent you from accessing your weekly free credit reports. There are still several parties that can access your credit reports after you've placed a freeze on them. "If an identity thief or unauthorized person tries to apply for credit in your name, they will not be able to access your credit reports and the application will be denied." "If you've been the victim of a data breach or identity theft, a credit freeze is a good way to mitigate the risk of further damage to your finances and identity," says Greg Mahnken, a former credit industry analyst with Credit Card Insider. This will stop potential lenders from looking at your credit file but will also prevent anyone from fraudulently taking out a loan or opening a line of credit in your name. What is a credit freeze?Ī credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, prevents the three major credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion - from sharing your credit report with any person or lender. One of these tools is a credit freeze, which halts any new credit-related activity. Unfortunately, bad actors know this too, which is why your identity and credit are common targets for theft.įortunately, you have a few tools in your credit toolbox you can deploy to reduce the risk of identity theft. Your credit history and credit score dictate many of the major milestones in your life, from renting an apartment to buying a house. You can ask the credit bureaus to unfreeze your credit at any time.You must contact each of the three major credit bureaus individually to freeze your credit.A credit freeze is an identity protection tool that bars third parties from seeing your credit report.
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