Whats the easiest/cheapest way to freeze my credit...
# credit
f
Whats the easiest/cheapest way to freeze my credit report with all 3 agencies
s
Create an account with each agency, and freeze them through the website. Totally free. Easy to unfreeze. Annoying that you need to do it 3 times but in the grand scheme of things, hardly a big deal.
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f
Yeah, in midst of doing that, was hoping these 3 clowns have figured out a way to get it done with all 3 at once.
m
there is a way to do it, but it costs money and isn't worth it
f
Lol, thanks
So this national public data breach, has been really successful, hence I froze my files. Its the first time my SSN showed up publicly.
Is there a way I can see the full data they have from that breach?
k
I respectfully disagree with @steep-dog-55906 and @mysterious-tomato-10057
Better to call or send a letter the agencies rather than create an account. Creating an account can subject you to an arbitration clause against the agency which may not be favorable if you end up with a credit report error that you have to litigate. Trans Union also was recently sued by the CFPB for looping “account holders” into hidden fees and subscriptions. Not legal advice
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As for all three at once, it’s just one trip to the post office to mail three letters, if that counts
t
@kind-diamond-92297 what would unfreezing for a credit inquiry look like if you went that route? Another letter? How would you coordinate timing?
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k
You can call the Bureaus to unfreeze it.
m
@kind-diamond-92297 signing up for an online account with the bureaus enforces arbitration for credit disputes by mail? I thought it’s only arbitration for services you buy from the bureaus online or disputes online.
k
@most-nail-78586, it’s a bit legally ambiguous. We’ve had this come up in cases and it can go both ways. The NCLC says it’s advisable to avoid any accounts, see below. This is not legal advice.
“Credit monitoring bundles also have a hidden cost. Buried in the fine print of their agreements are forced arbitration clauses. These clauses prevent consumers from going to court to enforce their rights and force them into a private adjudication where the deck is stacked in favor of corporations. Credit monitoring bundles can be expensive and ineffective, and they do not prevent identity theft. Even worse, they may prevent consumers from filing a lawsuit for errors in their credit reports. The “Big Three” credit reporting bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) are major providers of credit monitoring services. At least one of these credit bureaus — Experian —includes a broad arbitration clause in its terms and conditions that may prevent consumers from suing over errors in their credit report, even when those errors are unrelated to credit monitoring.”
m
Just seeing this, wow this is some great info @kind-diamond-92297