Credit lock

[Murph5065]

I have been reading about locking my credit down for all 3 bureaus and i have seen that i can do it online free through them bureaus themselves, i subscribe to experian only monthly.

When i try to lock credit file it wants me to subscribe to premium level to lock it, how can i lock all 3 down online with out paying for it?

[FireMedic1]

You can do a freeze. Basically same thing. Thawed it for a day if need be. Auto fr4eeze next day. Or download the apps and you can do it from your phone.

[cashorcharge]

Create a free online profile at each CB's site and once your profile is set up, you'll be able to manage accordingly

[Centurion_Dreamer]

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@FireMedic1 wrote:

You can do a freeze. Basically same thing. Thawed it for a day if need be. Auto fr4eeze next day. Or download the apps and you can do it from your phone.

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Is freeze control possible in the EQ and TU apps? I only got it working in the EX app.

[FireMedic1]

I have used TU on the phone. I wont put the EQ app on my phone. They aren't the best at keeping things tidy per say.

[Centurion_Dreamer]

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@FireMedic1 wrote:

I have used TU on the phone. I wont put the EQ app on my phone. They aren't the best at keeping things tidy per say.

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Have you used the TU app for lock or freeze?

[DSTforlife]

I've learned that the difference between lock and freeze is the monitoring aspect of the lock.  I only pay for the experian service, and I am able to lock/unlock, which highlights a feature that says EX will notify me when there is a change in lock status.  My DH has the free EX service and can only freeze/unfreeze....EX always uses the lock/unlock monitoring feature as draw to get him to upgrade to the paid service.

Same with EQ...my DH has the paid service and he can lock/unlock (which has the monitoring feature).  I have the free service, and it's a freeze (which does not have the monitoring feature).

For TU, neither of us have the paid service, and we are able to freeze our report (not lock).

[Bill77]

A freeze is free and a lock cost money.  And it's no accident that the lock is usually much easier to find on their website.

[Credit4Growth]

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@Centurion_Dreamer wrote:

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@FireMedic1 wrote:

You can do a freeze. Basically same thing. Thawed it for a day if need be. Auto fr4eeze next day. Or download the apps and you can do it from your phone.

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Is freeze control possible in the EQ and TU apps? I only got it working in the EX app.

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Just like @FireMedic1 mentioned.  I will not put the EQ app on my phone, although I can not remember the exact reasons why.  Instead I call EQ and go through an automated promting system to temporarily unfreeze that bureau.

EQ.   1 (800) 685-1111

TR:   1 (800) 680-7289

EX:   1 (888) 397-3742

Honestly, I do not remeber the initial process of setting the ability to freeze and unfreeze the bureaus but these are the numbers I dial to make a temporary unfreeze... After I travel back to the home and retrieve the Pin number for each individual bureau.

[Credit4Growth]

... Concerning a lock, I believe potential new creditor may still have the ability to do a soft pull and retrieve information. I think a freeze prevents that. I had to deal with Identity theft and fraudulent CC usage too many time, even from halfway accross the continental US, so with my current understanding of these to, the way I have explained them, I have chosen to freeze my reports because -with my current understanding, no credit approvals will be granted with a freeze in place, even if a (**** whatever you want to call them) have most if not all of your information correct.  That is what I am looking for.  So, when I have been alerted to a possible fraudulent charge and call the CC issuer to find ou what I could do, my feeling is that I get no relief other than the transactions were blocked.  Then I just ask for another CC to be issued with a different number to be shipped to me.  It is crazy to think about the number of times this has happen... then again, I travel often.

If there is any expert out there that can help 😉 clarify this then please do!
We all would appreciate it! 🙏