#EQUIFAX LIFT A CREDIT FREEZE OFFLINE#

But Equifax has since updated its policy.)Ī monitoring service might not be necessary if I already have a freeze on my report. (Initially, signing up for the service limited your rights to sue.

But when I tried again on Thursday, I received the same online message.ĭefeated, I decided to at least sign up for the credit monitoring service that Equifax is offering, TrustedID Premier.

#EQUIFAX LIFT A CREDIT FREEZE OFFLINE#

Later on Wednesday, the company issued a statement that said it was experiencing a high volume of freeze requests and that the system was offline for about an hour to address technical difficulties. An automated voice told me that all lines were busy and I was disconnected. So then I called the Equifax hotline to see if I could put set up a freeze over the phone. The thing is, I need to put a freeze in place at all three, including Equifax. This is the message I got when I tried to freeze my Experian credit report on Wednesday. Instead, the message provided contact information for the two other credit rating agencies - Transunion and Experian.

Please try back later.' There was no explanation, and no number to call. We cannot process your security freeze request online at this time. But then I got this message: 'We're sorry. To put the freeze in place, I had to submit my name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address in an online form. Related: What's a credit freeze and should you do it? On Wednesday, I returned to the Equifax website to freeze my credit and finally sign up for the monitoring. I think the extra protection is worth the effort and potential hassle. But I'm not planning on opening a new loan or credit card anytime soon. In New Jersey, where I live, it costs $5. The drawback is that it could get annoying when I want to open a new account myself, requiring me to contact the credit agency to temporarily lift the freeze - and it could cost a small fee depending on your state. 'The only way to prevent new account identity theft is through a freeze,' said Mike Litt, consumer program advocate with U.S. It blocks businesses from accessing my report, as long as I don't already have an account with them. After talking to experts, I decided that I should put a freeze on my credit reports as well.

Equifax lift a credit freeze