- Joined
- Jul 2, 2007
- Messages
- 5,294
Each of the four credit bureaus (there's a 4th now called Innovis) offer the ability online on their sites, to put a security freeze on your credit file. I've done it with all four. It works. When buying the motorcycle couple weeks ago dealership called and said bank needed me to unlock my Transunion file, just for about 30 minutes so they could run the approval process. Went online, unlocked, then locked it back down little later. Worked flawlessly and easily online.
All the usual online best practices apply of course, make sure your device is malware/virus free, the connection shows as SSL (I also use IBM's Trusteer Rapport to secure important connections).
To each their own but trust me it's much less hassle to lock them down and manage a few PINs needed to unlock them anytime, than trying to clean up the mess a fraudster will make of your credit files if they get your personal info and start doing their thing.
However, some states allow each credit bureau to charge a fee to lock your report if your not a victim of ID theft. That is bovine scat in my opinion and I'm glad in my state it is free to do.
All the usual online best practices apply of course, make sure your device is malware/virus free, the connection shows as SSL (I also use IBM's Trusteer Rapport to secure important connections).
To each their own but trust me it's much less hassle to lock them down and manage a few PINs needed to unlock them anytime, than trying to clean up the mess a fraudster will make of your credit files if they get your personal info and start doing their thing.
However, some states allow each credit bureau to charge a fee to lock your report if your not a victim of ID theft. That is bovine scat in my opinion and I'm glad in my state it is free to do.