Have you frozen your credit yet?

[Michael Z]

This is the best free way to protect yourself from someone using your identity to take out loans in your name. All they need is your SS number and name! I stumbled on some infomercial selling some expensive service but after looking into it I found I could freeze me credit for free, so I did it. I can unfreeze at any time should I need it for a loan, which I virtually never need these days. See
The Pros and Cons of Freezing Your Credit

 

[Been There]

I have CC protection through my homeowners policy and AMEX.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I froze mine several years ago, without assistance.

When I purchased my new vehicle this summer I didn’t unlock my credit file because I didn’t plan to finance the vehicle but they offered me $1,500.00 off the price if I took out a loan with their finance company.

I was amazed at how quickly and easily the credit manager at the dealership was able to create a new account under my name to access my credit report. After he had retrieved the information he needed to process my loan request I went in changed the password and froze the new account but it did rattle me a bit to watch him in action.

 

[jlhog]

Mine is always frozen, unless I need it for something. Safer that way.

 

[C50]

I did it just a month ago after someone opened two credit cards in my name, should have did it years ago.

 

[dusty]

me too. Frozen stone cold. I also had someone try to use my info.

 

[jim_slim]

Frozen

 

[MACKTEXAS]

I've been victimzed by credit card fraud (unauthorized charges on an existing account) rather than someone accessing my credit records to open a new account.

 

[IrishEyes]

I freeze mine until I go to use it then freeze it soon as I am done.
I have protection also on my cards that alert me if something suspicious pops up, by why let it even go that far
when it's so simple to freeze and unfreeze.

 

[Aunt Bea]

About all I have is a credit card.

I went into the online banking app and turned off the feature that allows foreign transactions without the card being present. That has only been inconvenient a couple of times with online purchases.

I also set a restriction on the amount of ATM withdrawals.

I receive an email alert every time the card is used.

The app also has a feature that allows you to turn off cash and or merchandise transactions when the card is not being used.

So far, so good!

 

[GoodEnuff]

Placed credit freezes over ten years ago. It has had no effect on my life, although the only loans have been mortgages. The last time I had to unfreeze it, there was an option that allowed you to choose how long you wanted it to remain that way. I chose three days; then it would automatically freeze again.

 

[Rakaia]

As always the onus is on the predatee (is that even a word?) not to nourish the predator.

 

[HazyDavey]

Yes, I did it many years ago.