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There was a self-help narrative that South Korea's social security number is a public good shared by the entire world.
But now it's become something that's been forced upon us.
The U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), the Korean equivalent of the national ID number, continues to be leaked by the day, and the real damage is growing.
- If you're like me right now Mr. Castro used my social to get a $2,400 loan..
- On message boards, I'm seeing more and more posts about people getting daily alerts that their social, email, address, and other personal information has been compromised on the dark web.
It would be great if you could prevent your personal information from being compromised entirely, but if that's not realistic, you need to do what you can on a personal level to prepare now.
The most basic of these is the credit freeze.
Today's post is an introduction to freezing your credit history and a detailed explanation of how to freeze/thaw it..
Table of Contents
1. freeze your credit history (credit freeze)
"Freeze my credit history?"
You may be wondering what the hell I'm talking about, this isn't child's play.
Freeze credit history is a Korean translation of the English credit freeze / security freeze.
To explain what it actually means to freeze your credit history, let's start with a quick refresher on what a credit history is.
1) What is a credit history?
A credit history is exactly what it sounds like: an organized record of a person's credit transactions.
It's a record of a person's entire financial life, including personal information like name, work, and address, as well as mortgages, car loans, and credit card applications and usage.
This credit history is maintained in duplicate by private companies called credit bureaus. The three most common ones are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, which are often referred to as the "big three".
And what they do is they take the records that they keep and they turn them into a number based on this or that criteria, and that number is your credit score.
2) Check your credit history
Because your credit history is a complete picture of your creditworthiness, when you apply for a new card or loan (mortgage, car loan), financial institutions will pull nearly 100% of your credit history.
Pulling your credit history as part of the underwriting process for a new card or loan is called a hard pull, probably named after the process of pulling a folder from a stack of papers in a cabinet.
The important thing is that the information required for a credit history check is nothing special.
- Social numbers
- Name
- 地址
That's it.
Places like brick-and-mortar banks and car dealerships may ask for ID like a driver's license or passport to verify your identity, but for online card applications, that's all you need.
The name is known, the address is known, and now the social number is known, so if someone wants to use that information for malicious purposes, there's nothing to stop them.
3) Freeze your credit history
From here, you'll now see Freeze your credit history.
Freezing your credit means putting a lock on your credit history. You try to pull your credit report, but the cabinet is locked and you can't get to it.
On top of that, you can also add a warning.
"Your personal information has been stolen and we're protecting your credit history. You must verify that you are who you say you are to open it." It's like slapping a red card on the door.
4) Thaw your credit history (unfreeze)
If your credit is frozen, you won't be able to apply for new loans or cards because your credit report won't be pulled.
But the miles are collected as card sign-up bonuses, so this cabal has to keep making cards, right?
This process of making your credit history available for inquiry again is called thawing your credit history.
There are two ways to thaw your credit history.
- A full thaw is the opposite of a freeze, meaning you can pull your credit report without restrictions.
- A temporary unfreeze is a temporary period of time that only allows credit inquiries for that period of time. For example, 7 days, 10 days, etc. means that you can only pull your credit report for that period of time, and then it will automatically re-freeze again.
5) How to utilize Mage's Freeze/Melt (Ice Thaw)
It's simple for a cabal to utilize freeze/thaw credit history.
- I usually freeze it as the default and use
- If you're planning to apply for a card, log in to the three credit card companies' websites before you apply, and click the
- Once the card is authorized, refreeze it and use the
You can do this in three steps
If step 3 is a pain in the ass, and you're forgetful, you can use the
- I usually freeze it as the default and use
- You can put a temporary unfreeze (temporary thaw) in place for 10 days or so before applying for the card.
I know some of you are wondering why 10 days.
While some card applications are mermaids, there are situations where you may get rejected and need to request a reconsideration. This is often the case when the card company pulls your credit again, which is why we recommend giving yourself a 10-day cooling off period.
That wraps up the conceptual explanation of credit history, freezing, and melting.
Now we'll go into more detail about the freeze/thaw method for the three creditors.
Before I get to this part, I should probably mention a caveat.
2.
Freezing your credit is a legal right guaranteed by the U.S. government.
The three credit bureaus are required to provide this service for free.
The problem is that these companies are not public organizations, they're private businesses, which means they have to make money, and providing free services doesn't make the numbers work.
This makes it hard to find the freeze and thaw page, and if you click on it incorrectly, you might end up signing up for a paid service you don't want.
Every step of the way, they keep recommending paid services.
For this reason, we recommend that you double- and triple-check the screen changes as you follow along below.
3. freeze, thaw Equifax
First up is Equifax.
If you go directly to Equifax's main site, it's not easy to find the Freeze button, so we recommend using the link below to go directly to the Freeze menu.
Equifax: https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
1) Once you're on the Freeze menu page, tap PLACE A SECURITY FREEZE in the middle.
2) If you've registered on the Equifax site before, you can sign in by hitting the Sign in here button in the middle. If you're new to Equifax, you'll need to register by entering your name, date of birth, social, phone number, and address.
3) Enter the email/password you'd like to use on the next page.
4) On the next screen, you'll be asked a few questions to verify that you are who you say you are. I remember there were questions about addresses you've lived at, cars you've bought, etc. that were easy for me to answer (it's been a while since I created an account, so I'm a bit hazy on this part ;))
If it's been a while since you've received Social, you'll receive a confirmation code in the mail to verify your identity, so keep that in mind.
Below that, it says that it can be verified over the phone, but I haven't tried this myself, so I'm not sure how easy it is to verify. If anyone has experienced this recently, I'd love to hear about it in the comments.
5) Once you create an account and log in, you'll see a screen that looks like this. In the middle of it, it says get a free credit score, but like I said, you have to look at it carefully. You could end up signing up for something that costs you tens of dollars a month without realizing it.
The freeze menu we need is located in the top right corner of the screen. Tap Place a freeze.
6) The screen will change and you will once again see the "Place a freeze" button screen. Here, press it once again.
7) Then you can freeze your credit history all too easily.
8) Thawing it is also simple. If you look on the same screen (it's called the dashboard), you'll see the words Your Equifax credit report is frozen. Below that, there's a link that says Manage a freeze, and you'll need to press that link.
9) You'll then be given the option to choose whether you want to melt it temporarily or permanently. If you choose to melt it temporarily, you'll be given the option to melt it permanently.
10) You'll see a calendar where you can choose from when to melt and until when. After this set period, it will automatically go back to freezing. Super easy, right?
4. freeze, thaw Experian
For Experian, the method is pretty much the same.
In the case of Experian, you can find the Freeze menu on the main homepage, but we think it's easier to go straight to it via the link below.
Experian: https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
1) If you need to create a new account, select Create a free account.
2) On the new screen, you'll enter the last 4 digits of your social and your usual phone number. Once verified, you'll be signed up.
3) If not, you will be asked to verify your identity by phone, mail, or online upload. This can be a bit of an inconvenience if you're just starting to build your credit history.
4) Once you're verified and logged in, it's pretty easy from there.
As you can see below, my file is currently in the melted state.
In the Unfrozen/Frozen section below, select Frozen to start freezing immediately.
5) Pretty easy, right? Just select Unfrozen if you want to melt it.
If you're temporarily thawing to apply for a credit card, for example, you can click Schedule a thaw on the same page.
6) Then, on the changed screen, click Add a thaw and set the desired duration.
7) For example, if you set a one-week melt from 10/23 to 10/30, your credit history will be available for viewing for exactly one week.
5. freeze, thaw TransUnion
For TransUnion, we recommend going directly to the Freeze menu instead of going to the main screen.
TransUnion: https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
1) Click the Add A Freeze button on the top screen and you'll be taken to the signup screen, where you'll be asked to enter your name, address, phone number, and the last 4 digits of your social.
2) The next screen asks you to set up a username and password.
3) On the next screen, you'll be asked to verify that it's you.
4) If you have a long credit history and your name, phone number, etc. are already on record, you should have an easy pass.
5) Click Continue on the screen above to get to the dashboard, where you'll see a variety of options, including Credit Freeze, Dispute, Fraud Alert, and more.
6) Today's task is to freeze your credit history, so select Credit Freeze and click on it, and you will see the screen below, where you can click "ADD FREEZE".
7) Wow, we're done already? Very easy, right?
8) Like the other two credit history companies, TransUnion offers a melt and a temporary melt. I guess you can pick and choose based on your needs.
Let's wrap up today's post.
It seems like every day your personal information is being stolen here and there.
I'd love to see all the data thieves go away, but if that doesn't happen, I have to at least protect myself, right?
Setting up an account is a bit of a hassle at first, but in the long run, freezing/thawing your credit history is a very important habit.
From @Lacroix on the message boardAccording to the Other organizations to considerin the file.
Freezing your credit history with the three major credit bureaus is a basic necessity, so we recommend you take the time to set it up now, even if you're busy.
Featured image: depositphotos (220362344)
58 Comments. Leave new
I've been wondering about this, so thank you for the detailed information!
I hope this helps.
Thanks for the great information.
I've always wanted to try it, but today I did my first freeze.
What happens to my credit report from the credit card companies if I freeze it?
Thanks for the info!
Thank you.
I understand that if the person is verifying their own information, it's considered a soft pull, in which case it's okay to freeze it.
Thanks for the clarification. It's really cute and interesting to see thaw being used.
I think this is one of those cases where icy cold is the right word 🙂 .
I saw an article about credit freeze a while back and was vaguely thinking about giving it a try, but I'm so grateful that you explained it step-by-step like this. I'll try to develop it into a good habit.
I think it's a situation where once personal information is out there, you have to constantly be on the lookout for defenses, so I think it's a good idea to freeze it out of habit, like you said.
Thank you for the helpful information.
We hope this helps.
Thank you for your kind explanation and good information~!
Thank you for your comment.
I was just vaguely thinking, "I need to make a credit card, but I can't melt it, can I?" but apparently not. This is the first time I've heard of temporary melting. I'll have to seriously consider freezing it in these times when personal information is being stolen all over the place. Thanks for the info.
I think the temporary melt feature is really nice, and it looks like you usually melt for 7 to 10 days.
hello.
I was recently notified that my SSN was compromised, so I used the
I was just thinking about when to freeze it.
As you pointed out, with the help of the link, I was able to get the
I froze all three.
Thank you for your help.
Well done!
Do I need to do multiple freezes? Or is it just one place?
I'm curious too!
You'll need to visit all three sites separately and freeze each one.
You will need to visit and freeze all three sites separately.
I've been thinking about it, but haven't been able to execute it.
Thanks to you, Mamo, for the great job on the 3 company credit freeze.
You made it so easy and explained it so well that I had no problem proceeding.
Well done.
It's information that becomes flesh and blood. Thanks for letting us know.
You're welcome.
My husband always freezes it and whines when he's in a hurry... I have to give him credit for that!
Ah, you're already doing it, good for you.
Oh thank you so much for the information!!!
We're glad you found this helpful.
I've been avoiding it because it's been bothering me, but I think I'll freeze it as a precautionary measure before I get caught out later. Thank you~.
The world is a nasty place these days, and it's best to be prepared.
I was hacked by creditors around 20 years ago and barely prevented $20000 from escaping from my stock account, reported it to the police, and started my day by checking all my accounts every morning for a year after that. I even hacked eBay, created another bank account, made a card, and so on... This was so hard to catch that I felt like I was chewing sand every day even if I ate... Since then, my family has been using 3-party freeze. Although this method is annoying, it's no secret that once identity theft occurs, you regret it for years.
Oh my, you almost got yourself into trouble, you've been through a lot.
How can I find out if there are loans in my name? Where can I see the history of SSN utilization? I'm always worried about my socials being used without my knowledge.
You can pull your credit report for free once a year, https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/free-credit-reportsor https://www.creditkarma.com/free-credit-report or Experian to pull a partial report for free (it doesn't show all of your scores, history, etc.). I periodically run a https://haveibeenpwned.com to see what the email breach was, and then you can see which accounts were compromised, so you can estimate which SSNs may have been compromised and what information may be on the dark web. (If your SSN was compromised along with your mortgage company or cell phone company, that's a credit freeze.)
Sunrise has a good answer: You can get a free copy of your credit report once a year from AnnualCreditReport.com. (AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site used by the U.S. government. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-get-a-free-copy-of-my-credit-reports-en-5/)
Thank you
We hope this helps.
Thanks to your detailed explanation, I think I have Equifax and TransUnion frozen, thank you.
However, in the case of Experian, before I enter the required information in the create account and submit it, the following message appears: Can I proceed without worrying about it? I'm asking because I'm not sure if I'm agreeing to a service that charges a fee.
========
By clicking "Submit and Continue": I accept and agree to your Terms of Use Agreement, as well as acknowledge receipt of your Privacy Policy.
I authorize ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., also referred to as Experian Consumer Services ("ECS"), to obtain my credit report and/or credit score(s), on a recurring basis to:
Provide my credit report (and/or credit score) to me for review while I have an account with ECS.
Notify me of other products and services that may be available to me through ECS or through unaffiliated third parties.
Notify me of credit opportunities and advertised credit offers.
I understand that I may withdraw this authorization at any time by contacting ECS.
To me, it looks like a generic announcement.
Thank you for your confirmation.
Thank you for this great information. I was giving up on Equifax because I was trying to do it on my own and it just said to put in all the info and pay, but thanks to you, I managed to freeze it.
I pay $24.99 per month for my membership with experian.
If you sign up for a membership, they will find out where your information has been leaked on the internet without your knowledge and erase all your records. I had over 60 places where my information (address, name, phone number, email, etc.) was just publicly available on the internet, and it wiped it all out. It also checks to see if it's on dark sites, which Experian can't do anything about, but it only tells you that it's there. It doesn't fix it. It only tells you if you're low risk, medium risk, or high risk. And I update my equifax and transunion credit scores almost every two months. And of course, Experian gives you your credit score every day.
I think it's worth $24.99 per month.
Glad to hear you're doing well with the paid program. I use credit secure from amex for similar reasons, and it seems to be basically the same as experian.
Thanks again for the great information. I froze my credit with the 3 major creditors after seeing your post.
Well done!
I don't know where to write, so I write in comments, but when will the board membership open? I miss the opportunity every time and would love to contribute!
It was earlier this year, so it will be early or mid next year at the earliest.
I eagerly followed this article a few days ago, but forgot to temporarily freeze it and applied for the Chase Biz card, which I didn't need to do ^^; I'll have to remember that in the future. Thank you for the informative article.
I hope this helps, and I'd suggest using a different nickname next time, as it can be confusing for others.
This may not be relevant here, but I'm just wondering. I heard from a friend that if you don't use a credit card for a long time, the card company will automatically close it. If you do that, your credit score will get worse, even temporarily, and if you open several cards and don't use them, they will be closed in succession, but won't that hurt your credit score?
So I usually try to keep them alive by collecting cards that I don't use more than once a year and making microtransactions on them.
My understanding is that even if the card is closed, it doesn't dramatically affect your credit score because the record stays open for 10 years.
I've been notified a few times that my shoals have been stolen, so I've frozen all 3. I left them unlocked for a while when I was making Hawaiian cards last time, and I still got the notification, but it didn't come up with a mermaid. I don't know how much protection it will give me, but it's better than nothing.
Oh, and I'm also lowering my card limits. I have a lot of cards and I don't think I'm going to use them that much, and if someone steals them, they won't be able to take as much, but I've lowered my card limits and it seems like it's affecting my credit score.
That's right. Your credit utilization ratio is part of the credit score calculation, so if you lower your card limit a lot, it's going to affect your score. There's a trade-off.
Yes. In this day and age, when personal information is so easily stolen, I think it's better to do something than nothing at all.
Thank you for sharing such informative and enlightening information. I froze them all thanks to you.
Well done.