Security freeze on credit reports

Not sure the arguments against (?) outweigh the possible benefits. Various "identity protection" services will freeze your credit as a matter of course (issue a fraud alert to credit agencies). The services include other stuff as well (renewing the fraud alert as required, periodically). The fraud alert requires anyone checking your credit to speak with you directly at your phone number of record before accessing your credit. If you can manage to deal with the "Three Sisters" all on your own without raising your blood pressure (I had to page through eight pages of useless links before I even found a mailing address for those bloated fat fish), and perform the other handful of services for yourself (e.g. calling all your card issuers in the event of a bogus charge), then you can save yourself the modest fees the ID protection services charge to do it all for you with just one phone call (24/7) to them. (Obviously, I recommend the ID protection services. As one such service put it, you can change your own oil, but most find it more convenient to take it to a mechanic who might spot some other potential trouble as well.)

Hope I got your question right (credit freeze = fraud alert) and answered relevantly.

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I am not 100% on this; If employers, insurance, and the like use credit reports, will they be blocked as well? I'd like my home/auto insurer to still have access, as my scores are fine, if this block is complete, what becomes of that? And what of the current card issuers? Can they still check? There's the 'universal default' issue, so each of my card issuers checks my report to see how I'm doing on the other accounts. Just the thoughts off the top of my head. Joe

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Re. dapperdobbs comments, there is a difference between freezing the files and having fraud alerts put on the files. The latter supposedly require any issuers of credit to contact you before setting up any new accounts, but my understanding is that they don't have to do it. Used to be you could set up fraud alerts with the credit agencies and they held for several years. Now, you can only do so for a short period of time (a month?) and only do it longer if you are a victim or potential victim of identity theft due to a specific incident.

joetaxpayer is right in that some companies check your credit report as a matter of routine, even if you are not specifically applying for credit. I guess if the files are frozen they can't do that. But I believe that any company that currently has a relationship with you (credit card, etc.) can still access your account for information. I opted to have the files frozen about a year ago once my state passed the law giving me that choice (I think it's outrageous that that isn't the default) and I have two credit cards - so far no problems with them. Like you I don't anticipate applying for credit and if I do, or one of the other situations arises where a company needs to check my file, I will ask them which credit agency they use and temporarily open that file up. Unfortunately, there will be a $10 fee to do so each time for me. I think if you are a certain senior citizen age, then there is no charge.

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Yes there is a difference and I should have been more specific. I was referring to a simple freeze and not fraud alerts. My understanding is that it costs $10 per credit agency and that's it.

-HW "Skip" Weldon Columbia, SC

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