Two years ago I dutifully froze our credit scores from the Big Three: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Tons of rigmarole, and while I received a free credit report, it cost to freeze our accounts. It's touted as an Identity Theft security measure, but now I'm thinking it's mostly a revenue generator for these companies.
Recently a big transaction we're working on necessitated credit reports; the freeze worked and we needed to thaw them. At none of these sites was there any listed way to talk to anyone. Though I had original documentation of the freezes, directions for lifting them were completely missing from their websites, as was any contact information. You know those circular sites where you input your information and then it rejects you because you're not in their system? I would give them a minus 5 - on a customer service scale of 1-10. Each one sucked up about an hour of time, and then they charge $10 for each account thaw, adding up to $60.
The last one, Equifax, was the worst. In exasperation, I went to a great site, GetHuman, and found Equifax's phone number. HA!!! After a short wait, they directed me to the Equifax Freeze Line: 888 298-0045. Of course the first thing Indian Call Center Guy wanted to know was my PIN # - and of course if I'd had it, I wouldn't be calling. But in ten minutes the problem was solved. The reason for my titling this post "Unfreezing your Equifax Score" is that hopefully search engines will pick it up, and future searches will reveal this post and save people time.
So, is it worth freezing your credit scores, given that it takes time, money, and a huge hassle to undo it?
Monday, August 10, 2009
Unfreezing Your Equifax Score - Thanks, GetHuman.com!
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35 comments:
This info is great... helped me to get my freeze from Equifax after I'd lost my PIN, and learn about a resource I didn't know of (gethuman). They don't make it easy, but you did. Thank you!
This number is still valid as of October 28, 2014. I lost my pin and was able to call Equifax at this number and they lifted the freeze over the phone. Thanks for this post!
I just used all this information and number still works!! thanks,
This is also still valid as of 3/5/15. Thank you for posting this-you saved me today!
I was dreading having to mail in a letter! Thank you so much!
Still works as of April 2015. Saved me so much time. Thank you!
The number is still valid as of June 5, 2015. They helped me and without your post I would have never found a number to a live person, only menu.
OMG thank you so much! This number is valid as of 6/10/2015 and it got me to unfreeze my credit! Equifax is the worst, there was literally no human person to talk to until I found that number!
This number is valid as of 8/3/2015 and it is fairly pain free in getting to a human. Thank you for the assistance.
Would be nice if they were there at some time other than banker's hours....You are right that this is strictly a revenue generator for these companies.
better number on weekends or after banker's hours: 800-203-7843 - they will ask questions about credit card issuers, and balances so have that info ready.
Thank you very much for the number. As of October 13, 2015 the number is still working.
I wish I had done the Google search to find this tip earlier. I wasted over an our at Equifax's website on automated phone system. On November 11, 2015; this info is still great.
So glad I found this....our bank needed this information today (12/21/2015) or our loan was going to be cancelled. Equifax was able to give me the pin over the telephone so I could unfreeze via their online portal, otherwise it takes 5 days for the lift to be completed...so quick tip....have them give you the pin # over the phone so you can get the freeze lifted much quicker via their online system.
So glad this worked!! YAY..worked as of 1/14/2016 Got my account unfrozen
Thank you so much for sharing this information. My husband used this number and was able to lift the freeze on his credit report.
Awesome, number still valid! had a mortgage loan pending and forgot my PIN for Equifax. you have to tell them you prefer the PIN over the phone right away or they will mail you it in 5 business days by default.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I would never have gotten through lifting these freezes without this info. Today I tried the 1-888-298-0045 number (security freeze dept direct dial), and was told that it is a security breach to give out the PIN over the phone, and had always been this way. So I tried the 1-800-203-7843 number, and after transfer to the credit freeze dept, the person took me through the security questions and release the # to me over the phone. You do have to be persistant about not having them lift the freeze for you, and just tell you the PIN, but it worked!
Thank you so much for this info! Number got me directly to a live person and she was able to lift the freeze without my pin. I certainly appreciate the help!
Thank you so much for this number!!!! It worked and I was able to lift my freeze in about 20 minutes. It was a life saver
This was the only number I was able to actually speak with a human and get the situation resolved. I was able to get my correct PIN number and lift the security freeze quickly. Thank you for sharing!
Helped me today. Iwas able to get my pin over the phone. Saved me so much time with the write in and waiting on my own via mail! Thanks so much for posting this.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I was a victim of the OPM data breach some years back and froze my reports, but in the process of buying a home now I get so tired of freezing and unfreezing the reports, even with all my PINs hand it seems equifax always rejects me through the automated system. When time is of the essence I don't want to be mailing requests by post! This number made my day! Thank you again! :-)
Number still good! Thank you also! Got my confirmation number to refer to,the next time, wow. Grateful :-)
Still working! Thank you!
Works, called the number and took about 10 minutes to go through the process. Equifax now charges $5 to remove the freeze. They have made it painful to protect your credit
This absolutely works. I spoke to a foreign customer service rep who asked all the usual questions previous address, previous credit cards, credit limits, etc. Answered all the questions needed and they lifted the freeze. Thanks very much for this post! I had been working on this for the last 3 months.
This really works. It took 10 minutes. Just know the answers to your security questions. April 21, 2017
Thank you thank you thank you. I initially went through Equifax 800# on the website and I was on hold for 90 minutes. I Googled security freeze no pin, your blog came up I called the number on this blog, someone answered in 2 minutes, lifted my freeze and now I can get my new car! Thank you Thank you Thank you. You are a life saver! Thank You!
Adding to the chorus of thankful people whose time and frustration was happily shortened thanks to you for providing the Equifax 800# for fast PIN replacement (er, actually they send it via snail mail!) However, they were able to immediately lift the freeze so my credit record can be reviewed. Don't know why Equifax makes it so difficult versus TransUnion is wonderfully efficient and painless.
Many thanks again!
july 2017- received busy signal and hangup when attempting to call both lines.
called today, didn't have to wait long but they could NOT give me my PIN because there's a discrepancy on my file but they say they are mailing me my pin which I should get in 5-7 days. once discrepancy is resolved they can provide over phone.
Thank you! I called today and my freeze was lifted. Your information was a lifesaver. Closing on a house next week and my PIN is somewhere in storage. I was about to cry. Thank you!
While this number worked a few days ago, I was on hold for 25 minutesand then had to give up. Number no longer working as of today, Sep 18, 2017. Sigh.
THANK YOU THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I had to stay on the phone almost 45 minutes but this number worked as if October 14th 2017
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