The Equifax hack has necessarily put Cyber Security on the top of everyone’s minds. Even before the hack, we found that more and more conversations with clients were centered around Cyber Security. In addition, with the many different articles and viewpoints published after the breach it can be hard to decipher what exactly is the best way to protect your information.
In our minds, the first step that one should take is to freeze your credit at the three credit bureaus. Freezing your credit prevents someone from taking out a loan in your name provided that the lender runs a credit report.
To set up a security freeze you must contact all three of the credit bureaus individually. This process can be done online or over the phone. You will be asked some questions to confirm your identity but it only takes a few minutes.
We recommend beginning with Experian and Transunion as Equifax’s website is currently receiving high traffic.
You can freeze your credit by using the following phone numbers and links:
- Equifax: 866-349-5191
Freeze your credit:
https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp
- Experian: 888-397-3742
Freeze your credit:
https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
- Transunion: 888-909-8872
Freeze your credit:
https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze/place-credit-freeze
Depending on your state, freezing your credit can cost anywhere from $0 to $10 at each bureau. Proven identity theft victims can have this fee waived. (If you need to lift the freeze you will have to pay the same fee.)
To lift your freeze you simply contact the bureau used by the lender and provide your PIN to lift the freeze for a certain period of time. This can be done online or over the phone. It may take a few days for the freeze to be lifted so be sure to do it a few days in advance.
October 2017
