What is freezing your credit all about?
It’s a tool that restricts people and companies from accessing your credit report without your specific permission.
It is not the same as a fraud alert. It does not affect your credit score. You can still request your free credit report once a year.
And you can temporarily remove the credit freeze. Or, you can permanently remove the credit freeze. And it does not cost you anything to do so. It can be done within minutes of your requesting an “unfreeze” (but double check the time frame with each bureau).
The bottom line, it makes it harder for identity thieves to steal your credit and personal information or open new credit in your name.
I have listed below the three main credit bureaus to call or go online to learn about it further.
Here’s what they will need from you:
Name
Date of birth
Social security number
Your address
Other than creditors, here are some other reasons you may need to unfreeze your credit report access:
Applying for a new job
New credit card
New credit requests you have initiated
Utility or cell phone companies.
Once a credit freeze is in place, it secures your credit file so nobody can access it unless you give direct authorization to the credit bureaus, usually through a password-protected credit bureau website or PIN.
Please contact me if you would like more information.
Equifax: Call 800-685-1111 or go online. Check out a step-by-step Equifax credit freeze guide.
Experian: Call 888‑397‑3742 or go online. Here’s a detailed walk-through on a credit freeze with Experian.
TransUnion: Call 888-909-8872 or go online. Read our TransUnion credit freeze guide.
Published by Heather Paige Moody
Welcome! I'm Heather ( AKA: Paige) Moody . A Little About me: I was born and raised in a small town in Eunice, Louisiana where I started my first mortgage company in 2005 at the age of 21 years old. Since 2005 I’ve grown to know everything when it comes to the industry, from owning a mortgage company, processing loans, mortgage underwriting rules, to now managing.
Why I’m in the Mortgage Business:
My family has a history of Banking and real estate . I could see at an early age how satisfying the real estate profession was for them, so I started off as a Real Estate agent and quickly realized that the mortgage side was my passion.
I am a mother of 4 very active kids that have been/ are being raised in the Real Estate /mortgage world. I have always said that their first baby blanket was a file folder.
I love to be able to teach that going the extra mile for others is such a blessing to us as well as the other person. Most importantly that no matter what the obstacle is that we must work hard and give it our all in all that we do. Our family lives at a field or a gym for most of the year. Between baseball, cheer, volleyball, football and anything they can possibly sing up for, I have developed little-known disease called Bleacher Butt.
When I am not working ( or should I say.. not behind my desk) or attending an event for one of the kids . I really enjoy bible studies , reading and listening to podcast. My children go to 2 different schools and I am so blessed to be part of two Mom’s in Prayer groups. It is a National Organization that Moms can get together to pray for our children and our school.
As the Southern Mortgage Mom, I help homebuyers and Real Estate Agents make the Mortgage buying process as stress free as possible. I have been called the miracle worker by clients and agents( on occasion) because I have saved some mortgage loans that others have denied . It has nothing to do with miracles , but all to do with knowing how to get a loan approved.
If I am lucky enough that you chose me or my team as your go to lender, I promise that I will be fair, I will be honest and you will feel like family when you sign the final papers and I will keep in touch (till you tell me not to) long after the mortgage loan is closed. Looking forward to working with you when it comes time to buy a home or refinance your current mortgage.
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