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I went to open a new bank account with a major bank recently and was denied because I had credit freezes with all 3 credit reporting agencies. I was able to unfreeze with 2 agencies but I hit a roadblock with Experian. I found out via recorded message that they require this to be done by mail now. I was unable to talk to a live person about this so I gave up. Experian wants several pieces of sensitive info via mail to get this file unfrozen. I felt uncomfortable sending it via mail. I suppose if I'm forced into it I'll have no choice but to send it via registered mail. I'm hoping the bank will accept the 2 agencies and forget Experian. Has anyone else had this problem? Also, is it just me or is it IMPOSSIBLE to speak with a live human being via phone at Experian? I researched this on the web and could find no number to call to get through to them. Their phone menu has no option for that.
Same problem. The bank I was using randomly picks one of the three. I was lucky and they program did not pick the one I could not unlock. Just tell the bank your problem.
You have to send the documents because they do not know if someone is trying to access your accounts so they can not rely on the online procedure. Send the data. They probably already know the numbers.
I am 86 and when Lucent had a breach they offered free credit freeze,two unlocked years ago and one I could not unlock.
I do not know if it ever got unlocked.
Yes, I just went through it and it's a real PITA. Experian was the worst and I had to fax them my driver's license and a cover letter with other info before I could log in (even though I'd kept very detailed notes when I froze them all over a year ago so I had my password and PIN). I un-froze it, un-froze the other two, applied for a credit card, was accepted and then couldn't re-freeze with Experian or TransUnion. I did call Experian (sorry, don't remember how I got a human) and they wanted me to send MORE info. For some silly reason I was able to re-freeze it from TransUnion's site. I think the "un-freeze" on TransUnion was temporary so it should revert back.
I did a LOT of research before applying for this card (Costco Visa)- I have a Fidelity 2% cash back and non-renewed my AA Visa (that was a one-year churn to get the sign-on bonus). It will likely be a very long time till I go through this rigmarole again to get a new credit card.
I followed the procedures. Experian won't unlock my files until I mail them the info they want. I'm hoping the bank will accept the other two agencies and forego Experian. Experian is a pain in the rump to deal with. I got right through to Equifax and Trans Union but never could receive an actual human at Experian. I googled this and found that many other people have had the same problem. I don't think it's possible to speak with Experian anymore. Four years ago I had no problem with any of the agencies un-freezing my credit. I had to pay $10 per agency to do it but I still had no problem. Now they do it for free and I'm encountering problems. Experian wants me to mail them my social security number, my birthdate, my addresses over the past 5 years along with utility statements, and a copy of my drivers license. They haven't asked for my first born child yet and I'm wondering how that got past them.
Athena- I feel your pain. This is ridiculous. I can understand them wanting to verify identity but this goes way beyond that. I wouldn't have frozen my files except for the fact that my identity was stolen back in 2004. I've kept the files frozen ever since. I had to get a mortgage four years ago and managed to easily get my files unlocked. I'm still not sure why Experian is being so difficult. These agencies have a lot of power and it seems to me that they can set whatever rules they want. If anyone knows how to call them and get through to a live human being please let me know. I tried a website that supposedly will get you through to any credit agency but it didn't work.
Four years ago I had no problem with any of the agencies un-freezing my credit. I had to pay $10 per agency to do it but I still had no problem. Now they do it for free and I'm encountering problems.
I think there's a cause and effect here. It's no longer profitable for them (I believe the law now requires them to provide this service at no charge) so they want to make it as hard as possible.
Bu the way, if it makes any difference, I checked my notes and the major runaround was with Equifax, not Experian. Hard to keep them straight. What I may do if I ever decide to apply for another card is to apply on-line, wait for the snail-mail letter telling me which bureau's credit records I need to unlock, and then doing only that one. That's how I got the Fidelity Visa. Sure lengthens the time it takes to get the card, though.
Athena- I think you are correct. Ever since they have made it free it seems very hard to do. All of these agencies have been sending me emails all week offering me services for which they wish to charge me for. It took me awhile but I was able to talk to human beings at Equifax and TransUnion. It went well once I was able to speak with someone. I never could get through to Experian. I'm hoping the bank will forego Experian next week when I speak with them. I'm not trying to borrow money from the bank. I'm just trying to set up a savings account. You wouldn't think this would be such a hassle especially since I've already got a credit card with this bank. I would like to be able to unfreeze my credit file with Experian because eventually I may have to. Currently it will take me two weeks via mail to get that done.
keep in mind freezing consumer credit does not stop someone from getting commercial credit in your name . commercial credit goes through the likes of dunn and bradstreet where there is no freeze .the internet is full of commercial loan horror stories .
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