PSA: Credit Report Freeze / Unfreeze — Equifax Information

Like every American, after yet another data breach report I was frustrated and energized to go freeze my security. I didn’t think unfreezing might be such a nightmare!

I must have not done it on all agencies but I definitely froze it on Equifax. I don’t know if it worked. I didn’t get a letter or email about anyone trying to access my account.

But then I tried to apply for a credit card and instead of an instant approval (Chase) message that I usually get. I got a letter in my physical mail saying I have freezed my account and need to lift it in order for Chase to access the credit score.

Here are my 3 options. Call Equifax 800–685–1111

1. Temporarily lift freeze
2. Issue one time pin for Chase
3. Permanently unfreeze

Easy Peasy. I will call Equifax and sort it but that’s when the troubles start. You call and it’s automated line and for every one of the three options require you enter a 10-digit PIN. The online instructions say look for PIN in Adobe PDF format so I check my email to look for one — NADA. They send this to you in physical mail! Few people messaged me about their frustration and how they had to look for customer service email for an hour and found it somewhere but they haven’t successfully lifted their freeze yet!

They apparently got into more security trouble for their weak PIN formats. So the only way you can unfreeze currently was over physical mail by mailing 2 forms of ID, etc. etc. I tried a few different numbers on google all leading to that automated system looking for a PIN. It seems like they are overwhelmed and unable to handle all these attacks and btw looking to make money from consumers who are requesting/requesting freeze.

I saw a scam and a lawsuit against them in making. But I was still frustrated. Not only do I not know an easy and quick way to unlift my freeze. I will also probably have to start paying for this soon.

Then I had an idea, I thought of calling Chase to give me any other numbers they might have that are direct to their customer service. Didn’t think it would work but it did!

So a PSA announcement: Until this equifax customer service direct line number with everyone who needs it: 888 298 0045

This number had a long wait and then asked me a lot of questions that were making me nervous around me getting them wrong because that can only lead to much bigger problems. They asked me to verify all sorts of addresses (and I’ve moved a lot!), date of birth (which apparently they don’t even have and I felt good about that), other things which I rather not disclose.

All of this so I could feel safe with my information and not get hacked but the hassle for using this service is similar to as if you were hacked! There has to be a better way!