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Consumer Watch: Credit freeze creates barrier for scammers

FILE - This Nov. 18, 2009, file photo, shows credit and bank cards with electronic chips in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Changes to federal law have sharply restricted students’ access to credit cards, making it harder for many to start building credit. But parents can still help their kids lay the foundation for renting apartments and taking out loans by letting them piggyback on their good credit and offering sound advice. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
FILE - This Nov. 18, 2009, file photo, shows credit and bank cards with electronic chips in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Changes to federal law have sharply restricted students’ access to credit cards, making it harder for many to start building credit. But parents can still help their kids lay the foundation for renting apartments and taking out loans by letting them piggyback on their good credit and offering sound advice. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) FILE - This Nov. 18, 2009, file photo, shows credit and bank cards with electronic chips in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Changes to federal law have sharply restricted students’ access to credit cards, making it harder for many to start building credit. But parents can still help their kids lay the foundation for renting apartments and taking out loans by letting them piggyback on their good credit and offering sound advice. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

By Ellen Phillips 3 min read

photo Ellen Phillips photo for ConsumerWatch column that runs every Sunday – Please use this photo from now on

Q: I recently received notice that someone opened a charge account using my personal information. Other than cancelling this account and notifying authorities, what should I do to protect against further intrusions? – Caroline Careless

A: Dear Mrs. Careless: We all have been part of “shoulda,’ woulda,’ coulda'” situations, so don’t be embarrassed. While you’ve taken some steps to correct your problem, it’s crucial to continue credit repair (and prevention) and avail yourself of the credit freeze offering from credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

A credit freeze provides a huge barrier between a scammer and our confidential information. The freeze prevents approval for new credit applications because creditors can’t view our credit files and histories. Even if a criminal gathers all a person’s personal info, he’s unable to do anything with it because the credit freeze stops prying fingers from plying more mischief.

More than likely the time will come when you decide to apply for a legitimate loan, credit card, mortgage or line of credit. Before this application, it’s necessary to lift your credit freeze. Creating a separate PIN for each of the Big Three agencies lifts the freeze. While the process sounds relatively simply (you can reinstate the freeze if desired), it’s important to remember, unless the consumer is currently victimized, each of the three bureaus charges a fee to lift its freeze. So make certain the individual fees aren’t more than the benefits.

Fees vary by state, and the victim can specify creditors who may access his or her file as well as permanently remove the freeze, if necessary. Procedures to lift the freezes for each of the credit reporting bureaus follow. Choose the most convenient one.