By Will Frazier
If you are like many other consumers you are probably concerned about the breach of data at Equifax, if it has affected you, and what you can do about it.
The breach “potentially” affected 143 million Americans and was able to happen because of exploit to a website application that Equifax uses.
Though they were aware of unauthorized access to their database in mid-May nothing was done about it, and here we are today with this issue.
If you would like to check to see if you have “potentially” been impacted by the breach you can to Equifax’s dedicated website for that at this link: https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/
The responses you get after checking don’t seem 100% certain. The wording they use is: “we believe that your personal information may have been impacted” or vice versa.
*I’ve read some stories of people inputting fack information to see what responses they get and still getting the above message that they may have been impacted.
If you would like to place a freeze on your credit profiles with the credit bureaus the best way to do that is to call them at these numbers:
- Equifax — 1-800-349-9960 (I’ve been told this number is better 1-800-525-6285)
- Experian — 1‑888‑397‑3742
- TransUnion — 1-888-909-8872
- Innovis — 1-800-540-2505 (The smallest credit bureau)
*Be aware that if you place a freeze on your credit reports and you apply for anything (car loan, mortgage, retail credit card etc.) you will have to do a temporary lift of the freeze by giving a pin number that you set up at the time you activated the freeze.
*Note that it can take up to 3 days to lift a freeze.
You will need to set a pin number of your choice with each bureau as well as a phone number that you can be reached at.
A freeze does usually cost anywhere between $5-$10 but currently, Equifax is waving all fees.
Placing a freeze can be a hassle if you plan on applying for anything but it is the only way to be 100% sure your credit isn’t affected.
For more information about this article and other questions about credit contact Will Frazier at [email protected]
All rights reserved, Gumptown Magazine. Copyright 2017.
