If you want to go a step further, consider
freezing your credit report, which prevents any new lenders from pulling your credit report during the application process.
If you want to go a step further,
consider freezing your credit report, which prevents any new lenders from pulling your credit report during the application process.
With the latest hack of personal information from one of the big three credit bureaus, the topic
of freezing your credit report to prevent identity theft is back in the news.
A slowing economy, declining property values and
frozen credit markets were supposed to mean that this would be a year of one - off deals.
By freezing your credit reports, an identity thief would need your secret code (a PIN) to open a line of credit in your name.
If you suspect that your credit card has been stolen,
then freezing your credit won't prevent the thieves from using your card.
But before you put your credit on ice, be sure you know all the ramifications and costs
of frozen credit.
By freezing your credit reports, you can prevent credit issuers from accessing your credit files except when you give permission.
You need to
freeze your credit report with each of the three credit reporting agencies, which means requesting the freeze three times.
About 600,000 checks will be sent to Nassau and Suffolk counties under the state Property
Tax Freeze Credit program between now and early next year, said Geoffrey Gloak, a spokesman for the state Department of Taxation and Finance.
If you do
n't freeze your credit reports, then use the free credit report federal law (you can get one free credit report from each of the 3 main agencies per year) to stay on top of things.
If you ever lose your credit card you can log in online or even through the app and
instantly freeze your credit card so that no purchases will go through and you won't have to go through the process of disputing charges and clearing everything up.
In response to the worst housing downturn in modern US history, the Fed bought billions worth of mortgage - backed securities in an effort to
thaw frozen credit markets.
To be eligible for the Property Tax
Freeze Credit program, taxpayers must qualify for a separate program — the STAR property - tax exemption — and live outside New York City.
Users
who freeze their credit report through Equifax also should look into doing so at Experian and TransUnion, the other two major credit bureaus.