Has anyone done an online credit freeze?

[Beefcake]

Hey guys, I'm just curious has anyone of you used the online credit bureau sites to do an online credit freeze? I was one of the 80 million people to have their data compromised in the Anthem breach a month ago and I've been debating freezing my credit just in case, even though I don't really have any credit to begin with. The main sites all require some detailed information to do this but I'm hesitant to give out that info.

Have any of you done this and found it worthwhile? Or should I just not bother.

[Meatwad]

I work with some that are on anthem and their identity got stolen by it. If you dont have it already, get a monitoring service ASAP!

[eagl]

I did it once.  It was a pain because I had to move and the credit freeze made getting my new house utilities set up an exercise in frustration.  The usual phone call to give them name/b-day/ssn and credit card number for the deposit didn't work.  I had to present multiple proof of identity documents in person at the local utility office.  It was bad enough that I never did get traditional phone service turned on, instead switching to this newfangled service called VOIP from the cable company, which somehow wasn't regulated like regular phone service so they didn't really care who I was as long as *someone* paid the cable bill.

I couldn't avoid gas/electric/water service so I had to visit those offices to get service turned on.  I haven't had a traditional phone line ever since then because the federal regulations on traditional phone service still make it harder to get that service set up.  You have to PROVE who you are to get a hard-line traditional phone service, but the cable company will sell cable service to a goldfish as long as the credit card number is valid.

[Beefcake]

Well credit monitoring only works if the agencies do their jobs, and from what I understand a lot of stuff slips though. (I listen to way to much Clark Howard)

[guncrasher]

it is a hasle and sometimes they will ask questions because somehow they linked you to the wrong person.  for example every once in a while they ask me for the address of my brother's wife in mirtle beach.  they have been divorced for years, didnt even know she lived in mirtle beach.


semp

[RotBaron]

Well credit monitoring only works if the agencies do their jobs, and from what I understand a lot of stuff slips though. (I listen to way to much Clark Howard)

There's no way to listen to Clark too much. 

[Thruster]

Probably better off just issuing a consumer statement on your report to instruct any prospective creditors to verify prior to opening any accounts. A monthly report will also give you a head's up if someone initiates an inquiry.

[SysError]

We did it years ago (before WWW) b/c of a problem we had.  A bit of a pain.  Had to make phone calls and answer silly questions when we were trying to buy a new car.

We also put an ID requirement for in-person check cashing at our bank.  (Only we could cash checks at our bank with an ID).  Hard to set up.  Bank did not want to do it.  Once done, it was easy.  Two things though:  1) Process does not help directly if a fake check is cashed at another institution and passed through to your account (although you are now in a better position to tell the bank to restore your funds and eat the loss.  Which BTW, as I found out, they don't necessarily have to do.  They (US banks) have one loop-hole after another to make their customers pay for their mistakes if they wish).  and 2) after a year the restriction expire and you have to go through the whole dam process again to set up.

[zack1234]

Credit?

You mean money lenders ?