Current Events > Credit freezes are now free in the US per federal law

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/09/free-credit-freezes-are-here?utm_source=govdelivery

you may now freeze (or unfreeze) your credit accounts at zero cost in the US. this stops new lines of credit from being opened. companies must comply within one business day of your request to freeze, and within one hour (wow!) of your request to unfreeze.

this is worth doing imo. opening a new line of credit doesn't really require that much identity confirmation and with how frequently places get hacked anymore, your information is almost guaranteed to be out there, especially after the Equifax breach. putting a freeze on means even when (not if) identity thieves use your information, it won't work. in the event that you do want to open a new credit card or get a car loan, it only takes ~1h for the freeze to be lifted, then you reapply it after things are taken care of.
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how do i get a credit card
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Two_Dee posted...

how do i get a credit card

be 18 and fill out an application
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That's actually pretty rad.
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That's amazing
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It sure is rad. The fees varied by state, but when I did this last year in Ohio I think I ended up spending something like $35 across the various agencies.
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thanks elizabeth warren
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Giant_Aspirin posted...

It sure is rad. The fees varied by state, but when I did this last year in Ohio I think I ended up spending something like $35 across the various agencies.

I've never had to do it and didnt even realize it cost anything. Pretty shitty to charge someone who's finances might be royally fucked already.
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littlebro07 posted...

Giant_Aspirin posted...

It sure is rad. The fees varied by state, but when I did this last year in Ohio I think I ended up spending something like $35 across the various agencies.

I've never had to do it and didnt even realize it cost anything. Pretty shitty to charge someone who's finances might be royally fucked already.

especially considering that you never had to provide any consent for them to make money off your data.
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Woah this administration did something right
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Kombucha posted...

thanks elizabeth warren

Now I'm curious how the votes worked out.

Questionmarktarius posted...

Kombucha posted...

thanks elizabeth warren

Now I'm curious how the votes worked out.

Nearly all Republicans were for it, vast majority of Democrats were against it.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2155/actions
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll216.xml
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Paragon21XX posted...

Questionmarktarius posted...

Kombucha posted...

thanks elizabeth warren

Now I'm curious how the votes worked out.

Nearly all Republicans were for it, vast majority of Democrats were against it.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2155/actions
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll216.xml

Yeah I'm reading why now

The broader legislation loosens a number of banking and mortgage-lending regulations. Among them is the too big to fail rule enacted in 2010 that subjected banks with more than $50 billion in assets to very strict rules on lending. The threshold will now be $250 billion.
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Kombucha posted...

Paragon21XX posted...

Questionmarktarius posted...

Kombucha posted...

thanks elizabeth warren

Now I'm curious how the votes worked out.

Nearly all Republicans were for it, vast majority of Democrats were against it.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2155/actions
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll216.xml

Yeah I'm reading why now

The broader legislation loosens a number of banking and mortgage-lending regulations. Among them is the too big to fail rule enacted in 2010 that subjected banks with more than $50 billion in assets to very strict rules on lending. The threshold will now be $250 billion.

Fucking pork.
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DrizztLink posted...

Fucking pork.

Please don't fuck pork. You'll get genital trichinosis that way.

Questionmarktarius posted...

DrizztLink posted...

Fucking pork.

Please don't fuck pork. You'll get genital trichinosis that way.

I ain't scurred of no trick
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Surprised it wasn't done sooner
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shockthemonkey posted...

Kombucha posted...

Paragon21XX posted...

Questionmarktarius posted...

Kombucha posted...

thanks elizabeth warren

Now I'm curious how the votes worked out.

Nearly all Republicans were for it, vast majority of Democrats were against it.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2155/actions
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll216.xml

Yeah I'm reading why now

The broader legislation loosens a number of banking and mortgage-lending regulations. Among them is the too big to fail rule enacted in 2010 that subjected banks with more than $50 billion in assets to very strict rules on lending. The threshold will now be $250 billion.

Well thats shitty.

trumps america
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spudger posted...

trumps america

That's been everyone's america, since Wilson or thereabouts.

Why would you wanna do this unless your id was stolen
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lifeamovie posted...

Why would you wanna do this unless your id was stolen

you wouldn't; but nearly everyone's was compromised last year thanks to equifaxxx
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lifeamovie posted...

Why would you wanna do this unless your id was stolen

Giant_Aspirin posted...

your information is almost guaranteed to be out there, especially after the Equifax breach.

this gives me peace of mind and i dont have to worry about periodically checking my credit report to make sure nothing fishy is going on.
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I mean, that sounds pretty awesome, but if someone has enough of your info to set up a line in your name, what stops them from unfreezing you? You're relying on the same contact methods you have now to alert you of problems, except you get an extra hour.

It doesn't even look shady because this is gonna be so common that the thieves won't stand out.
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Darksaber310 posted...

I mean, that sounds pretty awesome, but if someone has enough of your info to set up a line in your name, what stops them from unfreezing you? You're relying on the same contact methods you have now to alert you of problems, except you get an extra hour.

Nothing with info

But most criminals wont spend the time/effort
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Darksaber310 posted...

I mean, that sounds pretty awesome, but if someone has enough of your info to set up a line in your name, what stops them from unfreezing you?

when you enable the freeze you're given a PIN unique to that credit agency which, along with your regular information, is required to unfreeze.
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Giant_Aspirin posted...

Darksaber310 posted...

I mean, that sounds pretty awesome, but if someone has enough of your info to set up a line in your name, what stops them from unfreezing you?

when you enable the freeze you're given a PIN unique to that credit agency which, along with your regular information, is required to unfreeze.

Hey, I forgot my PIN. Can I reset?
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It's something, but it's nothing like a penalty for Equifax putting everyone in America at risk lol
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Darksaber310 posted...

Giant_Aspirin posted...

Darksaber310 posted...

I mean, that sounds pretty awesome, but if someone has enough of your info to set up a line in your name, what stops them from unfreezing you?

when you enable the freeze you're given a PIN unique to that credit agency which, along with your regular information, is required to unfreeze.

Hey, I forgot my PIN. Can I reset?

you can but you have to go through a more rigorous identity confirmation.

https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/replacing-a-lost-security-freeze-pin-number/
https://help.equifax.com/s/article/How-do-I-replace-a-lost-security-freeze-PIN
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This is great!
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Seems like the ideal paranoid course of action is freeze immediately, then unfreeze when needed.

Questionmarktarius posted...

Seems like the ideal paranoid course of action is freeze immediately, then unfreeze when needed.

that's exactly what i did immediately following the Equifax breach last year
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