Current Events > PSA: If you affected by the Equifax hack (you are) freeze your credit ASAP

(+) Yeah! (+)

Dustin1280 posted...

ForestLogic posted...

I've never had a credit card in my life. However I do have student loans and a car loan. And that Equifax site did say my info might've been affected.

I have credit monitoring via Credit Karma. Should I still freeze my credit?

Just pay attention to your credit karma reports. IF anything happens that you didn't authorize takes steps at that time.

Will do, thanks. Coincidentally, I was actually legit thinking of getting an Amazon card for the first time ever a few weeks ago. Should I hold off on that for a while now?
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doug123 posted...

So we basically need to pay $100 dollars plus a decent amount of time and effort in order to opt out of the anti-lottery. It almost seems like the odds are so bad that it isn't worth spending the time and money.

Where are you getting $100 from?
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Anyone see this story about Equifax in Argentine that had a data breach right after they revealed the other one

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41257576

Apparently they had admin as the login and password for an employee administration tool. I mean if this is what passes for security with them it's no surprise this shit happened >_>

Class action suit? All right! I need an extra 37 cents in my bank account

What if I am trying to get a mortgage in the next couple months?
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Lmao I'm quite alright. I haven't paid my 7 credit cards in months. My credit is tanking, I'm in the process of declaring bankruptcy with my attorney.

There isn't a creditor on earth who would touch me with a ten foot pole right now.
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pres_madagascar posted...

Lmao I'm quite alright. I haven't paid my 7 credit cards in months. My credit is tanking, I'm in the process of declaring bankruptcy with my attorney.

There isn't a creditor on earth who would touch me with a ten foot pole right now.

Enjoy identity theft
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Ok so I only use Credit Karma to check my credit, but using this link (https://trustedidpremier.com/eligibility/eligibility.html) I saw that I'm affected still.

I'm a bit flustered about how I never use Equifax's website and such, but I'm still affected by this. How much work is there to do a freeze?
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This company is trying everything in the book to not get sued by half the country. If they end up getting a MASSIVE class action lawsuit, they'll likely go broke. But the CEO's and other people in charge will end up just taking the same type of job at another company.
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well I wasn't affected, but this topic made me dl credit karma on my phone, which is pretty cool
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GigaSPX posted...

How much work is there to do a freeze?

http://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/
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Corrupt_Power posted...

pres_madagascar posted...

Lmao I'm quite alright. I haven't paid my 7 credit cards in months. My credit is tanking, I'm in the process of declaring bankruptcy with my attorney.

There isn't a creditor on earth who would touch me with a ten foot pole right now.

Enjoy identity theft

A useless identity that will get them nothing. Also I'm not worried about tax returns filed in my name since I submit my return the first day you can, so I'll beat them to the punch.
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I live in Australia, am i ok
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Can I choose to be someone better now that it's all out there? What's the going price?
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Bump
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What if Experian, Equifax and TransUnion has wrong info on you.

I JUST found this out from TransUnion so freezing it will be a pain in the ass.

Also how does this affect student loans that are yet to disburse.
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Bump for some of you
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Or don't touch it so you can join the lawsuit later
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Shiek120 posted...

Or don't touch it so you can join the lawsuit later

Where did you read that freezing your credit forfeits your right to the lawsuit?
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GOOMFalse posted...

Good thing my SSN gets changed every year so this won't be an issue forever.

The fuck?
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I have never had a credit card or taken out any kind of loan before (though I have a debit card). What should I do when I need to take out a loan or get a credit card for whatever reason?
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there's less than 10 dollars on my account and I have no savings, i have absolutely nothing and everybody knows it.
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tremain07 posted...

there's less than 10 dollars on my account and I have no savings, i have absolutely nothing and everybody knows it.

They won't need to know if you have anything in order to open up certain online loans or get a credit card in your name. Then if they do, you'll have even less than nothing
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MysticMismagius posted...

I have never had a credit card or taken out any kind of loan before (though I have a debit card). What should I do when I need to take out a loan or get a credit card for whatever reason?

Well, you probably have a credit profile since you go through a bank of some sort, but the process of getting a line of credit doesn't change because of this. It is just recommended that you make it harder for someone who has your information to commit identity theft.

To this, you freeze your credit. Then when you need to access your credit, you call a number and unthaw your credit for a little bit.
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Unsugarized_Foo posted...

tremain07 posted...

there's less than 10 dollars on my account and I have no savings, i have absolutely nothing and everybody knows it.

They won't need to know if you have anything in order to open up certain online loans or get a credit card in your name. Then if they do, you'll have even less than nothing

Crap, so what do I do?
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So let's say we decide to take the time and spend $100 to freeze our accounts at the 3 big credit bureaus, what is to prevent a 4th from coming along, where we don't have a freeze?

doug123 posted...

So let's say we decide to take the time and spend $100 to freeze our accounts at the 3 big credit bureaus, what is to prevent a 4th from coming along, where we don't have a freeze?

It's $30 ($10 each, potentially cheaper if you fit certain categories), and there won't be.
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Corrupt_Power posted...

doug123 posted...

So let's say we decide to take the time and spend $100 to freeze our accounts at the 3 big credit bureaus, what is to prevent a 4th from coming along, where we don't have a freeze?

It's $30 ($10 each, potentially cheaper if you fit certain categories), and there won't be.

I thought it was $30 each.

Either way, the idea of giving Equifax money, because of the fact that they lost my data that I never wanted them to have, is fucking repulsive. I think I'd rather take the risk than give them a dime.

doug123 posted...

Corrupt_Power posted...

doug123 posted...

So let's say we decide to take the time and spend $100 to freeze our accounts at the 3 big credit bureaus, what is to prevent a 4th from coming along, where we don't have a freeze?

It's $30 ($10 each, potentially cheaper if you fit certain categories), and there won't be.

I thought it was $30 each.

Either way, the idea of giving Equifax money, because of the fact that they lost my data that I never wanted them to have, is fucking repulsive. I think I'd rather take the risk than give them a dime.

While I understand the sentiment, that's frankly a fucking stupid stance to take. You're going to risk identity theft over $10?

Regardless, Equifax recently removed the fee from their freeze anyway, so for them, it doesn't cost a dime. See: https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/400-current-events/75774740
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Yeah, it's free for now. They went from full anticonsumer to full please-dont-sue-...-me-youre-gonna-sue-me-arent-ya? mode
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Remember that in order to unfreeze your credit, you will also need to pay them... double as you will need to freeze it again as for sure whomever stole our data is never going to trash it.

I wish that due to they mistake doing a freeze would become free everywhere... but money.

Btw, I read somewhere that if you set a fraud alert on one of the companies, they notify the other 2? O am i expected to set the alert on all 3?
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If 140 million people have their SSN compromised I feel like the government should be doing something, like issuing everyone new numbers. Or better yet, scrap the system and come up with something better.

doug123 posted...

If 140 million people have their SSN compromised I feel like the government should be doing something, like issuing everyone new numbers. Or better yet, scrap the system and come up with something better.

This.
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samurai bandit posted...

Remember that in order to unfreeze your credit, you will also need to pay them... double as you will need to freeze it again as for sure whomever stole our data is never going to trash it.

I wish that due to they mistake doing a freeze would become free everywhere... but money.

Btw, I read somewhere that if you set a fraud alert on one of the companies, they notify the other 2? O am i expected to set the alert on all 3?

A "thaw" is a temporary unfreeze between two set dates, that only costs the $10 per bureau.

doug123 posted...

If 140 million people have their SSN compromised I feel like the government should be doing something, like issuing everyone new numbers. Or better yet, scrap the system and come up with something better.

Great idea. Do you have any idea how completely entrenched the social security number system is, though? I completely agree that it needs to be replaced, but it would be literally the biggest upheaval our country has ever seen. We'd be fighting growing pains over the entire generation that happens to be alive once the switch is made.
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I agree, but the longest we wait the harder it will be to switch. I don't know the best solution off the top of my head, but looking at what other countries are doing would be a good source of inspiration.

My Discover card already provides identity theft protection, and Capital One's CreditWise gives me detailed credit reports weekly, so I can act very quickly to minimize damages if anything does happen.

Corrupt_Power posted...

samurai bandit posted...

Remember that in order to unfreeze your credit, you will also need to pay them... double as you will need to freeze it again as for sure whomever stole our data is never going to trash it.

I wish that due to they mistake doing a freeze would become free everywhere... but money.

Btw, I read somewhere that if you set a fraud alert on one of the companies, they notify the other 2? O am i expected to set the alert on all 3?

A "thaw" is a temporary unfreeze between two set dates, that only costs the $10 per bureau.

doug123 posted...

If 140 million people have their SSN compromised I feel like the government should be doing something, like issuing everyone new numbers. Or better yet, scrap the system and come up with something better.

Great idea. Do you have any idea how completely entrenched the social security number system is, though? I completely agree that it needs to be replaced, but it would be literally the biggest upheaval our country has ever seen. We'd be fighting growing pains over the entire generation that happens to be alive once the switch is made.

The better option would be to simply require biometric proof alongside a PIN anytime your SSN is required. So even if your SSN was compromised but not both of the other two factors, it would still be very difficult for someone to spoof your identity successfully.
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Mr Hangman posted...

doug123 posted...

Either way, the idea of giving Equifax money, because of the fact that they lost my data that I never wanted them to have, is fucking repulsive. I think I'd rather take the risk than give them a dime.

This. This company did everything wrong at every turn. They're slime. They deserve to burn, and your advice TC is that all of the 150 million people effected give them $10? Please.

Youre willing to risk identity theft over $10?
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Rika_Furude posted...

Mr Hangman posted...

doug123 posted...

Either way, the idea of giving Equifax money, because of the fact that they lost my data that I never wanted them to have, is fucking repulsive. I think I'd rather take the risk than give them a dime.

This. This company did everything wrong at every turn. They're slime. They deserve to burn, and your advice TC is that all of the 150 million people effected give them $10? Please.

Youre willing to risk identity theft over $10?

Not to mention, like I said previously, they're waiving the fee to freeze your report with them now.
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Rika_Furude posted...

Mr Hangman posted...

doug123 posted...

Either way, the idea of giving Equifax money, because of the fact that they lost my data that I never wanted them to have, is fucking repulsive. I think I'd rather take the risk than give them a dime.

This. This company did everything wrong at every turn. They're slime. They deserve to burn, and your advice TC is that all of the 150 million people effected give them $10? Please.

Youre willing to risk identity theft over $10?

It's the principle. You're metaphorically paying ransom as far as I'm concerned.

doug123 posted...

Rika_Furude posted...

Mr Hangman posted...

doug123 posted...

Either way, the idea of giving Equifax money, because of the fact that they lost my data that I never wanted them to have, is fucking repulsive. I think I'd rather take the risk than give them a dime.

This. This company did everything wrong at every turn. They're slime. They deserve to burn, and your advice TC is that all of the 150 million people effected give them $10? Please.

You're willing to risk identity theft over $10?

It's the principle. You're metaphorically paying ransom as far as I'm concerned.

With that metaphor, you're letting your loved one die because you don't want to pay up.
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Let me adjust the metaphor... the hostage taker is threatening to pull the trigger if his random number generator (out of 144 million) comes up with the number he is thinking of.

At this point I don't think the risk outweighs the personal disgust I would feel for giving these companies money.

doug123 posted...

Let me adjust the metaphor... the hostage taker is threatening to pull the trigger if his random number generator (out of 144 million) comes up with the number he is thinking of.

At this point I don't think the risk outweighs the personal disgust I would feel for giving these companies money.

But you don't know how many hostage takers there are, and you don't know how many times each one will generate a number.

If you want to keep yourself exposed just so you don't have to give money to the people who let you get exposed, that's fine. I don't think it's a good idea, but it's your prerogative.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/09/15/did-you-pay-to-freeze-your-own-credit-this-bill-would-refund-you-and-ban-the-fees/?utm_term=.44371e05fffb

Elizabeth Warren to the rescue again.