to freeze or not to freeze before apps
I have 14 inquiries on my EX report (far fewer on EQ and TU) and am gearing up to apply for 5 or 6 cards soon. My question is should I put a freeze on my EX report, in an attempt to divert inquiries to EQ or TU?
I assume there are 3 possible outcomes of each app with a bank that normally uses EX in California if I put the freeze on: a) Lender just decides to use EQ or TU b) Lender says we can't process your app - give us a pin to see your EX report or no card (which I would then provide) c) Lender straight rejects due to lack of access to EX I imagine most fall into the b) bucket, which is effectively the same as not having a freeze right? But if ANY lender happens to go with option a) then it seems to makes sense to freeze, no? |
ok with all the cc's being applied for on this board i know someone has some experience with credit freezes :D
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I haven't done it myself, but I've thought about it. I posted something on this on another thread a week or so ago, but that was about freezing all 3. I think the way it works is your current creditors can pull whichever bureau they want, so they might be able to pull your Experian even if you have it frozen. I'm not 100% sure on that, that might fall under your scenario "B". As far as new creditors, from what I've read aside from Amex they will pull whatever bureau you have unfrozen. If you do try this, report back on what happened.
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Originally Posted by longhorn11
(Post 18167762)
As far as new creditors, from what I've read aside from Amex they will pull whatever bureau you have unfrozen. If you do try this, report back on what happened.
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Originally Posted by decibel08
(Post 18169721)
well i hope that is exactly how it works! i'll definitely report back next week.
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If I were the bank, I would wonder why you froze one and not the others. If you have been the victim of identity theft, you should have frozen all three.
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But if not a victim of ID theft, then like me, you just don't want to spend the exta $10 to freeze the 3rd.
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Originally Posted by longhorn11
(Post 18169761)
Also if you could post how quickly you were able to freeze your Experian. I've read that some can do it online and others have to mail things in. Thanks!
Originally Posted by cbn42
(Post 18170622)
If I were the bank, I would wonder why you froze one and not the others. If you have been the victim of identity theft, you should have frozen all three.
so here is my report - i went 6/7 so far with the apps, but only 1 instant approval. the last one is still pending and not necessarily declined but didn't sound great. it seems that Chase shows a little flexibility (they approved my app even with my freeze in place and without a temporary pin) - i believe they used EQ instead of EX when they did it manually during my follow up phone call. Barclays used TU. Amex insisted on EX but the temporary pin worked for them. BofA insisted on EX and informed me they don't do the temporary pin for credit report access thing. Citi (biz) required EX and couldn't make the pin thing work so i did end up entirely unfreezing, which then made BofA go through also. end result - the freeze made it more drawn out than it needed to be and most creditors wouldn't budge from the report they wanted. using the temporary pin thing would be better facilitated by applying over the phone initially in order to provide the pin to the agent and avoid initial declines and extra phone calls. Chase seemed to just move over to EQ that was available though. it was worth the lesson for me. i'll verify all of this next time i get my reports. |
Thanks for the report back, I was thinking about this yesterday. It's interesting that Chase showed flexibility, I figured Amex would want Experian. You would think BofA and Citi would be willing to pull from something other than Experian.
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Originally Posted by longhorn11
(Post 18194507)
Thanks for the report back, I was thinking about this yesterday. It's interesting that Chase showed flexibility, I figured Amex would want Experian. You would think BofA and Citi would be willing to pull from something other than Experian.
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Originally Posted by ddallas
(Post 18195933)
I've been doing this for years and my results have been the same. Chase is the only one that will pull something other than the one they want for my area. AMEX, Citi, and BofA all insist on pulling Experian. They simply cancel the application after 30 days if I do not unfreeze it for them.
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Originally Posted by longhorn11
(Post 18195996)
What's your opinion on it? I'm assuming that since you've been doing it for a while it's worth the trouble. Does it make it easier to get the Chase apps approved? Given your username I'm assuming we're in the same area (or maybe you just like Dallas ;)). It does seem like everyone pulls experian around here, only PenFed has pulled Equifax (which they pull exclusively).
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I have a freeze on all 3 credit bureaus. I alternate with unfreezing EX or EQ temporary so I can apply for a credit card. I have had no problem calling Chase or Bank of America to let them know to check the credit Bureau I wanted if i were not instantly approved.
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Great topic. Keep in mind that freezing your credit report does not prevent existing creditors from accessing your report. Also, even with a freeze, your report can be pulled for prescreening purposes.
But the bottom line is that freezing all three credit reports is the best way to have control over who is accessing your reports or not (both fraudulent and just unwanted banks). You can freeze and unfreeze your accounts for each of the three bureaus. Here are the links below: Transunion To freeze your report: http://freeze.transunion.com For more information: http://www.transunion.com/personal-c...t-freezes.page Equifax To freeze your report: https://www.freeze.equifax.com For more information: http://www.equifax.com/answers/help/...y-freeze/en_cp https://help.equifax.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/75/ https://help.equifax.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/159/ Experian To freeze your report: www.experian.com/freeze/ For more information: https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html http://www.experian.com/consumer/security_freeze.html And finally, keep in mind that freezing your report will likely interfere with any credit monitoring services that you are using. Practically speaking, you'll have to choose between one or the other. |
Originally Posted by TrueFin
(Post 18199025)
Great topic. Keep in mind that freezing your credit report does not prevent existing creditors from accessing your report.
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Originally Posted by decibel08
(Post 18199609)
I also asked a rep from EX about this and he said that for NEW credit lines even existing creditors are blocked from accessing your report.
I still don't understand Citi and BofA, I know they pull equifax and transunion in different parts of the country. Did you try talking to a supervisor? |
Originally Posted by longhorn11
(Post 18199920)
I still don't understand Citi and BofA, I know they pull equifax and transunion in different parts of the country. Did you try talking to a supervisor?
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Originally Posted by decibel08
(Post 18200026)
The person from Amex told me that their computer simply has a requirement of which report based on location in the country and there was no getting around it. I didn't ask for supervisors because a) I'm convinced they just hand you to the person the next desk over, and b) the whole process was taking so long (more than 1 day) that I was already running the risk of losing the 'element of surprise' of the simultaneous app-o-rama.
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So I decided to do the freeze with Experian and it was easy to do online. If you don't answer the usual credit history questions correctly, then they will request you send it in via mail.
What I didn't expect was to received a letter in the mail stating that they have removed my name from preapproved credit offers for the next 5 years. I don't want that. So I called them and they said the removal from prescreened offers is part of the freeze, which I didn't see or missed. They won't even talk about it unless I get a credit report. |
Originally Posted by N_Phoenix
(Post 18213458)
So I decided to do the freeze with Experian and it was easy to do online. If you don't answer the usual credit history questions correctly, then they will request you send it in via mail.
What I didn't expect was to received a letter in the mail stating that they have removed my name from preapproved credit offers for the next 5 years. I don't want that. So I called them and they said the removal from prescreened offers is part of the freeze, which I didn't see or missed. They won't even talk about it unless I get a credit report. Thanks for the data point though, it's unfortunate that they do this automatically. Although if you're doing it for security purposes, I can understand the logic behind experian doing this. |
Originally Posted by ddallas
(Post 18195933)
I've been doing this for years and my results have been the same. Chase is the only one that will pull something other than the one they want for my area. AMEX, Citi, and BofA all insist on pulling Experian. They simply cancel the application after 30 days if I do not unfreeze it for them.
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Originally Posted by esw30
(Post 20807098)
Just came across this. Out of curiosity, are you still having success with Chase pulling other bureaus by freezing Experian? Mine is getting up there in inquiries, I was thinking about trying this too. Thanks.
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ADVICE NEEDED: Freeze EX & TU for August AoR?
Edited: I have another thread about the AoR itself, this pertains to questions really for all future AoRs about freezing reports
I'm planning an AoR in August, and I'm thinking of freezing my TU and EX reports so the bureaus will only pull my EQ. Why I'm wanting to do this is because my most recent inquiries on my EQ were 07/12. My question is CAN I do this? Will it work as I'm wanting it to, where all three issuers JUST see my sparkly Equifax? Not that the other two are horrible, my TU is just rather shaky right now due to being battered by inquiries (plus, my AAoA is on the low side, but the Amex will help). I'm wanting 1 AMEX Personal (50k MB Plat) 1 AMEX Business (50k BGR) 2 Chase Personal (40kCSP, 30-55k UA MPE) 1 Citi Personal (50k AA Visa Plat) 1 Citi Business (40k Visa) Chase pulls EX in Arizona. AMEX has pulled all three, but it was my first time with them. I've heard they also pull EX, which they did for my April 2013 Gold Business DL card. Citi pulled TU & EX for all three of my AA cards + 1 TYP. In August I will have: Transunion: 11 inquiries in 12 months (14 in 24) Experian: 10 inquiries in 12 months (12 in 24) Equifax: 0 inquiries in past 12 months, 5 in 24 (all 5 were July 2012) Any advice on freezing reports is VERY appreciated! Thank you :) |
Originally Posted by tigerhunt2011
(Post 21023626)
Edited: I have another thread about the AoR itself, this pertains to questions really for all future AoRs about freezing reports
I'm planning an AoR in August, and I'm thinking of freezing my TU and EX reports so the bureaus will only pull my EQ. Why I'm wanting to do this is because my most recent inquiries on my EQ were 07/12. My question is CAN I do this? Will it work as I'm wanting it to, where all three issuers JUST see my sparkly Equifax? Not that the other two are horrible, my TU is just rather shaky right now due to being battered by inquiries (plus, my AAoA is on the low side, but the Amex will help). I'm wanting 1 AMEX Personal (50k MB Plat) 1 AMEX Business (50k BGR) 2 Chase Personal (40kCSP, 30-55k UA MPE) 1 Citi Personal (50k AA Visa Plat) 1 Citi Business (40k Visa) Chase pulls EX in Arizona. AMEX has pulled all three, but it was my first time with them. I've heard they also pull EX, which they did for my April 2013 Gold Business DL card. Citi pulled TU & EX for all three of my AA cards + 1 TYP. In August I will have: Transunion: 11 inquiries in 12 months (14 in 24) Experian: 10 inquiries in 12 months (12 in 24) Equifax: 0 inquiries in past 12 months, 5 in 24 (all 5 were July 2012) Any advice on freezing reports is VERY appreciated! Thank you :) This tactic doesn't work as well as it used to. |
Originally Posted by gloreglabert
(Post 21024794)
Both Amex and Citi have about a 99.9% chance of telling you to pound sand if you ask them to pull something other than what they tried first. Chase you might be able to convince to pull something else...emphasis on might.
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A few follow up question about Chase and EX.
Has anyone gotten instant approval from Chase after freezing EX (assuming it pulls EX and TU by default), or does it always lead to recon? If the latter, how much more complicated is the process? Do they ask why you froze EX? If so, what do you say? My EQ has virtually no activity, so it would be great if Chase looks at that instead of EX. Or better yet, skip it altogether and just look at my TU, which is also sparse. |
Originally Posted by italdesign
(Post 22902750)
A few follow up question about Chase and EX.
Has anyone gotten instant approval from Chase after freezing EX (assuming it pulls EX and TU by default), or does it always lead to recon? If the latter, how much more complicated is the process? Do they ask why you froze EX? If so, what do you say? My EQ has virtually no activity, so it would be great if Chase looks at that instead of EX. Or better yet, skip it altogether and just look at my TU, which is also sparse. |
italdesign, did you try? I'm curious to do this, too. 11 inquiries on EX, 2 EQ (both Chase, as well), 3 TU. It seems Chase always pulls EX and EQ for me, both, so I'd definitely like to just push them to EQ if possible, but don't feel like doing the recon dance.
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Originally Posted by djibouti
(Post 23121714)
italdesign, did you try? I'm curious to do this, too. 11 inquiries on EX, 2 EQ (both Chase, as well), 3 TU. It seems Chase always pulls EX and EQ for me, both, so I'd definitely like to just push them to EQ if possible, but don't feel like doing the recon dance.
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Originally Posted by kramer327
(Post 23484477)
Any update on Chase success lately? My wife will be going after Chase personal/business this fall and would like to push those into Equifax. She's got 12 Experian and 6 Equifax. Chase has always pulled both on her previously. If no data point, I'll probably try it anyways.
If Citi pulls Exquifax in your area, you can still be instantly approved with an Experian freeze. |
2016 - Chase Updates?
I have some questions about an Experian freeze:
1. Does anyone have recent updates on how Chase handles frozen Experian? Will the automated system always go to pending, and will reconsideration manually pull TU or EQ? Or will Chase reconsideration insist on Experian? 2. If asked, what reason should you give the reconsideration agent as to why your Experian report is frozen? 3. Is the process instant to both freeze and unfreeze the Experian report? I live in MA and nearly all issuers pull Experian nearly 100% of the time including Amex, Citi, BOFA, Capital One (plus HP's from other bureaus), and Chase. Only discover pulled EQ and TU, maybe a hard pull with one and soft pull or score from the other. Also recently I got shot down with multiple reconsideration calls to Citi for the prestige card due to too many Ex inquiries. In doing some research it seems like 6 inquiries in 6 months seems to be the trigger point. |
It is not just a matter of inquiries. If you're getting cited for inquiries then there are bigger issues that you need to address with your credit profiles. Inquiries are generally a small factor but they can be cited and have a bigger impact for those with thin credit profiles and/or profiles with issues.
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Originally Posted by jetsetter
(Post 26204481)
2. If asked, what reason should you give the reconsideration agent as to why your Experian report is frozen?
3. Is the process instant to both freeze and unfreeze the Experian report? I froze my credit reports after the Anthem breach a while back. If you feel the need to tell them why your credit is frozen, a possible answer would be to say it is because of recent credit breaches. However, I doubt they would ask you why it is frozen. I am interested in knowing the answer to #3 as well. I had read in an article that credit freezes can be thawed in 15 minutes online. But it didn't say what credit agency or anything helpful like that. Experian does let you pick today's date when thawing a credit report. But I don't know how fast it goes live. Edited to add: I did a Google search, and the Experian website is vague as well. It says depending on your state, your credit can be thawed in a matter of minutes. But it could take as long as 3 days. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-e...credit-report/ This article from the NC Attorney General says that credit reports are usually thawed in 15 minutes. http://www.ncdoj.gov/getdoc/c0602cd1...ty-Freeze.aspx |
My Experian and the other 2 thaw immediately, though for me in CA I have to call Experian and give my PIN and date to re-freeze.
Once I had it thawed while I had Amex on the other line, its very quick. Just did it this week. |
Freezing Credit Bureau to stop Soft pulls from Bank
I recently opened 8 cards + 1 auto loan within 6 months and my oldest card is 4 years and AAoA dropped to 1 year . I recently applied for 3 more cards and got it approved . I am doing lot of MS on 2 citi cards , 2 American express cards ( 5000$ per month on both amex and citi) and Capital one card ( around 8000 $)
I am worried about banks doing soft pull for account review. Will a freeze on CB , stops bank from viewing the report? What other precautionary step can i take in ? 100% on time payments and made sure to do bill payment before the statement closes. Just kept 50 to 100$ balance for CB reporting on all the new cards. |
Originally Posted by kingofkingsforu
(Post 26259184)
I recently opened 8 cards + 1 auto loan within 6 months and my oldest card is 4 years and AAoA dropped to 1 year . I recently applied for 3 more cards and got it approved . I am doing lot of MS on 2 citi cards , 2 American express cards ( 5000$ per month on both amex and citi) and Capital one card ( around 8000 $)
I am worried about banks doing soft pull for account review. Will a freeze on CB , stops bank from viewing the report? What other precautionary step can i take in ? 100% on time payments and made sure to do bill payment before the statement closes. Just kept 50 to 100$ balance for CB reporting on all the new cards. |
Originally Posted by kingofkingsforu
(Post 26259184)
Will a freeze on CB , stops bank from viewing the report?
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