In this episode, we covered how to freeze your credit report files. Doing this online is the easiest, most efficient, and cost-effective way to protect your credit from hacks and theft.

We know a lot of borrowers who have had to spend hours on the phone trying to figure out how to unfreeze their credit so we can get them pre-approved. We recommend freezing and unfreezing through Equifax and TransUnion. The process is easy, and you can freeze and unfreeze both online for free.

Why does it matter to freeze?

Should someone take your identity and apply for, say, a big-screen TV from Best Buy, they’re going to need to pull your credit. There are programs out there that can help you monitor your credit with regards to this, but there are also steps you can take yourself. If you freeze your credit you can help prevent this from happening.

Freezing with Equifax

If you go to the Equifax website and scroll down, about midway through the page you will see the option to “place or manage a freeze.” Clicking there will take you to a page where you can either “get started with a freeze” or “manage a freeze.” When starting a freeze you will enter some personal and account information. Once the freeze is in place, you can use your log in information to unfreeze for specific dates. This is helpful especially if you’re getting a mortgage. As well, you will be provided with a PIN to unfreeze your credit over the phone or mail, so be sure to store those somewhere safe.

Setting up an account also gives you an easy means of unfreezing your credit, which is helpful in cases such as applying for a mortgage. With an account, you will be able to unfreeze for specific date ranges. You put down the dates and hit submit. It’s that easy.

Freezing with TransUnion

To freeze your credit with TransUnion for free, you want to start by going to their website. From the home page, you’re going to click on “credit help” and then “credit freeze.” This will take you to a page where, if you haven’t already, you can set up an account to freeze (or unfreeze) your credit.

Just like in the case of Equifax you will receive a PIN that is used to verify your identity. The PIN is only if you want to unfreeze your credit or freeze it by the phone or mail.

What about Experian?

You can absolutely put a freeze on Experian, but you will have to pay for it. The good thing is, you only really need to have at least two bureaus to get anything done in the credit world and you can freeze or unfreeze those two for free.

If you have any questions about this or if you have any questions you’d like us to answer on our podcast, you can email your questions to team@azmortgagebrothers.com or give us a call at (602) 535-2171. Be sure to ask us for a free quote on your next mortgage. We’ll personally work with you and help you through the whole process.

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Thanks for listening and reading the Mortgage Brothers Show. Let us know if you have any questions you’d like us to answer on this podcast. You can email your questions to Tom@AZMortgageBrothers.com or Eddie@AZMortgageBrothers.com.

Be sure to ask us for a free quote on your next mortgage. We’ll personally work with you and help you through the whole process.

Signature Home Loans LLC does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. Signature Home Loans NMLS 1007154, NMLS #210917 and 1618695. Equal housing lender.

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