Freezing the 3 credit agencies files

dowling71

Hi just looking for some advice, I'm based in the UK.

I think I've been phishd and am trying to freeze my credit with experian equifax and transunion. (I have frozen my bank card)

Experian I only managed to lock, I have paid acount with equifax but apparently can't freeze (they told me, i can only add sub correction password,i havd now started ghat process which wil take 5 days (!) to appear on my report with them apparently) even though research said I should be able to freeze immediately. I think they can freeze in America, uk seems behind?

Transunion I can't seem to make a uk account with, all I got was a free credit report. 

I've been at this since 7am,trying to lock everything down but doesn't seem straight forward with last two, especially transunion. Apparently I need to do it with the 3 because any of them could be targeted.

Any advice please?? Have I done all I can do with each of the 3 big uk ones?

Tia

Brie

I'd be more concerned with contacting banks and credit cards first.

cymruchris

You haven't given many details around what the specific problem is - did you buy something from a dodgy site and enter all your personal information?

You can instigate cifas protection if you think someone will use your data to open a credit account in your name:

https://www.cifas.org.uk/pr

If you're worried about people accessing existing accounts - you'd have to call each of your banks/financial institutions and inform them directly so that they can put an extra layer of security on your account, to ensure it is you that makes contact.

Brie

Oh and stopping whatever actually got phished. facebook? Outlook?

dowling71

Brie said:

I'd be more concerned with contacting banks and credit cards first.

Done thanks 👍 

dowling71

Brie said:

Oh and stopping whatever actually got phished. facebook? Outlook?

Done thanks 

400ixl

Can you freeze them in the UK? Thought that was a US capability that isn't available here.

Its very different in the US to the UK, so if it was US information you say that said you could, it may be misleading.

dowling71

Hi  

yes I suppose my question is have I done all I can with the 3 credit agencies?

I was under the impression i could freeze each by contacting each individually. This seems not to be the case unless i am missing something. 

Thanks yes I contacted cifas 👍 👍 

cymruchris

dowling71 said:

Hi  

yes I suppose my question is have I done all I can with the 3 credit agencies?

I was under the impression i could freeze each by contacting each individually. This seems not to be the case unless i am missing something. 

Thanks yes I contacted cifas 👍 👍 

The most important thing to have done is contact existing account providers if you fear someone will directly access your accounts as they stand - and if you fear someone will run a load of new credit applications - then the cifas protection is the best way to go.

The credit reference agencies are more the data providers rather than the decision makers - so creating a song and dance with them might not help your cause much, the previous mentioned steps should have most impact.

Do you fear someone accessing existing accounts, or creating new ones?

dowling71

I mostly fear credit being applied for in my name. 
Everything that was said and done, I think that's what they were after

cymruchris

Cifas protection is the right way forwards then.

When you yourself apply for credit while it's in force - credit providers will ask for additional ID and should verify that it's actually you before granting an account. This will mean you'll have to jump through a few extra hoops, but that stops the fraudsters from doing it with the info they've already got.