Equifax Credit Freeze Fee Waived Through Nov. 21

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Following a colossal data breach and a massive public outcry, Equifax is now offering a free Equifax credit freeze to help protect consumers from identity theft.

The company announced on Sept. 12 that it would waive its usual fee for credit freezes requested between Sept. 7 and Nov. 21 of this year. The company says it will refund fees to consumers who have already requested an Equifax credit freeze during that period.

The Equifax credit freeze offer is part of the company’s response to a massive data breach that they say exposed consumer information of 143 million consumers. The breach allegedly occurred between mid-May and July 29, the date Equifax discovered it. The company then waited several weeks before announcing the breach on Sept. 7.

Exposed information includes consumers’ names, birth dates, addresses, email addresses, and Social Security numbers, among other sensitive personal information.

Affected consumers promptly responded to the data breach with multiple Equifax data breach class action lawsuits. Within days of the announcement, more than 50 Equifax class action lawsuits had been filed.

In one such action, plaintiffs James McGonnigal and Brian Spector are challenging Equifax for failing to adequately protect sensitive consumer information.

The plaintiffs also challenge Equifax’s decision to delay announcement of the breach for several weeks, denying consumers the opportunity to take action to protect themselves from identity theft.

Meanwhile, three Equifax executives sold off at least $1.8 million in Equifax stock shortly after the breach was discovered.

What Does an Equifax Credit Freeze Do?

A credit freeze, sometimes called a security freeze, lets a consumer restrict viewing access to their credit report. Typically, creditors insist on viewing the report before making a decision to grant or deny credit, so blocking that access helps prevent fraudsters from opening a new account in the consumer’s name.

The consumer still has access to their own credit report while a credit freeze is in place. So do the consumer’s existing creditors and any debt collectors acting on their behalf, and any government agencies seeking access in response to a court or administrative order, a subpoena, or a search warrant. A credit freeze also does not affect the consumer’s credit score.

While a credit freeze is in place, the consumer can still use their credit report as they normally would by temporarily lifting the freeze. The freeze can be lifted either for a specific time period or for a specific person, like a potential creditor, a landlord, or an employer.

Lifting a freeze takes time – three business days at the most. The credit agencies also charge a fee for lifting a freeze. Fees vary depending on which state’s laws apply; typically they’re around $10.

An Equifax credit freeze can be a hassle for consumers who have to lift the freeze every time they want to use their credit reports. It can also prevent the consumer from applying for the type of on-the-spot credit offers that some retailers offer at their points of sale. Of course, these disadvantages would not be a problem for consumers who are not planning to apply for new credit anytime soon.

How to Request an Equifax Credit Freeze

Consumers can request an Equifax credit freeze by calling Equifax at 1-800-349-9960. Equifax has also set up an Equifax credit freeze website, but users have reported receiving multiple error messages when trying to set up a credit freeze.

Consumer advocates also recommend requesting a credit freeze from the other two major credit reporting agencies: Experian at 1‑888‑397‑3742, and TransUnion at 1-888-909-8872. A fourth and smaller agency named Innovis can be reached at 1-800-540-2505.