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Most banks, including Chase and AMEX, pull from Experian in NY and NJ when you apply for a card. If they see too many pulls, they are more likely to decline your application. The goal is to have the bank look at a different credit report that doesn’t have as many pulls. This is basically done by putting a security block, or “freeze” your Experian (or other hard hit reports) account. That way, banks are blocked from seeing it.

That can be done here:
Equifax
Experian
TransUnion

Obviously, you will not get instant approval and will have to call recon and ask them nicely to pull from a different bureau. Some banks will decline to do so and will require you to give them the pin# you set up when you froze the credit report so they can pull it. When you do call up, make sure you have a good reason for having your report frozen. Tell them there is some incorrect info on your experian credit report and that you don't want to unfreeze it until it gets corrected. DO NOT say that there was a fraud alert so you froze it!!!! This will cause them to freeze your application.

CHASE:
Personal- many have reported success in freezing experian and having apps approved. There are recent reports of this not working anymore and customer service requiring the pin to unlock your report so this may require lots of HUCA. One DDFer reports 15 HUCAs (3/19/14) and no luck. It may be dead  :(
If you plan on doing a chase 2BM, you might want to call and get both approved in the same call as to avoid multiple pulls. Alternatively, you can just unfreeze it before a 2/3BM.
AsherO reports that he had them pull equifax and they pulled transunion 2 days later as well. The best way to avoid a double-pull, is to freeze both Experian + another bureau and have them pull the third.

Business- There is limited reported success getting chase business reps to pull anything other than experian. Only one DDFer reports success and even he admits it was a real pain and lot and lots of HUCA-ing.

AMEX:
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work at all for AMEX. They will require your pin so they can pull Experian.

CITI:
In NY, Citi pulls from either Equifax or Experian or both. So by freezing experian, you can get them to pull just equifax thus preventing the dreaded double pull. (Many Ddfers have reported that Citi will no longer pull from another report once the original pull has been made).

A few side notes:
Freezing your report will automatically opt you out from pre-approved offers. Churners like those so you might want to opt back in.
If you have accounts with a bank they can still do a soft pull on your frozen credit report.
If you open a new account, it will get reported to the frozen credit report. The report just won’t show a hard pull.       

« Last edited by Yehuda25 on March 25, 2014, 10:01:00 PM »

Author Topic: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score  (Read 155432 times)

Offline green

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #380 on: January 21, 2014, 02:58:59 AM »
I applied for a citi cc in NY. I froze experian and got excepted right away. Apparently, they pulled from equifax.

Offline tuvz

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #381 on: January 23, 2014, 10:42:08 PM »
I applied for a citi cc in NY. I froze experian and got excepted right away. Apparently, they pulled from equifax.

Recently?

Offline ari2955

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #382 on: January 23, 2014, 11:18:31 PM »
I applied for a citi cc in NY. I froze experian and got excepted right away. Apparently, they pulled from equifax.
Had the same experience 2 weeks ago

Offline tuvz

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #383 on: January 23, 2014, 11:52:37 PM »
Had the same experience 2 weeks ago

personal or business?

Offline ari2955

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #384 on: January 24, 2014, 12:37:49 AM »

Offline jj1000

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #385 on: January 28, 2014, 03:30:30 PM »
This thread needs a wiki.
See my 5 step program to your left <--

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Offline Emkay

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #386 on: January 28, 2014, 03:36:27 PM »
This thread needs a wiki.
I hear your good at those things:)

Offline jj1000

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #387 on: January 28, 2014, 03:52:16 PM »
I hear your good at those things:)
Ya, but this is my first time opening this thread. Someone who's been here longer could do it a whole lot easier.
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Offline wonderlust

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #388 on: February 05, 2014, 07:04:36 PM »
i did citi with frozen ex  and got them to do personal (plat) thru huca from eq. buiz they wouldnt do. got chase to pull from tu for 2 ink cards.

Offline smaxber

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #389 on: February 05, 2014, 07:42:46 PM »
i did citi with frozen ex  and got them to do personal (plat) thru huca from eq. buiz they wouldnt do. got chase to pull from tu for 2 ink cards.
NY?

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #390 on: February 05, 2014, 07:55:46 PM »

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #391 on: February 05, 2014, 07:56:23 PM »
anyone know of good link for bumpage on tu or eq? cant seem to navigate credit boards

Offline kivabb

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #392 on: February 05, 2014, 09:30:24 PM »
I froze Experian in NJ and when I called with reference number they told me I need to remove freeze...that they can only pull Experian. HUCA?

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #393 on: February 05, 2014, 10:08:45 PM »
I froze Experian in NJ and when I called with reference number they told me I need to remove freeze...that they can only pull Experian. HUCA?
With Amex I think waste with chase & citi pers can b done

Offline kivabb

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #394 on: February 06, 2014, 11:40:36 AM »
With Amex I think waste with chase & citi pers can b done

Chase and Citi both told me no this month in NJ

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #395 on: February 06, 2014, 04:26:19 PM »
Chase and Citi both told me no this month in NJ

chase got them 2nd time citi is real pain bunch of hucas..

Offline Redbull3

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #396 on: February 14, 2014, 09:45:51 AM »

Offline @jack123

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #397 on: February 22, 2014, 09:16:12 PM »
+1

Offline aradisc

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #398 on: February 22, 2014, 09:33:52 PM »
In MD, Chase had been pulling both EXP and EQI. Froze EXP because it was also what amex and citi were using. Applied for a new Chase card and it went through fine w/ recon just pulling EQI.

Offline Joe4007

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #399 on: February 23, 2014, 12:04:05 PM »
I was unable to place a freeze online, but was successful over their automated phone system. Anyone else?