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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 154811 times)

Offline aradisc

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #440 on: August 10, 2014, 11:17:53 AM »
Did you have to call them, or apps just went through?

With Experian frozen, Chase will automatically just pull Equifax (if you are in one of the places where they normally pull both), but you still have to call.

I do not get auto-approved. When I call recon, I am redirected to an anti-fraud specialist line (which has more limited hours than usual recon). They ask a few questions to verify my identity then approve the card right away. They do not mention the Experian freeze. But what I think is happening is the fact that they attempted to pull with a certain bureau and it came back "frozen" automatically flags the application and requires a short verification with the anti-fraud dept. This is actually a good thing, in the grand scheme of things, as an anti-fraud measure. You should not have any problems if you are otherwise qualified for auto-approval. I am unsure what exactly the anti-fraud dept. looks at and whether it would be a problem for a 2/3BM.

Offline Boruch999

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #441 on: August 10, 2014, 11:56:32 AM »
With Experian frozen, Chase will automatically just pull Equifax (if you are in one of the places where they normally pull both), but you still have to call.

I do not get auto-approved. When I call recon, I am redirected to an anti-fraud specialist line (which has more limited hours than usual recon). They ask a few questions to verify my identity then approve the card right away. They do not mention the Experian freeze. But what I think is happening is the fact that they attempted to pull with a certain bureau and it came back "frozen" automatically flags the application and requires a short verification with the anti-fraud dept. This is actually a good thing, in the grand scheme of things, as an anti-fraud measure. You should not have any problems if you are otherwise qualified for auto-approval. I am unsure what exactly the anti-fraud dept. looks at and whether it would be a problem for a 2/3BM.

Thanks.

Can anyone confirm if the above would affect effectiveness of 2/3BM?

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #442 on: August 10, 2014, 12:25:39 PM »
Thanks.

Can anyone confirm if the above would affect effectiveness of 2/3BM?

it definitely can because you won't get instant approval and will have to explain yourself to rep

Offline rivkao

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #443 on: September 02, 2014, 12:19:21 AM »
How do I unfreeze my experian score? I lost my pin

Offline rivkao

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #444 on: September 02, 2014, 01:03:54 AM »
Did a 2 BM with Amex and pending cuz of frozen experian. I lost my pin what do I do? Will they pull from somewhere else? I had a Plat 150k offer that'll expire soon so gotta do it quick? Any advice?

Offline ari2955

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #445 on: September 02, 2014, 02:37:11 AM »
Did a 2 BM with Amex and pending cuz of frozen experian. I lost my pin what do I do? Will they pull from somewhere else? I had a Plat 150k offer that'll expire soon so gotta do it quick? Any advice?
I doubt Amex will go ahead without lifting of the freeze.
Experian has a workaround for this, I don't remember what or how long it'll take.. call them.

Offline mawmaw

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #446 on: September 02, 2014, 01:40:39 PM »
I doubt Amex will go ahead without lifting of the freeze.
Experian has a workaround for this, I don't remember what or how long it'll take.. call them.
+1 should be able to do it over the phone sorry i don't have the number 

Offline compddd

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #447 on: September 02, 2014, 02:16:31 PM »
does Barclay pull TU in all states?

Offline joew

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #448 on: November 08, 2014, 10:13:28 PM »
you could look up your pin on experian.com just click on I DONT HAVE MY PIN

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #449 on: December 07, 2014, 11:15:38 AM »
Does a freeze work immediately?
I want to do AOR next week.  Amex first,  then freeze report and do BOA and Barclays. Can this work?

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #450 on: December 07, 2014, 11:27:22 AM »
Does a freeze work immediately?
I want to do AOR next week.  Amex first,  then freeze report and do BOA and Barclays. Can this work?
Ime, they won't see other banks pulls that day, but according to cm they will, so who knows. Also if your in NY, amex is experian and barclays is tu, so regardless Barclay won't see the amex pulls
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Offline shmebeble

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #451 on: December 07, 2014, 11:35:19 AM »
Ime, they won't see other banks pulls that day, but according to cm they will, so who knows. Also if your in NY, amex is experian and barclays is tu, so regardless Barclay won't see the amex pulls
Thanks
I just don't want BOA to pull experian,  I have enough pulls euth them already.  I know they sometimes pull twice. 

Offline Novo

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #452 on: December 07, 2014, 11:59:15 AM »
Ime, they won't see other banks pulls that day, but according to cm they will, so who knows. Also if your in NY, amex is experian and barclays is tu, so regardless Barclay won't see the amex pulls
I don't know what a creditor sees but I once checked my report 15-30 minutes after applying and the new pulls were there.
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Offline mawmaw

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #453 on: December 07, 2014, 04:14:55 PM »
 IME pulls show right after applying and Barclay will pull EX if there is a limited credit history or any other reason thy see so its like 95% thy will pull TU from NY and NJ
« Last Edit: December 07, 2014, 04:18:59 PM by mawmaw »

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #454 on: December 07, 2014, 04:38:13 PM »
I don't know what a creditor sees but I once checked my report 15-30 minutes after applying and the new pulls were there.

IME pulls show right after applying and Barclay will pull EX if there is a limited credit history or any other reason thy see so its like 95% thy will pull TU from NY and NJ
Then what's the point of AOR?
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Offline mawmaw

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #455 on: December 07, 2014, 04:57:23 PM »
Then what's the point of AOR?
AFAIK there is a theory that if you submit all apps at once no bank can see the other one? YMMV

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #456 on: December 07, 2014, 05:08:47 PM »
AFAIK there is a theory that if you submit all apps at once no bank can see the other one? YMMV
I thought AOR could be done anytime during the same day
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Offline mawmaw

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #457 on: December 07, 2014, 05:18:19 PM »
I thought AOR could be done anytime during the same day
it was always recommended to submit your most important cards/bank first especially when it comes to us bank apps   

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #458 on: December 07, 2014, 07:24:14 PM »
My first question: is the freeze effective immediately, or is there a delay?

Offline mawmaw

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #459 on: December 07, 2014, 07:55:34 PM »
My first question: is the freeze effective immediately, or is there a delay?
if you unfreeze and freeze again it will not take affect untill the next day