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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 153650 times)

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #460 on: December 07, 2014, 09:33:22 PM »
if you unfreeze and freeze again it will not take affect untill the next day
Thank you. I am inferring that the initial freeze will be immediate though.

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #461 on: February 26, 2015, 03:15:10 PM »
Just came across this thread. Not saying I won't ever have any questions about this but this is one of the best Wiki's I have ever read within the CC board (so far).
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Offline ushdadude

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #462 on: February 26, 2015, 08:28:47 PM »
This thread needs a wiki.

Done :)

Feel free to edit

Just came across this thread. Not saying I won't ever have any questions about this but this is one of the best Wiki's I have ever read within the CC board (so far).

Thanks! ;D

Offline telflonmail

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #463 on: February 27, 2015, 02:30:52 PM »
BOA yanked my Experian. It's just freezing outside.  8)

Offline D93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #464 on: March 29, 2015, 03:07:03 PM »
Citi pulls EX by me (PA), i want to freeze my EX and get them to pull my EQ, anyone have any luck with getting Citi to pull a different bureau recently?

Offline Hellokitty64

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #465 on: April 07, 2015, 03:02:39 PM »
Can banks that you already have cards with pull your credit without the pin if your report is frozen? I had how rep from experian tell me that over the phone

Offline telflonmail

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #466 on: April 07, 2015, 03:56:31 PM »
They can do a soft pull - not a hard pull

Offline Hellokitty64

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #467 on: April 07, 2015, 04:06:12 PM »
So the rep had no clue what he was talking about?

Offline rileywiles23

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #468 on: April 07, 2015, 04:23:43 PM »

So the rep had no clue what he was talking about?
he's not the first rep, who has no clue what he's talking about, and he won't be the last.
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Offline jameswacht

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #469 on: May 16, 2015, 10:52:17 PM »
I currently have 12 inquires on my experian report. I would like to apply for some chase cards and boa cards. will it enhance my chance of approval if I freeze my experian? will chase be willing to pull from EQ or TU?

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #470 on: May 17, 2015, 07:30:48 AM »
I currently have 12 inquires on my experian report. I would like to apply for some chase cards and boa cards. will it enhance my chance of approval if I freeze my experian? will chase be willing to pull from EQ or TU?
much harder these days but try your luck and if not the first time huca

Offline D93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #471 on: June 25, 2015, 02:36:21 PM »
Is it possible to freeze my EX over the phone or only online? If yes, is there a phone number to call that a live rep actually answers?

Offline rileywiles23

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Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #472 on: June 25, 2015, 02:40:41 PM »
Is it possible to freeze my EX over the phone or only online? If yes, is there a phone number to call that a live rep actually answers?
yes you can. I found the number 714-830-7000
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Offline D93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #473 on: June 25, 2015, 02:47:41 PM »
yes you can. I found the number 714-830-7000
Thanks

Offline D93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #474 on: August 18, 2015, 08:19:33 AM »
I just unfroze my EX over the automated phone system, the message said it takes 3 days. True?

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #475 on: August 18, 2015, 09:05:19 AM »
I just unfroze my EX over the automated phone system, the message said it takes 3 days. True?

"To be safe, we recommend you allow up to three days for your credit history to be thawed."

Sounds like it could be sooner.
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Offline D93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #476 on: August 18, 2015, 12:27:19 PM »
"To be safe, we recommend you allow up to three days for your credit history to be thawed."

Sounds like it could be sooner.
Turns out it was instantly.

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #477 on: August 18, 2015, 12:31:34 PM »

Turns out it was instantly.

Nice! Ex pulls, here we come!
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Offline compddd

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #478 on: August 19, 2015, 03:09:51 PM »
Anyone know if BofA will still pull TU if you freeze your EX?

Offline rileywiles23

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #479 on: August 19, 2015, 04:18:56 PM »

Anyone know if BofA will still pull TU if you freeze your EX?
Yes, just ask the recon rep.
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