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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 154801 times)

Offline compddd

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #480 on: September 10, 2015, 03:30:40 PM »
Freezing doesn't work for Amex and Citi correct?

Offline nobiggy

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #481 on: September 10, 2015, 03:58:27 PM »
Freezing doesn't work for Amex and Citi correct?
Amex -  correct.
Citi - depends where they usually pull from.

Offline compddd

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #482 on: September 10, 2015, 04:27:00 PM »
EX in California so no dice then.

Thanks :)

Offline MosheD

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #483 on: October 19, 2015, 12:24:54 PM »
How long does a freeze take to go into effect. I just got 2 amex now want to freeze so Bofa pulls from equafax, but needs to be done today for AOR. possible?

Offline D93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #484 on: October 19, 2015, 12:31:11 PM »
How long does a freeze take to go into effect.
Immediately.
Quote
I just got 2 amex now want to freeze so Bofa pulls from equafax, but needs to be done today for AOR. possible?
Why does it have to be done today? What's the benefit of a same day "AOR"?

Offline MosheD

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #485 on: October 19, 2015, 12:33:18 PM »
Immediately. Why does it have to be done today? What's the benefit of a same day "AOR"?
Other bank doesn't see other cards I applied for...
Cmiiw

Offline D93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #486 on: October 19, 2015, 12:37:11 PM »
Other bank doesn't see other cards I applied for...
Cmiiw
Doesn't need to be same day for that, new cards don't show up instantly.

Offline MosheD

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #487 on: October 19, 2015, 12:38:11 PM »
Doesn't need to be same day for that, new cards don't show up instantly.
Oh well. Freeze applied, may as well go for it.
How long do I have?

Offline D93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #488 on: October 19, 2015, 12:39:01 PM »
Oh well. Freeze applied, may as well go for it.
How long do I have?
Every bank is different.

Offline MosheD

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #489 on: October 19, 2015, 12:40:36 PM »

Offline D93

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #490 on: October 19, 2015, 01:56:17 PM »
Amex?
Usually after the first statement.

Offline MosheD

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #491 on: October 21, 2015, 04:26:33 PM »
So getting nowhwere with Citi/chase while having EX/TU frozen. (Chase wants TU, Citi EX [OH])
If i temp unfreeze can I apply again and hope for instant or will it come up as duplicate?

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #492 on: October 21, 2015, 04:32:04 PM »
So getting nowhwere with Citi/chase while having EX/TU frozen. (Chase wants TU, Citi EX [OH])
If i temp unfreeze can I apply again and hope for instant or will it come up as duplicate?

Why not just give Citi/Chase the pins and have them look at TU/EX?
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Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #493 on: November 13, 2015, 11:05:05 AM »
Anyway to check if my EX is currently frozen or not if I am not 100% sure without calling?
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Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #494 on: November 13, 2015, 12:00:19 PM »
Anyway to check if my EX is currently frozen or not if I am not 100% sure without calling?

Tried adding another freeze online and after submitting it, it notified me that there is already an existing freeze on the account. Problem solved.
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Offline Yhgfkj

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #495 on: November 15, 2015, 12:54:15 AM »
Anyway to check if my EX is currently frozen or not if I am not 100% sure without calling?
you sould see it on your report at
Your personal statements>FILE FROZEN DUE TO STATE LEGISLATION.



Offline Scmcodes

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #496 on: November 17, 2015, 05:34:55 PM »
do pulls fall off over time?

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #497 on: November 17, 2015, 05:36:43 PM »
do pulls fall off over time?

Pulls fall off after 2 years.
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Offline yehuda645

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Citi travel credit
« Reply #498 on: November 23, 2015, 08:16:33 PM »
Does pggm work with the citi travel credit?

Offline David Smith

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Re: Credit Freeze to Improve Your Experian Score
« Reply #499 on: November 23, 2015, 08:19:20 PM »
Does pggm work with the citi travel credit?
A) wrong thread
B) you asked this already, please don't crosspost
C) someone answered you
D) Welcome to the forums. We can be harshly straightforward about what we think. Don't take it personally.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2015, 08:33:50 PM by David Smith »
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
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