What to Know about Locking Your Credit Report

Did you know that you can lock your credit report? It’s a great way to keep your identity safe from thieves. Learn more about how it works in this useful clean credit article…!

Lenders use your credit score to assess your borrowing capacity and the prospect of making payments on debts. As personal data breaches and hacking grow more common, should you be locking down your credit report as a means of protection against identity theft and fraud?

The recent Optus hack was a harsh wake-up call that your personal information is always vulnerable to theft in the digital age. The customer network of Optus includes almost 10 million Australians.

In response to the cyberattack Optus offered the “most affected current and former customers”, whose information was compromised, a 12-month Equifax Protect package at no cost. Equifax

When it comes to identity theft, having credit monitoring and protection is a must. If you believe your personal information has been stolen, you may ask Equifax to place a fraud alert on your credit report. This will prevent financial institutions from looking at your credit report when conducting a credit check.

If you place a ban with each credit reporting body in Australia, including Equifax, Expirian and Illion, none of the credit providers will be able to see your information. It is crucial to inform all three companies if you’re planning on doing this so that they are aware.

It’s worth considering the consequences of restricting access to your credit report. While locking your report might prevent someone from using your name to obtain credit, it isn’t always a guarantee option. Searching your report for unusual activity may be prevented by locking your score.

If you want to apply for a finance application, like applying for a loan or line of credit, or even a phone plan, you’ll need to remember to remove the lock. It might take a few days for your credit report to be unlocked.

Personal data is more vulnerable than ever before, so it’s critical to be vigilant about who has access to your information and how secure it is. Never give out personal details to strangers or people you don’t know well. And always confirm the legitimacy of any organization that asks for your info–this includes social media platforms, banks, phone networks, utility companies, mobile apps, etc.

We hope this clean credit article was useful in helping you understand more about locking your credit report. It’s important to be aware of the benefits and disadvantages of locking your credit report before making a decision.

Our clean credit experts are here to help you every step of the way, so don’t hesitate to reach out for clean credit assistance. Let us help you take control of your financial future and achieve all of your goals!