# Short and long term consequences of the Equifax breach? And what are you personally doing about it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351 "2017-09-14T23:07:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/1 "2017-09-14T23:07:53Z")
Is this a bump in the road, or will there need to be a massive overhaul of the credit and identification system in this country? Or will the credit and retail industries just sit back on the status quo let the consumer keep paying for all future breaches? And what are you doing with your accounts? ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/2 "2017-09-14T23:48:46Z")
I am personally not doing anything about it. A few years ago there were several breaches that affected my cards. I knew this because the issuer of those cards sent me a notice, and then sent me new cards. About four times in a two-month, as I recall (things kept getting worse). I assume if there was some serious threat here they would do it again, since they haven’t been shy of it in the past. Now I’m not sure what the difference is. Or how they decided this. If I see a bunch of unexplained stuff, then I’ll know I was wrong, but meanwhile I have no idea what I even could do. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/3 "2017-09-15T00:20:29Z")
I have applied a credit freeze with the 3 credit reporting agencies. That cost 20 bucks and about a half hour of phone time. USA Today says there is a 4th agency, Innovis, and I haven’t contacted them. I started a GQ thread about that, but so far no one’s replied. You always hear about the 3 reporting agencies, and not that 4th one. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/4 "2017-09-15T10:43:02Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Or will the credit and retail industries just sit back on the status quo let the consumer keep paying for all future breaches? Yes. The whores in congress will continue to dance for their corporate johns. Nothing will change. > [@Leaper](#): > > And what are you doing with your accounts? Credit freeze at all three agencies, multiple ID watch/warning apps (these were in place before the breach). ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/5 "2017-09-15T13:14:28Z")
I have successfully frozen my Equifax and Transunion data. I had to send a letter to Experian, and I am awaiting confirmation from Linnovis. This is NOT the same as previous breaches. Equifax exposed everything a fraudster would need to open new credit accounts in 140 million names. Our initial protection is that each of us is one in 140 million. Longer term, I think freezing our accounts at the bureaus is wise, if inconvenient. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/6 "2017-09-15T13:25:14Z")
If the entire population freezes their credit, it might spur the regulators into action to reform the current model, in which your highly insecure SSNO is treated as though it were a secure password. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/7 "2017-09-15T14:08:57Z")
I got free credit monitoring through that OPM thing a couple years ago. I think that’s good through the end of 2018. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/8 "2017-09-15T14:16:02Z")
I believe that would be the equivalent of an alert telling that you got robbed, where a freeze might tell you that a robbery was attempted. I think. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/9 "2017-09-15T14:49:01Z")
I froze TransUnion and Innovis. Experian said “We couldn’t find that page.” :smack: Thanks for nothing! Equifax is also bullshitting me with “We are currently unable to service your request. Please try again later.” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/10 "2017-09-15T15:28:48Z")
I’m going to freeze my credit next week some time. I’ve been too busy to deal with it yet. I also have to do it for my parents, which will take a little longer. None of us need any new lines of credit any time soon, so it’s a good move. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/11 "2017-09-15T15:38:06Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Is this a bump in the road, or will there need to be a massive overhaul of the credit and identification system in this country? Or will the credit and retail industries just sit back on the status quo let the consumer keep paying for all future breaches? The credit industry isn’t going to do anything they aren’t forced to do by Congress which is currently too mired in its own incompetence to get anything done except look stern. > [@](#): > > And what are you doing with your accounts? I put a freeze on my credit with all three agencies. Didn’t have to pay a dime since I was one of the ones whose information was stolen. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/12 "2017-09-15T15:50:46Z")
I have free credit monitoring through another company. I can access my information from my credit reports at any time via their app. I’ll just pull it up a little more often. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/13 "2017-09-15T15:57:44Z")
I’m not doing anything but my regular monthly credit reports I get from my CC company and my free annual credit report. Well, besides paying attention to the charges on my CC to see if anything shows up that I didn’t spend, in which case I will immediately report it and get a new card. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/14 "2017-09-15T18:54:09Z")
I have attempted to freeze my credit accounts as well as those of my wife. You can read about my misadventures here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20473643&posted=1#post20473643](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20473643&posted=1#post20473643) I couldn’t imagine not doing it at this point since anyone can have my SSN and all other data within my Equifax report. Free credit monitoring will let you know after something has happened and then you’ll still have to go through the process of trying to correct it. Freezing your credit should stop things from happening…in theory. Let’s see if these dimwitted POS companies can get even that right. Doubtful. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/15 "2017-09-15T21:11:28Z")
One option is to default on all our loans … make stealing our identity a liability … ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/16 "2017-09-15T22:09:46Z")
I’m livid and indignant and will IMMEDIATELY withdraw all business from them. Oh, wait, I have no business with them. I’m not their customer, I’m their commodity. So I imagine I’m as screwed as the law will allow. Which is “pretty screwed”. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/17 "2017-09-16T03:36:42Z")
Nothing at all. I have a credit monitoring with all three bureaus from the another incident. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/18 "2017-09-16T18:18:14Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I froze TransUnion and Innovis. > > Experian said “We couldn’t find that page.” :smack: Thanks for nothing! > > Equifax is also bullshitting me with “We are currently unable to service your request. Please try again later.” I “tried again later” a couple of times and managed to place a freeze with Equifax for my wife and me (separate transactions). For Experian, I got to a page with info on how to do it by mail after failing to accomplish anything on [this page](https://www.experian.com/ncaconline/freeze). Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/19 "2017-09-16T18:46:25Z")
Here’s a very powerful article from Bloomberg about the Hell of identity theft. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-13/my-three-years-in-identity-theft-hell](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-13/my-three-years-in-identity-theft-hell) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351/20 "2017-09-16T18:52:13Z")
For anyone interested, initiating a freeze over the phone really “only” took me about a half an hour total for all 4. I was disconnected once from Equifax and had to call back, but that was the only hiccup. (That and the $20 total I had to spend. I bet if millions of Americans spend that, it really adds up!) I called: Equifax…1-800-349-9960 Experian…1-888-397-3742 Transunion…1-888-909-8872 Innovis…1-800-540-2505 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-and-long-term-consequences-of-the-equifax-breach-and-what-are-you-personally-doing-about-it/796351.md?page=2)