If you are one of the millions of Americans that have frozen your credit profile as a method of fraud protection against identity theft, you may have to wait a while longer to thaw things out.
One of the big three credit reporting agencies - Equifax - is still reeling from a system-wide computer failure that occurred over the weekend.
According to spokesman Tim Kline, Equifax experienced a power outage on Sunday as a result of an electric transformer failure that crashed many internal systems.
According to Kline, the company was in the final steps of bringing its remaining systems online.
"We still have some platforms we're bringing up, including those that allow people to unfreeze and freeze their credit, and place fraud alerts," Kline said.
"Service is operational for virtually all of our customers and this is last area we need to resolve.
" Days after the power outage, it appears that the only systems still inoperable are those that do not earn Equifax any revenue but are required by law in dozens of states throughout the country.
These systems include those that are responsible for handling initial fraud alerts, extended fraud victim statements, active duty military alerts, and credit freezes.
I called Equifax's toll-free line for placing and lifting fraud alerts yesterday and was told to call back today.
When I called today and asked for an explanation, my call was placed on hold for forty-eight minutes.
Growing tired of the wait, I hung up to try another day.
While Equifax is "working" to "fix the problem" created by the power outage, individuals who wish to place a fraud alert can still do so by calling one of the two other major credit agencies.
Trans Union can be contacted at (800) 680-7289 while Experian can be contacted at (888) 397-3742.
As required by the FACTA provisions within the Fair Credit Reporting Act, if you place a initial fraud alert or active duty military alert at one credit reporting agency, said agency is required to alert the remaining two on your behalf.
One of the big three credit reporting agencies - Equifax - is still reeling from a system-wide computer failure that occurred over the weekend.
According to spokesman Tim Kline, Equifax experienced a power outage on Sunday as a result of an electric transformer failure that crashed many internal systems.
According to Kline, the company was in the final steps of bringing its remaining systems online.
"We still have some platforms we're bringing up, including those that allow people to unfreeze and freeze their credit, and place fraud alerts," Kline said.
"Service is operational for virtually all of our customers and this is last area we need to resolve.
" Days after the power outage, it appears that the only systems still inoperable are those that do not earn Equifax any revenue but are required by law in dozens of states throughout the country.
These systems include those that are responsible for handling initial fraud alerts, extended fraud victim statements, active duty military alerts, and credit freezes.
I called Equifax's toll-free line for placing and lifting fraud alerts yesterday and was told to call back today.
When I called today and asked for an explanation, my call was placed on hold for forty-eight minutes.
Growing tired of the wait, I hung up to try another day.
While Equifax is "working" to "fix the problem" created by the power outage, individuals who wish to place a fraud alert can still do so by calling one of the two other major credit agencies.
Trans Union can be contacted at (800) 680-7289 while Experian can be contacted at (888) 397-3742.
As required by the FACTA provisions within the Fair Credit Reporting Act, if you place a initial fraud alert or active duty military alert at one credit reporting agency, said agency is required to alert the remaining two on your behalf.
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