Equifax Calls for Free Credit Locks. Experian’s Reply? Nope.<br />Locks and freezes only work, however, if you block access to your files at all three bureaus, which you have to do separately; if you only close off access to your Equifax<br />file, someone might use information from the Equifax breach or some other data theft to open a credit card in your name at a bank that only checks an Experian report.<br />“We are looking at broader solutions that can help consumers effectively and securely operate in the credit economy,<br />but it shouldn’t be done based on crisis-mode responses from Equifax,” Michael Troncale, an Experian spokesman, said in an emailed statement.<br />“We will continue to review this issue in light of the other alternatives available and engage with consumers and other stakeholders to ensure consumer-centric solutions are available<br />that enable consumers to be safe in the credit economy,” it said in its statement.<br />“The arbitration agreement helps us to provide TrueIdentity to consumers at no charge,” said David Blumberg, a company spokesman, in a statement.<br />“I would encourage TransUnion and Experian to do the same,” he said, referring to Equifax’s primary competitors.
