I e-mailed Debix for information and this was their reply:
"Debix does not place a "credit freeze" on your credit file. Debix service does not prevent your credit file from being obtained; it will only prevent new credit lines from being opened without your consent. A fraud alert requires the creditor take additional steps to verify your identity. One step is to obtain your permission via your Debix safe number."
So it turns out the cnet article was inaccurate. Debix places a fraud alert on your file rather than a credit freeze, thus avoiding a lifting fee each time your file is requested.
Furthermore, while self-evident but nevertheless bears repeating, Debix only protects against new fraudulent credit lines. Any fraudulent accounts established before signing up with Debix won't be detected.
2 comments:
Not bad, but I worry if that credit freeze on there will make banks and other creditors think you have bad credit--possibly denying you the best interest rates or loan applications because of the extra hoops they need to jump through.
Is it not enough to make sure you shred all your personal information and use safe credit/debit card practices?
That's a good point. I don't know whether a fraud alert would affect your credit rating.
Shredding and stuff if about as much as you can do as an individual. But it doesn't help if 3rd parties are careless. In the U.S. at least (and the U.K. recently lost the personal details of 25 *million* people) there have been several recent cases where thousands of credit and personal information has been mislaid or stolen.
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