Cannot Contact Experian Credit Company

[rockydean]

I  am not able to get any help from the Experian Credit Monitoring company. I want to temporarily unfreeze my credit report so I can obtain a credit card. I am not able to login to their website - it says my user id or password is invalid. Their web site states I can have a text or phone call with a code sent to me. I tried by phone and did not get a call.  I got a text with a link to another website.  When I go to that website, it asks for my personal information.  When I enter what they requested, it says my information is invalid. I called the Experian help number 1-888-397-3742. I get a recording which is absolutely no help - your are directed to another website that also says my information is invalid.   I sent a certified letter 3 weeks ago to: Experian Customer Care, PO Box 9554, Allen TX 75013, explaining the problems.   Experian has not responded.

Has anyone else ran into these problems ?  Has anyone found a way to get around these problems ?

[GailL1]

Another suggestion comes from reddit responder - 

https://www.reddit.com/r/CreditScore/comments/grt94j/experian_frustrating_automated_customer_service... 

This is the Corporate contact # - Call 714-830-7000, then press 2 (pretending to be a business customer). Then explain you are stuck in automated loop with consumer help line and they will redirect your call.    This might take awhile but you get to a human.

This response was (3) months ago but others gave it a thumbs up since it worked for them.

[GailL1]

Experian does not use the PIN system anymore to unfreeze / refreeze your credit file.  You have to set up an account and then go from there to schedule a temporary thaw or remove the freeze altogether.

Just follow the directions here - after setting up an account.  Your answers to the questions in setting up the account have to agree with what is on your credit report.  They do this in order to verify that it is you.  The account is FREE if that is all that you are going to do with it - freeze / unfreeze your credit file.

EXPERIAN.com - Freeze or UNFreeze Your Credit File 

[rockydean]

I tried to create an account at Experian.  After entering all my information and pressing Enter, I get a screen that says:

"We encountered an internal server error.  Please note that your order has been cancelled.  Sorry about the inconvenience.  Call us toll free at 1-866-617-1894".

I am doing this on my desktop computer, using Microsoft Edge.  Would it make a difference to Use Google instead ?  Of course, I can never talk to a live person.  If I request Experian send me a text, I get one with a link that takes you to a sceen to reset my login information. When I enter the information, I get a message about the information being invalid.

I have tried everything I can think of to be able to get logged into Experian - I am at my wits end.

[GailL1]

@rockydean 

Here is the boglehead post on this same issue - try some of the things that were suggested by the poster - especially the ones that replied in April 2024.  

Boglehead.org- Experian - Cannot Create An Account . . . .  

I haven’t had any problems but I have an ExperianCreditLock Account which I use for free for (1) year.  

[rockydean]

I went to the link and see there are lots of  people having the same problems I am. 

This is totally unacceptable.  What does it take to get around this ?  Some government orginization needs to investigate Experian. But who ?

[Winter2024]

@rockydean , in my very humble opinion - zero will change in our lifetime.

NOT to get into your biz, but have you let the Credit Card Company KNOW what is going on?

MAYBE they will work something out with you.

Good Luck!!!

[Winter2024]

@rockydean , did you have any "issues" with the OTHER Credit Reporting Bureaus? I am old and forgetful, but remember one is TRANSUNION?

[rockydean]

I have not tried anything with TRANSUNION or EQUIFAX.  Been busy with the Experian problems.  But I did call EQUIFAX and was able to speak to a live human.

I told him the problems I was having with Experian - I could hear him laughing - like he has heard it before.   He could not help me and said I have to work with EXPERIAN.  That company (EXPERIAN) should not exist. I am 79 years old and have never experienced such a totally incompetent company.  It is like they are making it impossible to deal with them - perhaps that is on purpose..

[Winter2024]

Hi @rockydean , as I AGE (66 this year) I NO LONGER WASTE MY TIME on things or people I CANNOT CHANGE.

(1) Okay, Experian is a NO GO.

(2) Do you NEED Experian to get the Credit Card?

(3) Been YEARS since I applied for ANY CREDIT, but wouldn't EQUIFAX & TRANSUNION count?

(4) Not to be funny, as it is NOT!!! But maybe this Credit Card is NOT FOR YOU. I know this is UNACCEPTABLE, but it is what it is.

*** NO way to get HELP from EXPERIAN ***

Maybe CONTACT one of those CONSUMER HELP TV PROGRAMS or NEWSPAPERS.

Maybe they can FORCE EXPERIAN to help you.

[Winter2024]

Hi @rockydean , NO I have NOT and sorry to hear about your experience.

I am responding to caution you to please be VERY CAREFUL with ENTERING your PERSONAL INFO on these sites.

I am probably wrong and NOT AN EXPERT, but whatever DEVICE(s) you are using MAY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED.

Or the sites have stolen your PERSONAL INFO.

I hope not!!!

🦃  Happy Thanksgiving and be safe online.

[rockydean]

Thank you for the response.   Normally I would not have entered my personal information on a website.  I did not know any other way of trying to get in contact with Experian and I was trying everything.  I hope it does not come back to haunt me.  I will not do it again.