You froze the big three — but what about Innovis? This fourth consumer reporting company holds a credit file on many Americans, and lenders do pull it. Here is what to know before you freeze it.
First, confirm Innovis has a file on you. Like the big three, Innovis provides a free annual report on request. Pull it and review it for unfamiliar accounts, just as you would an Equifax or TransUnion report.
Innovis offers a security freeze, and like freezes at the major bureaus, it is free. A freeze restricts access to your Innovis file so most new creditors cannot pull it — closing a gap that thieves could otherwise exploit.
The process may feel old-fashioned. Innovis freeze requests are often handled online but can require mailed documentation for identity verification. Gather a government ID and proof of address before you start, and keep copies of everything you submit.
Save your Innovis PIN or credentials separately from your big-three PINs. When you later apply for credit, ask the lender which bureaus they pull — if Innovis is on the list, you will need to lift that freeze too.
A freeze at Innovis does not affect your credit scores, does not delete anything from your file, and does not stop you from accessing your own report. It does the same job as the other freezes: blocking new-account fraud.
Think of it as completing the set. Three freezes cover the bureaus everyone knows; the Innovis freeze covers the one most people forget. Full coverage means fewer surprises.
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