Credit freeze & preordering iPhone 8 or X?

[thenobody]

After the Equifax hack and everywhere recommending to set a credit freeze at all three credit companies - which many many people will do -, will doing this prevent a preorder for for the new iphones from going through?
On payment plans like AT&T Next and Apple upgrade programs. They say they require credit approval.

What’s the recommendation here then?
For the likes of AT&T or Apple should there be a specific one of the agencies only that the freeze should not be put on.

If this is the an issue then I would think maybe a lot of affected people may see new iPhone service accounts setup up with their information by others.

This may unknowingly turn in to a big ordeal for a lot of people ...

 

[imalazeeass]

Yes, it will not work if you have a credit freeze. Time to pay cash!

 

[AllergyDoc]

Damn good question. We had fraud alert put on our accounts. If we choose to upgrade, I'm wondering if it create a hassle.

 

[thenobody]

Yeah, I was going to put the freezes on tomorrow but am thinking of getting the iPhone X. So guess I’ll see what chaos it causes on Fridays pre-launch and know better what to do for Oct 27.

Still would be concerned about lifting the freeze then to allow me in but leaving the door open too for the hackers to open accounts with my info at such a significant event

 

[EDH667]

I have had a credit freeze on all three credit bureaus for years and only lift it once or twice a year. When you unfreeze you can specify that only a certain company such as AT&T has access to your information.

 

[thenobody]

That’s good info. Thanks

 

[Travisimo]

AFAIK, a freeze will totally prevent anyone from approving credit without lifting the freeze. So you'd want to lift the freeze or specify and exception as described above.

A fraud alert, however, is handled a little different. In my experiencing, it requires additional authentication for approval, usually through a phone call. So it's an extra step that can definitely delay placement of your order, but it can still go through without lifting it.

AT&T Next doesn't need a credit approval if you are already an established postpaid customer (at least, it hasn't for me). If you are a new customer opening a new account, then yes it will require a credit check.

 

[Orien]

If you're on iUP already, Citizens One already has access to your credit reports even if they're frozen, so I wonder if you actually need to lift your freezes to stay on the Apple Upgrade Program.