Credit Freeze during application process
 

If one sets a credit freeze on one's credit with any of the three bureaus, does one need to unfreeze the credit for the purpose of the background check when one applies to any airline?

I see many views but not one answer. I hope I am not confusing people with the question so maybe a little explanation is warranted.

One has the option of freezing one's credit with the three credit bureaus that monitor people's credit line; these are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. When one freezes self's credit line, no one can open a credit account or obtain a loan unless one unfreezes the credit line before the financial transaction takes places. A freeze prevents any financial institutions, employers who do credit background checks, and any criminals from inquiring (credit check) into one's credit score to open any account in ones name. It is a safety practice to guard one's credit. If the owner of the credit line desires to open a credit account or obtain a loan, the person can unfreeze it for a specified time and then the credit line freezes again.

What I am asking is if anyone who froze his/her credit had to unfreeze it during the application process and if so, for how long approximately? Anyone?

For a regional, I would be surprised if it made any difference whatsoever. For a major, anything that HR perceives as a deviation from the norm on a background check can only hurt you.

I guess it is safe to assume that during the whole application and interview process, the applicant should just unfreeze his/her credit line to allow the process to take place and once hired, refreeze the credit. Thank you for the response, Excargodog.

It seems you don’t really need to do it until you’ve actually been offered the job and accepted the job. I just went through a background check the other day and one of the instructions was to unfreeze your credit reports before proceeding, so I think you’re on the right track.

I’d only vaguely heard of it.
I need to look into that.
Thanks for the explanation.

I doubt anyone does a credit check BEFORE an interview.

I would just explain at the interview that your credit is frozen as a general anti-fraud precaution (many folks do this), and tell them you can unfreeze it if needed.

No issues.