Multi-bureau credit file freeze and unfreeze

• US 9,489,694 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Experian Information Solutions Incorporated (Experian plc)
• Original Assignee: Experian Information Solutions Incorporated (Experian plc)
• Inventors: Haller, Eric, Kent, Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): OJIAKU, CHIKAODINAKA
• Application Number:
  US15/015,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20160155196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein allow consumers to lock or unlock their credit files at multiple credit bureaus in real-time or near real-time. The service may allow a consumer to provide identifying information, such as a personal identifier to lock or unlock credit files at a plurality of credit bureaus over a network. Upon receiving the personal identifier, the system may use the personal identifier to translate the identifier into a plurality of access codes for respective credit bureaus, for example by accessing a data structure, such as a database or table, that stores a personal identifier and access codes that are associated with a consumer. The system may then use the access codes to automatically initiate locking or unlocking of credit files for the consumer at the respective credit bureaus.

Claims

1. A computer system configured to manage access of credit data of a user at each of a plurality of credit bureaus, wherein the credit data of the user is locked at the plurality of credit bureaus such that the credit data cannot be accessed without prior authorization from the user, the computer system comprising:

a server including;

one or more hardware processors;

a credit file access component configured for execution by the one or more hardware processors to access credit files stored remotely at multiple credit bureaus; and

a storage device storing;

personal identifiers for a corresponding plurality of users; and

for each personal identifier, at least a first access code associated with a first of the multiple credit bureaus and a second access code associated with a second of the multiple credit bureaus; and

a computing device, remotely located from the server, the computing device including;

an input device configured to receive personal identifiers from users; and

a communication interface configured to allow the computing device to communicate personal identifiers provided via the input device by respective users to the server;

wherein the server is configured to, in response to receiving, from the computing device, a first personal identifier of a first user, automatically perform in substantially real time;

identifying a first access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;

transmitting the first access code to a first credit bureau with a first access request for the first credit bureau to provide access to first credit data of the user;

identifying a second access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;

transmitting the second access code to a second credit bureau with a second access request for the second credit bureau to provide immediate access to second credit data of the user;

receiving at least one of the first credit data from the first credit bureau and the second credit data from the second credit bureau;

transmitting at least a portion of the received at least one of the first credit data and the second credit data in substantially real time.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to request locking of the first credit data of the user at the first credit bureau when a predetermined time period from receiving the first credit data has passed.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to request locking of the first credit data of the user at the first credit bureau immediately after the first credit bureau transmits the first credit data to the server.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises at least one of:

a mobile device, a keypad, a card reader, a point of sale terminal, or a biometric data reader.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the personal identifiers comprise at least one of:

a name, an address, a phone number, a date of birth, a maiden name, a social security number, an account number, a driver'"'"'s license number, a password, an RFID tag, an RFID token, biometric data, and a personal identification number.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the personal identification number comprises a sequence of numerals.

7. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the personal identification number comprises a sequence of alphanumeric characters.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to receive, from the computing device, an identification of a single third party.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the server is further configured to, in response to receiving, from the computing device, the first personal identifier of the first user and the identification of the single third party, automatically perform in substantially real time:

transmitting the first access code to a first credit bureau with a first access request for the first credit bureau to provide access to first credit data of the user to the single third party;

transmitting the second access code to a second credit bureau with a second access request for the second credit bureau to provide immediate access to second credit data of the user to the single third party;

transmitting at least a portion of the received at least one of the first credit data and the second credit data to only the single third party in substantially real time.

10. A computerized method of managing access of credit data of a user at each of a plurality of credit bureaus, wherein the credit data of the user is locked at the plurality of credit bureaus such that the credit data cannot be accessed without prior authorization from the user, the computerized method comprising:

coordinating communication between;

a server including;

one or more hardware processors;

a credit file access component configured for execution by the one or more hardware processors to access credit files stored remotely at multiple credit bureaus;

a storage device storing;

personal identifiers for a corresponding plurality of users; and

for each personal identifier, at least a first access code associated with a first of the multiple credit bureaus and a second access code associated with a second of the multiple credit bureaus; and

a computing device, remotely located from the server, the computing device including;

an input device configured to receive personal identifiers from users; and

a communication interface configured to allow the computing device to communicate personal identifiers provided via the d input device by respective users to the server;

wherein said coordinating communication comprises;

by the server, in response to receiving, from the computing device, a first personal identifier of a first user, automatically perform in substantially real time;

identifying a first access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;

transmitting the first access code to the first credit bureau with a first access request for the first credit bureau to provide immediate access to first credit data of the user;

identifying a second access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;

transmitting the second access code to the second credit bureau with a second access request for the second credit bureau to provide immediate access to second credit data of the user;

receiving at least one of the first credit data from the first credit bureau and the second credit data from the second credit bureau; and

transmitting at least a portion of the received at least one of the first credit data and the second credit data in substantially real time;

by the server, in response to receiving, from the computing device, a second personal identifier of the first user, automatically perform in substantially real time;

identifying a first lock code associated with the second personal identifier in the storage device;

transmitting the first lock code to the first credit bureau with a first request to lock the first credit data of the user at the first credit bureau;

identifying a second lock code associated with the second personal identifier in the storage device; and

transmitting the second lock code to the second credit bureau with a second request to lock the second credit data of the user at the second credit bureau.