Multi-bureau credit file freeze and unfreeze

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A computer system configured to manage access of credit data of a user at each of a plurality of credit bureaus by merchants, wherein the credit data of the user is locked at the plurality of credit bureaus such that the merchant cannot access the credit data 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; anda storage device storing:
personal identifiers for a corresponding plurality of users; andfor each personal identifier, at least a first encrypted access code associated with a first of the multiple credit bureaus and a second encrypted access code associated with a second of the multiple credit bureaus; and a point of sale terminal, remotely located from the server at a merchant facility, the point of sale terminal including:
a credit card reader configured to read credit card information from credit cards of users;a keypad input device configured to receive personal identifiers from users; anda communication interface configured to allow the point of sale terminal to communicate an identification of the merchant and personal identifiers provided via the keypad input device by respective users to the server; wherein the server is configured to, in response to receiving, from the point of sale terminal, a first personal identifier of a first user and the identification of the merchant, automatically perform in substantially real time:
identifying a first encrypted access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;decrypting the first encrypted access code to determine a first access code;transmitting the first access code to the first credit bureau with a first access request for the first credit bureau to provide the merchant with immediate access to first credit data of the user;identifying a second encrypted access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;decrypting the second encrypted access code to determine a second access code;transmitting the second access code to the second credit bureau with a second access request for the second credit bureau to provide the merchant with 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 to the point of sale terminal while the user is at the point-of-sale terminal of the merchant.