It does look like that now, for Equifax. Lock & Alert, as they call it, is free. https://www.equifax.com/personal/products/credit/credit-lock...
I'm certain the other agencies are hard at work implementing the same feature.
I'm certain the other agencies are hard at work implementing the same feature.
Which means they aren't legally bound not to release your credit report to whomever they want (aka whoever pays them), and even in their own FAQ they admit they have far more exceptions for who can ignore the lock (plus vague wording) than a credit freeze legally allows (compare [0] and [1]).
Further, one should ask why they are providing this free and easy service, while their actual credit freeze system is awful (at least in my experience)? Perhaps to push consumers to the not legally binding option so that they can continue to sell your "locked" credit report without legal consequences?
[0] https://www.equifax.com/personal/products/credit/credit-lock... [1] https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0497-credit-freeze-faq...
Also, this isn't true. Purchasers must have "permissible purpose", which is regulated.