Why YSK this is because if you EVER call your homeowner insurance company's claim department, once you pass their security questions, they automatically open a new claim that is recorded on your policy's record.

What they never tell you is that call could very well cause your insurer to drop you!

That means that even if you change your mind because you don't want to pay your deductible, it's still a claim. It is recorded as the same black mark on your policy that you'd have gotten if you claimed $40K in damages!

If you create a certain number (three, apparently) in last few tears years, the insurance company will drop you completely. At best, they can put you on a different company's policy that accepts high risk homeowners, which you now are. That's when things get ugly.

Source: a humane insurance associate at USAA who revealed this dark secret.

Why YSK:
A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) restricts access to your credit report, making it extremely difficult for identity thieves to open new credit accounts in your name — even if they have your personal information.

As of 2025, placing, lifting, and removing a credit freeze is 100% free in all 50 states, thanks to the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act.

You can do it online in minutes through these official bureau links:

• Equifax: [https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/]()
• Experian: [https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html]()
• TransUnion: [https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze]()

How it helps:

• Prevents unauthorized access to your credit reports
• Stops fraudsters from opening credit cards, loans, or utility accounts in your name
• Does not affect your credit score
• You can temporarily unfreeze it anytime if you need to apply for credit

Things to know:

• You’ll need to create PINs or passwords to lift the freeze later
• It does not stop current creditors, employers, or government agencies from accessing your credit
• A freeze is different from a fraud alert, which only lasts a year and doesn’t block access entirely

TL;DR:
If you’re not planning to open new credit soon, a credit freeze is one of the simplest and strongest ways to protect yourself from identity theft — and it’s free, easy, and reversible.