Vanguard members should contact customer support to determine why their account was frozen, and to receive instructions to unfreeze their account. A Vanguard representative will ask for identifying information to unlock the account and to provide instructions for account restoration. The requirements may vary for account restoration, based on the reasons the account was frozen. However, there are certain pieces of information that Vanguard representatives will never ask members. Also, members will be required to answer the security questions that were set up during the registration process. Members who created a pin or password will be required to provide this information as well.
Vanguard Marketing Corporation, or VMC, is a registered broker and member of FINRA. VMC is a distributor of Vanguard funds, as well as a company that provides administrative, retirement planning, and record-keeping services from the Vanguard Group. Members who have had their accounts frozen can reach out to Vanguard to take the needed steps to unlock, restore, or recover their account.
Call Vanguard Customer Service
Perhaps the easiest way to unfreeze a Vanguard account is to contact a Vanguard representative. A Vanguard representative can help you regain access to your frozen account. If you forgot your username or password, or have other issues that block you from logging into your account, contact a Vanguard representative. Vanguard representatives are available, toll-free, between the hours of 8:30am-5:30pm.
The Process
When you call Vanguard's customer support, you will be required to verify your identity before they access your account. The identity verification process includes security questions you set up when you first created the account. This is part of the web registration process. Members who chose to use an extra layer of verification by creating a pin will be asked to verify their pin. Members have the option to create a pin or a password for identity verification.
Vanguard Policies
Vanguard will never require a member to disclose log in credentials, social security numbers, or any security codes you received through an automated text or call. Members shouldn't provide this information to anyone who requests this. This is not information that Vanguard will request during a customer service call.
Frozen Accounts
Vanguard reserves the right to freeze any Vanguard account for any reason at any time. However, when you contact Vanguard and provide the identifying information requested, the reason for the account freeze will be discussed and steps needed to rectify the situation will be explained. Vanguard members should follow the suggested steps and provide all the information requested by Vanguard to unfreeze or unlock their account. The steps will vary depending on the reasons your account was frozen.
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