Credit Report Security Freeze
A security freeze locks access to a consumer’s credit report and credit score. This helps to prevent a thief from using your personal information to obtain credit. If a consumer wants to apply for credit, they use a PIN number to unlock access to their credit report. Victims of identify theft can place a freeze on their credit report for free. If you have not been a victim of identify theft, the credit bureaus charge a fee for placing a credit freeze on your credit report. The cost varies by state. You won’t be able to open new credit while a freeze is in place. However, you can request that a freeze be temporarily lifted for this purpose. There may be a charge for removing a freeze. It does no good to freeze only one or two credit reports. If you want real identity theft protection, you’ll have to go through the requirements to freeze all three credit agencies.
Send a request for a security freeze to the three major credit reporting agencies. Your request must be sent by certified mail and must include a copy of your identification. Send your freeze request to the following addresses:
Equifax Security Freeze
Experian Security Freeze
Trans Union Security Freeze
Filed under: Credit Reports, Identity Theft