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. 

For information on how to place a freeze on your credit reports, here are links to each credit bureau’s website on credit report freezes: 

Experian:  http://tinyurl.com/36slz5 

Equifax: http://tinyurl.com/28n6hy 

Trans Union:    http://tinyurl.com/9edbyg