How to Freeze Your Credit Report

Introduction

Freezing your credit report locks out identity thieves. (Photo by Steve Woods)

• Since November of 2007, it has been possible for consumers to freeze their credit reports with the three major bureaus, effectively preventing identity thieves from opening up any credit lines on a frozen account. Even if you have not been a victim of identity theft, you can freeze your credit report. However, freezing your report is, for the most part, not free. While victims of identity theft will want to freeze their credit reports immediately, other consumers may not know whether a freeze is right for them at this time. If you want guidance on taking the freeze plunge, visit Mahalo's How to Decide Whether to Freeze Your Credit Report for details. If you're already convinced that a credit freeze is necessary, read on.

Step 1: Contact the Credit Bureaus

• Once you have decided to freeze your report, the process is relatively straightforward. You will need to freeze your report with each of the three major credit agencies. Freezing your credit report with only one bureau will accomplish very little in the way of protecting yourself against identity theft.

What you will need to get started

• Before asking the agencies to freeze your credit report, you should know the particular rules, fees, and regulations for each state. Where you live can affect the costs involved and the duration of the freeze itself. Once you know the rules for your state, you should gather the following information:

1. Your name.
2. Your social security number.
3. Your date of birth.
4. Your address.
5. Any addresses over the last two to five years.
6. For Experian and Equifax, proof of current address, such as copy of a utility bill, or bank or insurance statement.
7. For Experian and Transunion, a copy of your driver's license or state-issued identification card.
8. If you have been the victim of identity theft, and are claiming exemption from fees, you must also provide a copy of a police report, investigative report, or report filed with a law enforcement agency.
9. If you are over 65, and your state grants a free exemption for senior citizens, you may also have to provide proof of age.
10. Send all of the required information, along with a clearly worded request for the bureau to freeze your credit report, via certified mail to the addresses below. A few states allow you to send the information by regular mail, and a few even allow you to place a freeze over the phone. In order to help you get started, we have included links to sample freeze request letters provided by the AARP below.

• Requesting a Security Freeze Through Equifax
• Equifax Security Freeze
• P.O. Box 105788
• Atlanta, Georgia 30348
• Sample Letter to Equifax from AARP (PDF)

• Requesting a Security Freeze Through Experian
• Experian Security Freeze
• P.O. Box 9554
• Allen, TX 75013
• Sample Letter to Experian from AARP (PDF)

• Requesting a Security Freeze Through TransUnion
• TransUnion
• Fraud Victim Assistance Department
• P.O. Box 6790
• Fullerton, CA 92834.
• Sample Letter to TransUnion from AARP (PDF)

• If you have any questions for a specific credit reporting agency, you can visit their website or try to call them at the numbers below. You should understand that the agencies may try to discourage you from freezing your credit, as this is their business, and it is not in their best interest. However, only you can decide whether freezing your credit is a good idea.

1. Equifax: 1-888-685-1111
2. Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742)
3. TransUnion: 1-888-909-8872

Step 2: Wait for Confirmation of Your Freeze

• After you have requested a freeze, the agency will provide you with security information you will need to keep if you want to lift or remove the freeze in the future. Depending on the credit reporting agency, this information could be in the form of a confirmation number, PIN number, and/or password.

1. Keep the information the agencies send you in a safe, secure, and memorable place, because if you want to apply for credit in the future, you are going to need them.
2. If you lose this information, your attempts to apply for credit can be significantly delayed as the credit reporting agency must verify your identity.

Step 3: How to Lift or Remove a Freeze

• If your credit is frozen, and you want to apply for credit, you have two options. You can either lift the freeze for a temporary period, or you can remove the freeze altogether.

Lifting a Credit Freeze Temporarily

What you have frozen you have the power to thaw. (Creative Commons photo by Inkswamp)

• If you have already frozen your credit report, you will need to lift it in order to apply for credit, or have creditors change any information in your account. You should gather the following materials:

1. The access information provided to you by the credit reporting agencies when you initially requested the freeze.
2. The length of time you would like the freeze lifted.
3. Payment by major credit card or check. Depending on which state you live in, you may or may not have to pay to lift the freeze temporarily. See the Consumers Union site for state-specific information.

• Each credit bureau maintains slightly different procedures to follow in lifting a freeze. See the following links for specific information on:

1. Lifting a freeze with Equifax.
2. Lifting a freeze with Experian.
3. Lifting a freeze with Transunion.

• In some states, you will be able to lift the credit report freeze for a specific creditor. In that case, you may have to provide your access information to that creditor, who will then use it to view your credit report. Again, become familiar with the laws in your particular state before beginning any action.

Removing a Credit Freeze

• If you decide that you want to permanently remove a freeze on your credit report you will again need to contact the three agencies separately. Removing a freeze on your credit does not mean that you cannot freeze your credit again in the future; it only means that the freeze is not temporary and will not be reinstated unless you go to the beginning of the freezing process again.

• Each agency has a slightly different procedure to remove the freeze, but most require that you contact them via the mail. The procedure is similar to what you did when you froze your credit report in the first place. Visit the below links to see what you must do.

1. Click here to permanently remove a credit freeze with Equifax.
2. Click here to permanently remove a credit freeze with Experian.
   • After choosing your state at the bottom of the page, follow the instructions provided.
3. Click here to permanently remove a credit freeze with Transunion.

Conclusion

• Now that you have frozen your credit report, you can rest easy. Identity thieves will be unable to use your social security number or other identifying information to open credit lines in your name, because your credit report will be walled off from the view of others. At the same time, your existing creditors can access your credit history as they did before. Just remember: keep the information provided to you by the credit bureaus in a safe place because you will need it if you ever want to open up new credit opportunities.

Resources for How to Freeze Your Credit Report

• MSNBC's The Red Tape Chronicles: Now, a Way to Stop ID Theft (November 6, 2007)  
• ConsumersUnion.org: Consumers Union Guide to Security Freeze Protection  
• ConsumersUnion.org: FAQs About the Security Freeze
• AARP: Block Your Credit Reports to Prevent ID Theft
• Federal Trade Commission: Credit Freeze
• CNNMoney.com: Top Tips: Putting a Freeze On Your Credit (October 10, 2007)
• CBS News: Credit "Freeze" New Weapon Vs. I.D. Theft (November 8, 2007)
• The Wall Street Journal Online: More People Are Freezing Credit Reports (October 24, 2007)
• US News and World Report: Put the Freeze on Identity Theft
• MoneyTalksNews Video: Easier Credit Freezes

Credit Bureaus

• Equifax: Security Freeze
• Experian: Security Freeze
• Transunion: Security Freeze

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