How Do I Create a Credit Freeze to Protect Identity Theft?

Over the past decade, identity theft has become one of the fastest-growing and most dangerous types of crime that can happen to someone that has good credit standing. One way to protect your identity is to monitor your credit report for lines of credit that have been opened in your name without your consent. The best way to stop someone from opening a credit account in your name is to put a security freeze on your credit report. Under a security freeze, if someone other than you tries to open a line of credit in your name, it will automatically be declined.

Instructions

Place a Security Freeze on Your Credit Report

1

Research to find out if your state has a law allowing consumers to place a security freeze their credit reports and what that law entails. Most states will have a start-up fee for this service ranging between $3 and $10. The cost to unfreeze your account is typically $10.

According to the Consumers Union, the following states have passed laws giving consumers rights to a security freeze: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

2

If you find that you live in a state that has not passed a security freeze law, contact the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to find out how you can use their security freeze option.

3

Decide if you wish to write the credit reporting agencies a letter or apply for a security freeze online.

See the next section for how to write a letter requesting a security freeze and send it in the mail.

If you are going to apply for a security freeze online, skip the next section, and go directly to all three of the credit reporting agencies' websites, and follow their directions on how to apply online for a security freeze.

Requesting a Security Freeze By Mail

4

Write a letter requesting a credit freeze. Begin with the following information:

The date

Your address

Address of the credit reporting agency

5

Give your current address and any addresses where you have lived in the past 2 years. Write down your date of birth, then your social security number below your address(es).

6

State how you are going to make the payment for the security freeze fee. According to TransUnion, acceptable forms of payment are check, money order or credit card. The credit card can be American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa.

If using a credit card, give the full name on the card, the card number, expiration date and card id number (CID). The CID is either located on the back or front of the card.

7

Enclose photocopies of documents required to apply for a security freeze. Each state has different requirements, so be sure to get the correct documents.

Enclose a photocopy of a utility bill in your name and your driver's license. You may have to enclose a copy of your Social Security card, but for your protection, do so only if your state requires it.

8

Send a copy of the letter to each of the following addresses, and be sure to keep the original copy for your records. A response letter and your PIN will be sent to you. A PIN is required to temporarily lift a security freeze, which you may need to do if you wish to apply for a credit card.

Equifax Security Freeze

P.O. Box 105788

Atlanta, GA 30348

Experian Security Freeze

P.O. Box 9554

Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion

Fraud Victim Assistance Department

P.O. Box 6790

Fullerton, CA 92834