Credit Freeze

Update: As of November 1, 2007, all three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) are offering credit freezes to U.S. citizens in all 50 states.

A credit freeze prevents an identity thief from opening up credit in your name, because the credit reporting agencies will not release any information to creditors or companies trying to establish credit using your social security number. This is one of the most effective ways to prevent identity theft. The links below provide information regarding credit freezes from each of the three credit reporting agencies.

Equifax Credit Freeze Information
Experian Credit Freeze Information
TransUnion Credit Freeze Information

Please note that, in some cases, you will be required to pay a small fee to place the freeze on your credit report. With credit report freezes placed at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, nobody will be able to get a credit card, loan, or any other kind of credit using your identity. This is something every person in the U.S. should do, regardless of whether or not you have had any issues with identity theft. However, when you want to apply for credit, you will need to call the credit reporting agency to request a temporary lifting of the freeze, so your credit information can be released to the creditor. Make sure the freeze is placed back on your account after your credit report has been released to the company with which you are applying.

An alternative to credit freeze is a fraud alert. which tells companies requesting your credit report that they must contact you regarding any requests for credit. Fraud alerts must be renewed every three months.