I have done this. I haven’t read the article but I have frozen my credit at all FOUR credit agencies. Don’t forget Innovis.
Thanks for posting this.
Sucks to have to pay to be left alone, but I guess that it beats getting credit taken out in your name without your permission.
Typically costs associated with it but minor. That said you are entering more info with the same idiots that lost it in the first place that are lead by a music major.
I did this at all four after the Equifax breach.
Important... bump to the top.
If it’s so danged important, post it here. It’s public information anyway, so no need to drive traffic to a hit farm.
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State Law and Security Freezes
Most have laws requiring credit reporting agencies, aka credit bureaus, to allow security freezes on credit reports. However, 9 states (Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Virginia) don’t have such laws. For these states, all three credit bureaus, voluntarily allow consumers to freeze their credit reports.
In most states, the freeze remains in effect until you remove it. In a few states, the freeze expires after seven years. Check the credit bureau websites for the security freeze laws in your state.
Fees range from $5 to $20 to freeze, temporarily lift the freeze, remove the freeze, or to replace your PIN (the personal identification number used to freeze or unfreeze your credit report). If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, there is no fee to freeze your credit report. Some states also waive the fees for seniors over a certain age.
How to Freeze Your Credit Report
You must freeze your credit report at each credit bureau individually since there’s no way to freeze all three credit reports at once.
Requests to freeze your credit report must be made in writing and should include your name, address, date of birth, social security number, copy of a valid id, proof of address (e.g. copy of utility bill) and payment. Payment can be made via check or credit card.
Special Documents for Identity Theft Victims
In most states, you don’t have to pay to freeze (or unfreeze) your credit report if you’ve been a victim of identity theft. Identity theft victims should provide proof of the theft, i.e. a copy of a police report, identity theft report, or DMV report. The credit bureau probably won’t return your documents, so send copies not originals. Finally, mail your request via certified mail with return receipt requested to the credit bureau.
After the credit bureau receives your request, it will respond with confirmation that your credit report has been frozen.
You will also receive a PIN or password to use whenever you need to temporarily unfreeze or permanently remove the freeze from your credit report.
Freezing Your Credit Report at Each Credit Bureau
Visit each credit bureau’s site to get more information about placing a security freeze on your credit report.
•Equifax: Freeze Your Equifax Credit Report, 1-800-685-1111 (NY residents 1-800-349-9960)
•Experian: Freeze Your Experian Credit Report, 1-888-397-3742
•TransUnion: Freeze Your TransUnion Credit Report, 1-888-909-8872
Note that credit bureaus may experience high call volumes and web traffic after major data breaches and other widespread identity attacks. You may experience long phone wait times and even have difficulty accessing the credit bureau online security freeze forms during these times.
You can also place a security freeze by mail (use certified mail). Make sure you send the following information in your request:
•Your full name, including your middle initial any generational suffix (e.g. Jr., II, etc.)
•Complete current address, and previous addresses for the past two years
•Date of birth, month, day, and year
•Social security number
•Proof of identification (e.g. a photocopy of your valid driver’s license, passport, state ID, military ID, or birth certificate)
•Address verification (e.g. utility bill, cell phone bill, pay stub. Do not send a credit cards statement, magazine subscription, voided check, or lease agreement)
•Payment (check, money order, or major credit card)
Here are the credit bureau addresses you should use to mail your security freeze application and documentation.
Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, Georgia 30348
Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion LLC
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022-2000
bkmk
I reside in NC and did all four no charge.
I believe they have waived the fees in light of the Equifax snafu.
bump
bkmk
bookmark
A customer in my store told me that she had here credit stolen. How? It wasn’t because of a credit card, she didn’t use them.
They got the info from a check she used to pay a bill. All the info needed is at the bottom of a check.
The whole credit bureau industry needs to be investigated and reformed. My wife and I have fought tooth and nail to have totally erroneous information removed from our credit reports. The credit reports vary by hundreds of points between credit reporting agencies. Now millions of people have had personal data compromised. I have long thought credit reporting as it being done now is a joke.
Bttt
Bookmark
Equifax bookmark.
I understand this *service/option* is not free.
PFFT! We have conglomerates screwing with our data, and it costs us to use a service, which we never subscribed to, to begin with. PFFT!
BFL
For all those folks caught up in the latest criminal scam...
bump to the top