How Do I Freeze My Credit Report?
Due to the high number of identity theft victims each year, citizens in all states now have the right to freeze their credit FREE! Freezing your credit is the best way to prevent identity theft because it prevents any creditor or business from seeing your credit report in the first place. When a consumer freezes his or her credit report, it makes it impossible for a lender to approve a credit application since it denies access to the consumer's credit report. Thus, a credit freeze stops a thief from obtaining credit cards and loans in someone else's name (unless the lender doesn't bother to check credit reports).
The Fair Credit Reporting Act was amended in 2018 to require the credit reporting agencies (aka credit bureaus) to let consumers freeze and unfreeze their credit reports very easily and quickly and most of all, at no cost to the consumer.
What follows is that portion of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA -- 15 U.S.C., sec. 1681c-1) regarding freezing one's credit:
"Placement of security freeze. Upon receiving a direct request from a consumer that a consumer reporting agency place a security freeze, and upon receiving proper identification from the consumer, the consumer reporting agency shall, free of charge, place the security freeze not later than
(i) in the case of a request that is by toll-free telephone or secure electronic means, 1 business day after receiving the request directly from the consumer; or
(ii) in the case of a request that is by mail, 3 business days after receiving the request directly from the consumer.
Confirmation and additional information. Not later than 5 business days after placing a security freeze under subparagraph (a) above, a consumer reporting agency shall --
(i) send confirmation of the placement to the consumer; and
(ii) inform the consumer of the process by which the consumer may remove the security freeze, including a mechanism to authenticate the consumer.
Removal of security freeze. A consumer reporting agency shall remove a security freeze placed on the consumer report of a consumer only in the following cases:
(i) Upon the direct request of the consumer.
(ii) The security freeze was placed due to a material misrepresentation of fact by the consumer.
Removal of security freeze by consumer request. A security freeze shall remain in place until the consumer directly requests that the security freeze be removed. Upon receiving a direct request from a consumer that a consumer reporting agency remove a security freeze, and upon receiving proper identification from the consumer, the consumer reporting agency shall, free of charge, remove the security freeze not later than --
(i) in the case of a request that is by toll-free telephone or secure electronic means, 1 hour after receiving the request for removal; or
(ii) in the case of a request that is by mail, 3 business days after receiving the request for removal.
Temporary removal of security freeze. Upon receiving a direct request from a consumer, if the consumer requests a temporary removal of a security freeze, the consumer reporting agency shall remove the security freeze for the period of time specified by the consumer."
Per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the following companies, agencies, etc. are not barred from accessing your credit report despite your having put a security freeze on it:
(a) Creditors with whom you already have a relationship with can access your credit report and "review your account" despite you having placed a security freeze. Examples of this would be your credit card company or mortgage lender.
(b) Law enforcement, be it local, state or federal, can still access your credit report if they have a court order, warrant or subpoena. Federal, state and local tax agencies can too, and so can child support agencies.
(c) Prospective employers to whom you have given permission to access your credit report when you apply for jobs are exempt from the security freeze and so are potential landlords when you seek housing. You DO NOT have to unfreeze your credit when you are looking for employment or housing.
(d) Any company with whom you sign up to monitor your credit can also access your credit report.
To freeze your credit report, you must contact each of the three credit bureaus, which you can do online, by telephone or by mail. It is much easier and quicker to do it online.
Who should freeze their credit reports? EVERYONE SHOULD FREEZE THEIR CREDIT REPORTS. Doing this will shut down a great deal of identity theft since someone applying for credit in your name is going to be shot down unless the creditor doesn't check credit reports. It is important to point out that credit freezes do not keep thieves from accessing your current accounts if they should hack in to a database -- it just keeps them from obtaining new loans and credit in your name.
To freeze your credit, go to the three major credit reporting agencies and look for the place on their web menus that let you freeze and unfreeze your credit. Take a few minutes to learn the current procedures, rules and regulations while you're at each website so that you know how to proceed when you apply for a new car loan and need to unfreeze your credit.
Their website addresses are:
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