Credit Report Freeze - Lock Down

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A complete guide to Credit Report Freeze option or so-called Credit Report Lock-Down.

What is Credit Report Freeze

Credit report freeze is the latest measure introduced to combat a growing identity theft. Here we want to explain several important things and provide you with information on how to freeze credit reports.

Credit report freeze* also called a security freeze, bars identity thieves from getting credit in your name. It freezes access to the consumer credit report and credit score. Without credit report and score, no lender will issue new credit to anyone. So no identity thief can open fraudulent accounts using the name of a person who has frozen his or her credit reports. With a credit report lock-down, even if criminal obtains name, birthday and Social Security number, no credit will be issued.

How to Freeze and Unfreeze

To lock down or freeze a credit report, consumers must contact each of the three credit reporting agencies except Texas where you can contact either credit agency and the other two must follow. For the majority of states, there is no cost if you are a victim of identity theft, as long as you have a report from either the police or law enforcement agency. The freeze will be normally placed within three to five business days. Then, within 7 to 10 business days, you will be provided a personal identification number or a password to use when you want to unfreeze or lift temporarily the security freeze.

In most states, a freeze does not apply when you have an existing account relationship and a copy of your report is requested by your existing creditor or its agents or affiliates for certain types of account review, collection, fraud control, or similar activities.

When contacting credit reporting agencies, note the following:

- you will have to send very personal information, including social security number, driver license, birth date, address, etc; always use certified mail only

- ID theft victim must include: valid copy of police report, investigative report or complaint filed with law enforcement agency

- acceptable forms of payment are American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, check, money order

- before mailing always call to verify that the address(es) of the credit reporting agencies are still valid

You will need to send:

- full name, with middle initial and Jr./Sr., etc.

- current address and home addresses for past five years

- Social Security number

- birth date

- two proofs of residence - copy of driver's license, utility bill, insurance statement, bank statement

Experian credit report freeze information:

Experian Security Freeze
P. O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742

You can temporarily unfreeze your Experian report on line by following this link. This option may not be available for all states. More from Experian:
Difference between fraud alert, victim statement and security freeze.
How to remove fraud alert.

TransUnion credit report freeze information:

Trans Union Security Freeze
P. O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
1-888-909-8872

If you call TransUnion, it will send you a Security Freeze form. Please complete the Security Freeze form and return it to TransUnion at the address listed within the form. See more on TransUnion security freeze questions and answers.

Equifax credit report freeze information:

Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348
1-800-685-1111

More from Equifax on preventing id theft and fighting it.

Where Freeze (Lock Down) is Available

Right now only 12 states give their residents the right to freeze their credit reports, effectively prohibiting credit from being issued in their names, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Vermont and Washington. However, Illinois, Texas, Vermont and Washington limit this opportunity to those who have been the victim of identity theft or a security breach

In 2006, the states of Nevada, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine and Colorado start offering all their residents - or just victims of identity theft - the right to freeze credit reports.

The following table shows the 12 state rules, fees, and limitations:

State	Law Effective Date	Eligibility	Cost of Freeze and Length if Available	Cost for Temporarily/Permanently Unfreeze
California	January 1, 2003, subsequently amended to cap fees on non-ID theft victims	All consumers	No fees for identity theft victims; $10 for others to freeze at each credit agency. Indefinitely.	$10 for a temporary date-range lift per credit agency, $30 total; $12 to lift for each specific creditor per credit agency, $36 total.
Colorado	July 1, 2006	All consumers	No fees for first freeze; $10 to place a second freeze.	$10 to lift temporarily or permanently per credit agency, $30 total; $12 to lift for each specific creditor per credit agency, $36 total.
Connecticut	January 1, 2006	All consumers	$10 to freeze at each credit agency, $30 total.	$10 for a temporary date-range lift per credit agency, $30 total; $12 to lift for each specific creditor per credit agency, $36 total.
Illinois	January 1, 2006	Victims of ID theft only, with a police report or a complaint to a law enforcement agency.	No fees. Indefinitely.	No fees.
Louisiana	July 1, 2005	All consumers	No fees for identity theft victims or persons age 62 or older; $10 for others to freeze credit at each credit agency $30 total. Indefinitely	$8 for a temporary lift per credit agency, $24 total.
Maine	February 1, 2006	All consumers	No fees for identity theft victims; up to $10 for others to freeze at each credit agency, $30 total.	$10 to lift temporarily or permanently per credit agency, $30 total; $12 to lift for each specific creditor per credit agency, $36 total.
Nevada	October 1, 2005	All consumers	No fees for identity theft victims; $15 for others to freeze at each credit agency, $45 total.	$18 for a temporary lift per credit agency, $54 total; $20 to lift for each specific creditor per credit agency, $60 total.
New Jersey	January1, 2006	All consumers	No fees for initial freeze.	Up to $5 to remove, temporarily lift or have PIN reissued, per credit agency, $15 total.
North Carolina	December 1, 2005	All consumers	No fees for ID theft victims with valid report/complaint with law enforcement agency. $10 to freeze at each credit agency, $30 total.	No fees for ID theft victims. Up to $10 to place, remove, temporarily suspend per credit agency, $30 total.
Texas	September 1, 2003	Identity theft victims with police report.	$8 to freeze; placement at one credit agency must be honored by all. Indefinitely	No fees.
Vermont	July 1, 2005	Applies to identity theft victims with a police report or a complaint to a law enforcement agency.	No fees. Indefinitely.	No fees.
Washington	July 24, 2005	Applies to identity theft victims, including persons who receive a notice of a security breach of computerized personal information.	No fees. Indefinitely.	No fees.

Credit Report Freeze - Disadvantages

The biggest drawback is that it takes up to 3 to 5 business days to unfreeze your credit report. So if you are shopping for a mortgage or car loan, your credit won't available on the spot. Before going to dealership or a bank, make sure the potential lender will be able to pull your credit reports.

Few states had this law defeated by auto dealers which fret that credit freeze law will hurt their sales as consumers won't be able to close the purchase.

Department stores and other retailers are against this measure as well, as they routinely offer discounts to shoppers who agree to open a store credit card - which they hope will encourage the shoppers to spend more money.

More Info

- Consumer Union on states which passed security freeze laws and states which both, passed and in-process

- State Public Interest Research Groups - Summary of State Security Freeze and Security Breach Notification laws

- National Conference of State Legislatures - Consumer Report Security Freeze Legislation, 2005 Session

*Important Disclaimer: This lock down or freeze procedure is rather new and very dynamic, with new states joining, state laws being reviewed and modified. We try to update this page as often as possible, but check the links above for important updates that may be coming to your state.