Consumer Alert
Free credit freezes are here
Free credit freezes and year-long fraud alerts are here, starting September 21st, thanks to a new federal law. Here’s what you should know:
Free credit freezes
Security freezes, also known as credit freezes, restrict access to your credit file, making it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Starting September 21, 2018, you can freeze and unfreeze your credit file for free. You also can get a free freeze for your children who are under 16. And if you are someone’s guardian, conservator or have a valid power of attorney, you can get a free freeze for that person, too.
How will these freezes work? Contact all three of the nationwide credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If you request a freeze online or by phone, the agency must place the freeze within one business day. If you request a lift of the freeze, the agency must lift it within one hour. If you make your request by mail, the agency must place or lift the freeze within three business days after it gets your request. You also can lift the freeze temporarily without a fee.
Don’t confuse freezes with locks. They work in a similar way, but locks may have monthly fees. If you want a free freeze guaranteed by federal law, then opt for a freeze, not a lock.
Year-long fraud alerts
A fraud alert tells businesses that check your credit that they should check with you before opening a new account. Starting September 21, 2018, when you place a fraud alert, it will last one year, instead of 90 days. Fraud alerts will still be free and identity theft victims can still get an extended fraud alert for seven years.
Credit freezes and the military
If you’re in the military, you’ll still have access to active duty alerts, which let you place a fraud alert for one year, renewable for the time you’re deployed. The active duty alert also gives you an added benefit: the credit reporting agencies will take your name off their marketing lists for prescreened credit card offers for two years (unless you ask them to add you back on).
You can place a fraud alert or active duty alert by visiting any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. The one that you contact must notify the other two. You also can find links to their websites at IdentityTheft.gov.
Issues with a credit freeze
If you think a credit reporting agency is not placing a credit freeze or fraud alert properly, you can submit a complaint online or by calling 855-411-2372. If you think someone stole your identity, visit the FTC’s website, IdentityTheft.gov, to get a personalized recovery plan that walks you through the steps to take.
For more information, check out Place a Fraud Alert, Extended Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes, and Credit Freeze FAQs. And if you’re considering a child credit freeze, you also may want to read Child Identity Theft.
Credit Bureau Contacts
Contact the national credit bureaus to request fraud alerts, credit freezes (also known as security freezes), and opt outs from pre‑screened credit offers.
Equifax
Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
800-685-1111Experian
Experian.com/help
888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)Transunion
TransUnion.com/credit-help
888-909-8872
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In reply to Will a fraud alert I by Jeffrey
You should request a new fraud alert. You can make the request at one credit reporting agency, and it will alert the other two agencies.
In reply to Unfortunately, it looks like by Timothy
The law applies only to nationwide credit reporting agencies. Please contact a business directly to ask if it offers a freeze.
Order and review your free credit report to make sure the information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. When you review your report, you help guard against identity theft. That’s when someone uses your personal information — like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number — to commit fraud.
In reply to Is the 4th credit reporting by MRB
The law applies only to nationwide credit reporting agencies. Please contact a company directly to ask if it offers a freeze.
In reply to My family once used Experian by Karen
In reply to What does it mean to “make it by Vern
When you place a freeze on your credit file, creditors can't get access to your credit file to get the information they need before they can open a new account for you. Your credit file includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued or have filed for bankruptcy. You can get a free copy of your own credit report at annualcreditreport.com.
In reply to Have tried multiple times to by FrustratedConsumer
If you believe a credit reporting agency is not placing a credit freeze or fraud alert properly, you can submit a complaint at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by calling 855-411-2372.
In reply to Looking for to get taking off by alonzobell91
You can get help to put on a credit freeze.
In reply to A scam computer fix company by wondering
If a scammer took your credit card number, call your credit card company and cancel the card. Ask for a new card. Check your credit card statement. If someone made charges on your your card, contact your credit card company.
If you freeze your credit, it will be harder for a thief to open a new account in your name. If you freeze your credit, you can unfreeze it yourself when you want to get credit. To start a freeze, contact all three credit reporting agencies. Use the phone numbers and website Contact information in this blog.
In reply to If my wife and I both use the by Slick
A credit freeze limits who can get access to your person's credit report. Each person has his or her own credit report. If you and your wife both want freezes, you both need to contact the credit reporting companies and ask to place freezes on your own credit reports.
Your credit report has information about where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued or have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide credit reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses. Businesses use the information to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.
In reply to If all of our credit cards by CowboyBob
You and your wife have your own identities and your own credit files. Your credit files include things like old addresses, other names you might have used, and credit cards or loans you might have had individually, even years ago. To be fully protected, you would each get a credit freeze.
In reply to If my credit is frozen, will by KevinY86
If you freeze your credit, it limits access to your credit file. That makes it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name.
The freeze limits access to your file, but it does not close your file. When you have a freeze, information can still be added to your file. For example, information about whether you pay your bills on time will still be added to your credit file when there is a freeze on your account.