Credit freezes are free, and their availability is mandated under federal law. They may be obtained online, by phoning or sending mail to Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.
Freezing your credit is free, and you'll need to do it with all three credit bureaus to lock down each of your credit reports. And again, the freeze will stay in place until you lift it.
Locking your credit costs nothing at Equifax and TransUnion if you enroll in their separate locking programs, but if you choose to use their joint program that locks both at once — and also includes credit monitoring — there's a fee.
It's a great weapon against identity thieves.
A credit freeze is a great choice to help protect yourself from identity thieves because it is guaranteed by law. A credit lock also restricts access to your credit report but isn't regulated and may require a fee.
Getting started. CreditLock comes at no additional charge as part of your paid Experian CreditWorks membership. To begin taking advantage of the extra protection that Experian CreditLock offers, log into your Experian CreditWorks account through any Web browser on your desktop or mobile device or the Experian app.
The major downside to having a credit lock is that it generally comes with a fee. Plus, your credit file can still be accessed for the same reasons as a freeze. Credit agencies charge about $20 per month to maintain your lock service, which may include daily alerts, dark web monitoring and free credit reports.
Credit freezes and credit locks both restrict access to your credit reports. But credit freezes are free, while credit locks may be offered as part of expanded paid services.
Freezing Your Social Security Number
First, you'll need to create an account on E-Verify, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Once you do, follow the prompts to freeze your SSN. Then, file a police report. Immediately after freezing, contact the authorities.
In addition, Adam Funk suggests writing to the three major credit bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax — to lock your Social Security number. There may be a nominal fee of about $10 to process the request.
Freezing your credit won't hurt your score, but it will keep an identity thief from opening new accounts in your name.
If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).
If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
If you've frozen your credit at all three national bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), you'll need to thaw it at each bureau separately.
A security freeze prevents prospective creditors from accessing your credit file. Creditors typically won't offer you credit if they can't access your credit reporting file, so a security freeze, also called a credit freeze, prevents you or others from opening accounts in your name.
You must freeze your credit at all three credit bureaus separately. The bureaus will provide you with a PIN that you can use to freeze and unfreeze your credit. Don't lose that number. Note, though, that Equifax no longer requires you to enter a PIN when freezing or unfreezing your credit.
Thirty-three states allow parents, legal guardians or other representatives of minors to place a security freeze on the minor's credit report: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, ...
Who can place one: Anyone can freeze their credit report, even if their identity has not been stolen. What it does: A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, which means you — or others — won't be able to open a new credit account while the freeze is in place.
If you've been victimized by identity fraud even with a fraud alert in place, a credit freeze may be helpful. And whether you freeze your file or go with a fraud alert, credit monitoring helps you spot potential fraud so you're able to more quickly address it.
As long as a hacker or scammer has access to other personal information such as your name and address, they can use the last four digits of your SSN (in most cases) to open accounts in your name, steal your money and government benefits, or even get healthcare and tax refunds in your name.
Unless you're concerned that your identity is imminently at risk for theft, locking your number through your Social Security online account might not be necessary.