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North Carolina consumers can get a free security freeze online under NC law. This can prevent an identity thief from opening a new account or getting credit in your name. Placing a security freeze on your credit reports blocks access to your credit unless you have given your permission. But not so in the states listed above, according to the Consumers Union’s guide to security freeze protection.Įxcerpt from the NC Attorney General’s OfficeĪ “security freeze” is a consumer right provided by North Carolina law, enacted as part of the Identity Theft Protection Act of 2005. In most states, your credit freeze remains permanently on your files until you request removal.
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These states are Kentucky, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. The cost to “thaw” your reports for one creditor - or for a specific period of time - ranges from free to $10.įour states remove your credit freeze automatically after seven years. The costs to regularly “thaw” your reports would tend to be excessive. If your credit reports are accessed often for work or because you create new accounts with various financial institutions on a regular basis, it is not recommended that you freeze your accounts. *When you do a credit freeze, it is imperative that you freeze your credit with all three bureaus.* The cost ranges from about $3 to $10 per person per bureau to freeze a credit report a couple of states have higher fees. Visit the National Conference of State Legislatures to see what the law is in your state. Residents of various states may also freeze the credit reports of their minor children. In addition, most states and Puerto Rico have adopted laws establishing credit freezes for residents of their state. You can continue to use them as you regularly would even when your credit is frozen.įreezes have been available for free to victims of identity theft for some years, but recently all three of the major credit bureaus adopted new rules that now allow non-victims to have access to credit freezes as well for a small fee. The added layer of security means that thieves can’t establish new credit in your name even if they are able to obtain your personal information.įreezing your credit files has no impact whatsoever on your existing lines of credit, such as credit cards. Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your Experian credit freeze online or by calling 1-88.Ī credit freeze allows you to seal your credit reports and use a personal identification number (PIN) that only you know and can use to temporarily “thaw” your credit when legitimate applications for credit and services need to be processed. When calling, press 2 then follow prompts for security freeze. When calling, press 2 and then follow prompts for security freeze.Ĭredit freezes may be done online by certified mail – return receipt requested or by calling 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-88). Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your Equifax credit freeze by snail mail, online or by calling 1-80 (N.Y. Important note: With such high traffic to the website, if you can’t get your request processed, just wait about a week and try again.īy phone: 1-80 (NY residents please call 1-80)Ĭredit freezes may be done online or by certified mail – return receipt requested. Online: Visit this page to freeze your credit with Equifax. Info on freezing a child’s credit with TransUnion can be found here. Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your TransUnion credit freeze online or by calling 1-88. Please note the attachments you must include.Ĭredit freezes may be done online, by phone (1-88) or by certified mail – return receipt requested. Online: Visit the Credit Freeze page hereīy mail: Request your credit freeze by certified mail using this sample letter. How to freeze your credit with all three agencies Credit freezes are one of the most effective ways for consumers to protect themselves against identity theft - and this goes for anyone at any time - regardless of whether you were impacted by this specific breach.Īnd it’s imperative that you freeze your credit with all three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.īelow is a quick reference guide on how to put a freeze in place with each bureau, followed by more information on the process, how to thaw your credit and more. With Equifax’s announcement of its catastrophic security breach, now would be a really good time to consider freezing your credit, if you haven’t already.