If you do live in a state where you can freeze your credit reports, I suggest that you do so. It's going to take some persistence — the three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, don't exactly roll out the red carpet to help you put on a freeze. You'll need to contact every bureau separately, and must make a written request. The three credit bureaus can be reached at :
Here's where to find each credit bureau's credit report freeze rules:
If you've been a victim of identity theft and have the police record to prove it, your freeze is free of charge. The rules for non-victims vary by state; some offer free freezes, others levy a charge of $10 or so.
Once your freeze is in place you'll receive a personal identification number (PIN) that allows you to lift (thaw) the freeze with a phone call or by going online; the rules vary among the three credit bureaus.
Again, you may be hit with a small fee to temporarily lift your freeze. If you want to permanently remove your freeze, however, the credit bureaus are all to happy to make that change free of charge.
