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Public Knowledge Center > Credit Reports |
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Credit Freezes / Security Freezes
Though generally disliked and often discouraged by the credit bureaus and credit grantors, where they are available credit freezes (also referred to as a security freeze) can be a powerful tool to prevent potential creditors, insurers, and others with whom you do not have an existing account or business relationship from obtaining or accessing your credit file until you instruct the credit bureaus to unfreeze or "thaw" the report.
By placing a freeze, many fraudulent applications can be stopped because the prospective creditor is unable to view the credit report and make a credit decision. To be effective, you should place a freeze on your file at each of the national credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis).
However, even this is not 100% guaranteed as some credit issuers may still choose to extend credit based upon other information that is available to them.
FRAUDFacts Tip: Credit freezes are free for confirmed Identity Theft victims, where available. For non-victims, there is typically a small charge imposed by the bureaus for each freeze and thaw action. While in place, a credit freeze can also impact you if you are applying for credit. You will need to remember to contact the credit bureau(s) and request that the freeze be temporarily lifted in general, or lifted for only a specific company. You can temporarily lift a freeze and then have it reinstated, but be aware that in some states it can take several days to lift a freeze, and then additional time to reinstate it.
Recently, the three primary national credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian, have voluntarily made credit freezes available to consumers within the 11 states that have not yet passed a credit security freeze law, as well as in the 4 states in which credit freezes are only available to confirmed Identity Theft victims. The fourth bureau, Innovis, has made credit freezes available to all consumers for quite some time. There is typically a $10 charge by the credit bureaus for each action of placing, lifting, or removing a credit freeze in these states. Check with your state Attorney General or consumer protection agency, or the credit bureaus, for specific instructions on how to place a credit freeze or to inquire if your state has or will enact a credit freeze law.
Where are Credit Freezes or Security Freezes Available?
At the present time, the following states have passed laws specifically providing access to credit freezes to consumers within their state. Many states with limited availability laws have recently updated their credit freeze law to extend the right to all consumers:
FRAUDFacts Tip: If you are a FRAUDFacts member, log-in to access the FRAUDFacts interactive state resources map for comprehensive information on laws and resources for your state.
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States with Credit Freeze Laws
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STATE
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EFFECTIVE DATE
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AVAILABLE TO
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COST
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Arkansas
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January 1, 2008
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ID Theft victims only*
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$10 per action (freeze/thaw)
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California
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January 1, 2003
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$10 per action for non-victims
$12 to lift freeze for a specific creditor
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Colorado
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July 1, 2006
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All consumers
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Free for first freeze, $10 for subsequent freezes
$10 per each subsequent action
$12 to lift freeze for a specific creditor
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Connecticut
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January 1, 2006
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All consumers
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$10 per action (freeze/thaw)
$12 to lift freeze for a specific creditor
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Delaware
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September 28, 2006
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$20 for non-victims to place
No fee to lift or remove
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District of Columbia
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July 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$10 for non-victims to place
No fee to lift or remove
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Florida
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July 1, 2006
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims and those over the age of 65
$10 for non-victims per action
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Hawaii
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June 15, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$5 for non-victims per action
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Illinois
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January 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ Police Reports and those over age 65
$10 for non-victims per action
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Indiana
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September 1, 2007
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All consumers
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No fees
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Kansas
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January 1, 2007
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ID Theft victims only*
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Free for ID Theft victims
$10 for non-victims per action
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Kentucky
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July 11, 2006
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$10 for non-victims per action
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Louisiana
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July 1, 2005
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims and those over the age of 62
$10 for non-victims
$8 to lift
Free to remove
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Maine
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February 1, 2006
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$10 per action for non-victims
$12 to lift freeze for a specific creditor
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Maryland
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January 1, 2008
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$5 per action for non-victims
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Massachusetts
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February 3, 2008
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims or victim's spouse
$5 per action for non-victims
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Minnesota
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August 1, 2006
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$5 per action for non-victims
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Mississippi
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July 1, 2007
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ID Theft victims only*
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$10 for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$10 for non-victims per action
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Montana
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July 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$3 to place for non-victims
Free to remove
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Nebraska
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September 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims and minors
$15 to place for non-victims
Free to lift or remove
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Nevada
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October 1, 2005
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$15 to place for non-victims
$18 per each subsequent action
$20 to lift freeze for a specific creditor
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New Hampshire
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January 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$10 for non-victims per action
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New Jersey
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January 1, 2006
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All consumers
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Free for first freeze
$5 per each subsequent action
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New Mexico
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July 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report and those over the age of 65
$10 for non-victims
$5 per each subsequent action
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New York
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November 1, 2006
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
First freeze free for non-victims
$5 per each subsequent action
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North Carolina
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December 1, 2005
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$10 for non-victims
$10 per each subsequent action
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North Dakota
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July 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$5 for non-victims
Free to remove
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Oklahoma
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January 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims and those over the age of 65
$10 for non-victims
$10 per each subsequent action
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Oregon
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October 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$10 for non-victims
$10 per each subsequent action
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Pennsylvania
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January 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims and those over the age of 65
$10 for non-victims
$10 per each subsequent action
Free to remove
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Rhode Island
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January 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims and those over the age of 65
$10 for non-victims
$10 per each subsequent action
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South Dakota
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July 1, 2006
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ID Theft victims only*
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$10 for non-victims per action
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Tennessee
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January 1, 2008
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$7.50 for non-victims
Free to lift
$5 to remove
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Texas
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September 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$10 for non-victims
$10 per each subsequent action
$12 to lift freeze for a specific creditor
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Utah
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September 1, 2008
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All consumers
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"Reasonable fees"
Allows freeze to be lifted within 15 minutes
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Vermont
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July 1, 2006
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$10 for non-victims
$5 to lift or remove
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Washington
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July 24, 2005
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ID Theft victims and data breach notification recipients*
Effective Sept 1, 2008, freezes are available to all consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims, those over the age of 65, and those receiving data breach notices
$10 for non-victims
$10 per each subsequent action
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West Virginia
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January 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$5 for non-victims
$5 per each subsequent action
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Wisconsin
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January 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims w/ police report
$10 for non-victims
$10 per each subsequent action
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Wyoming
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July 1, 2007
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All consumers
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Free for ID Theft victims
$10 for non-victims
$10 per each subsequent action
15 minute lift time beginning September 1, 2008
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©Copyright 2008 by Michael Barnett. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, copying, or distribution without permission is prohibited.
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