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Security Freeze
There are more than eight million new victims of identity theft each year in the U.S.
Many of these victims find that crooks have used stolen personal information like Social Security numbers to open new accounts in their victim’s name. A security freeze gives consumers the choice to “freeze” or lock access to their credit file against anyone trying to open up a new account or to get new credit in their name. For more information, see: Frequently Asked Questions about the security freeze. To help you decide if getting a security freeze is right for you, click here (PDF).
If you are you experiencing problems with your security freeze, click here.
When a security freeze is in place at all three major credit bureaus, an identity thief cannot open a new account because the potential creditor or seller of services will not be able to check the credit file. When the consumer is applying for credit, he or she can lift the freeze temporarily using a PIN so legitimate applications for credit or services can be processed.
Publications
- Washington
Eligibility: Currently applies to identity theft victims, including persons who receive a notice of a security breach of computerized personal information. Beginning September 1, 2008, all consumers will be eligible for the freeze.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims or seniors aged 65 years and older. Once all other consumers become eligible in September 2008, they will pay $10 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether.
Effective date of law: July 24, 2005 for identity theft victims; September 1, 2008 for all consumers
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Washington’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Washington’s security freeze law from WA’s Attorney General - Virginia
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims with police reports. All others pay a $10 fee to place the freeze.
Effective date of law: July 1, 2008
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Virginia’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Virginia’s security freeze law - Vermont
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All others pay $10 to place the freeze, $5 to lift it temporarily or remove it altogether.
Effective date of law: July 1, 2006
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Vermont’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Vermont’s security freeze law from VT’s Attorney General - Utah
Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: Utah’s law allows credit bureaus to charge “reasonable fees,” without specifying the amount that can be charged.
Note: Consumers will be able to temporarily lift or “thaw” the freeze within 15 minutes of electronic request
Effective date of law: September 1, 2008
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Utah’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Utah’s security freeze law - Texas
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All other consumers pay $10 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or to remove it altogether. $12 to lift the freeze temporarily for a specific creditor.
Effective date of law: September 1, 2003 for identity theft victims; September 1, 2007 for all consumers
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Texas’ security freeze law
Instructions for using Texas’ security freeze law - Tennessee
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All others pay $7.50 to place the freeze, no fee to lift it temporarily, and $5 to remove it altogether.
Effective date of the law: January 1, 2008
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Tennessee’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Tennessee’s security freeze law
Copy of Tennessee’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Tennessee’s security freeze law - South Dakota
Eligibility: Identity theft victims with a valid police report. As of November 1, 2007, the security freeze will be offered by all three major credit bureaus voluntarily to all consumers.
Fees: No fees permitted by law for identity theft victims. All others pay $10 to place, temporarily lift, or remove the freeze altogether.
Note: Only freezes credit report and automatically expires after 7 years from date of placement
Effective date of law: July 1, 2006
Copy of South Dakota’s security freeze law
Instructions for using South Dakota’s security freeze law - South Carolina
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: None.
Effective date of law: December 31, 2008
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of South Carolina’s security freeze law
Instructions for using South Carolina’s security freeze lawUntil December 31, 2008, you may use the voluntary program.
Security Freeze Instructions for Equifax
Security Freeze Instructions for Experian
Security Freeze Instructions for TransUnion - Rhode Island
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims or seniors aged 65 years and older. All others pay $10 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether.
Effective date of law: January 1, 2007
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Rhode Island’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Rhode Island’s security freeze law - Pennsylvania
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims or seniors aged 65 and older. All others pay $10 to place the freeze or to lift it temporarily. No fee to remove the freeze.
Note: Security freeze automatically expires after 7 years from date of placement.
Effective date of law: January 1, 2007
Copy of Pennsylvania’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Pennsylvania’s security freeze law
Press Releases
- Illinois Governor signs identity theft protections into law
Laws require notice when data security is breached & give consumers security freeze rights.
- Colorado consumers get powerful new identity theft protection
New law gives consumers the right to freeze crooks out of credit files.
- Senate Committee to Consider ID Theft Issues at April 13 Hearing
Senator Feinstein introduces bill to require national notice of data security breaches.
- Bank of America computer tape loss puts 1.2 million at risk of ID theft
CU is working to enact stronger identity theft safeguards for consumers.
- Stronger ID theft protections urged in wake of ChoicePoint Fraud
More than a dozen states are considering tougher safeguards for consumers.
Blog Posts
- Freeze Facts
By now, you may have heard of this nifty identity theft prevention tool called the security freeze. But, there seems to be a lot of confusion about what the security freeze is and what it can do. So, I’ve decided to put together some quick facts about the security freeze.
- The Word’s Out, the Freeze is on Yahoo!
The freeze is on the first page of Yahoo! today, February 21st. Word must be getting out that the security freeze is a good tool for consumers to use to help prevent new identity theft and fraud.
- Don’t Pay for a Fraud Alert
Don’t be fooled into paying for services that place a fraud alert or help stop the junk mail from coming in. These are both required by law to be free!
- Eight more states
Eight more states had their security freeze laws go into effect at the beginning of the year. The security freeze can help protect your identity and your finances. It lets you lock up your credit files so that fraudsters can’t open up new accounts and rack up mountains of debt.
- Pennsylvania, It’s Time to Freeze
Your credit that is–starting January 1, 2007. SB 180, a security freeze bill, was signed into law last week by Governor Rendell.
- News from Transunion
Have you heard about the latest data security breach? This one’s at Transunion! Apparently, someone in Arizona tapped into more than 1700 people’s credit information with one password.
- Still on the Lookout
Even with the new Congress, reports www.ConsumerAffairs.com, “Not everything looks so rosy on the identity theft front. Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH), sponsor of what critics (including Consumers Union) called the ‘worst data bill ever,’ retained his seat in Congress, though he will lose his position as chair of the Transportation Subcommittee.
- CardSystems’ security breach shows need for stronger safeguards
Latest incident highlights how lax data security puts consumers at risk for fraud.
- Fixing the Credit Reporting System
Consumer group analysis of house FCRA legislation: H.R. 2622.
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