- 1). Choose one of the three national credit bureaus to start the credit freeze process. You must go through the process separately with Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Otherwise companies can view your records with the bureaus that do not have a freeze in place.
- 2). Select your state of residence on the chosen bureau's credit freeze information web page. States have different laws on credit freeze costs. Usually you must pay a fee of about $10, but some states give you the right to freeze your records for free if you are an identity theft victim. Certain states mandate discounts for senior citizens.
- 3). Write a letter to the credit bureau explaining that you wish to freeze your records. Include your full name, Social Security number, current address, previous addresses over the past the past two years, and a photocopy of your driver's license or another government-issued photo identification card. Attach a check for the fee specified on the website and send your letter through certified mail, Howard advises. The bureau's address will be listed on its credit freeze information page.
- 4). Visit the credit freeze pages on the other two credit bureau websites to obtain their addresses, and send certified freeze requests with copies of your identification and checks for the appropriate fees.
- 5). Store your personal identification numbers when you receive them from the credit bureaus. These numbers are vitally important because you use them to temporarily thaw your records when you apply for credit. Lenders cannot look at your history unless you thaw it. Howard states that thaws sometimes cost up to $10.
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