[l2ridehd]

Here is the information copied from their web sites. It can be done online as that is how I did mine and two have 800 numbers to call and do it. .


EQUIFAX CREDIT FREEZE - [Website]
• Credit freezes may be done online or by certified mail - return receipt requested.
• Check your state's listing for the exact cost of your credit freeze and to see if there is a reduction in cost if you are a senior citizen.
• Request your credit freeze by certified mail using this sample letter. Please note the attachments you must include.
• If your PIN is late arriving, call 1-888-298-0045 . They will ask you for some ID and arrange for your PIN to be sent to you in 4-7 days.
• Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your Equifax credit freeze by snail mail, online or by calling 1-888-298-0045 .

EXPERIAN CREDIT FREEZE - [Website]
• Credit freezes may be done online or by certified mail - return receipt requested.
• Check your state's listing for the exact cost of your credit freeze and to see if there is a reduction in cost if you are a senior citizen.
• Request your credit freeze by certified mail using this sample letter. Please note the attachments you must include.
• You can also freeze a child's credit report. The information contained at this link is applicable for all three credit bureaus. You must first write a letter to each bureau to learn if your minor child has a credit report and if so, then you can proceed to freeze it.
• Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your Experian credit freeze online or by calling 1-888-397-3742 .

TRANSUNION CREDIT FREEZE - [Website]
• Credit freezes may be done online, by phone ( 1-888-909-8872 ) or by certified mail - return receipt requested. (Some users have reported difficulty with the online method. Please try one of the other options if you too experience difficulty.)
• Check your state's listing for the exact cost of your credit freeze and to see if there is a reduction in cost if you are a senior citizen.
• Request your credit freeze by certified mail using this sample letter. Please note the attachments you must include.
• Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your TransUnion credit freeze online or by calling 1-888-909-8872 .

[Indy-Guy]

Below is a link to Clark Howard's guide to a credit freeze.

Credit Freeze and Thaw Guide | www.clarkhoward.com

[OnTrack]

Originally Posted by Indy-Guy

Below is a link to Clark Howard's guide to a credit freeze.

Credit Freeze and Thaw Guide | www.clarkhoward.com

Clark Howard is awesome!

.

[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by eremite06

Tried to freeze credit on Equifax and filled all my info from your link...which is really About.com. Couldn't get it done on line. They want you to mail or fax the info....but, this only applies to active military or someone who's already gotten their identity stolen. What gives?????

They also offer a 90 day temporary freeze. What happens after the 90 days and what does it cost???

We put a freeze on our credit reports with all 3 credit reporting agencies in January and the cost was $10 each for each agency for both mine and my wife's which totaled $60. We are not 65 yet.

We did all 3 on line but we were directly connected with each agency on their website. The links are provided below.

I would not trust a third party website.. You will be given information during the process you must retain to remove the freeze if ever needed.

Credit Freeze | Place a Security Freeze on Your Credit | TransUnion

https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freez...onalIDInfo.jsp

https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html

[kaydee]

Thank you for all the great advice and suggestions regarding this frustrating case of identity theft. I'm surprised to hear that this type of thing is so common and even more surprised that it was happening so many years ago. Naturally we automatically felt that due to our current computer age contributed to this type of illegal occurrence. We have contacted our bank and credit card companies. My husband spent most of today TRYING to contact Equifax etc and was not yet successful. Tried the phone calling and never was able to speak to any one directly. Went on-line to fill out the form which he did and hit submit only to receive the message back that submission was not successful due to their system being off line. So, tomorrow's another day of calling & filling out forms. I did notify social security office and was advised to notify the Federal Trade Commission. Would love to know how this happened but I doubt we will ever know. The Federal gov gives out no information to the victim!

[mommieswamie]

Same thing exactly has happened to us. I just sent you a pm

[Lbmb24101]

Yes
We have used lifelock.
8.40 a month thru my former employer.
Thank goodness, have never had to use it
Another poster suggested freezing the credit reports
We might look into that.

[kgentile1010]

Hi, So sorry to hear about your identity theft. I also had identity theft a few years back. Sadly, you have lots to do.

-- get a copy of your credit report at -- annualcreditreport.com This will show you all the credit that was opened in your name
-- file a police report with the details of all your bad credit
-- Mail a copy of the police report with a letter to each of the credit bureaus saying you're a victim of identity theft and to put a fraud alert on your accounts. This is free and will be on there for 7 years. Send them two telephone numbers. Companies requesting credit will have to call you each time a request for credit is made in your name. This works. Everytime I have requested credit, I've gotten a call.
-- call each of the fraudulent new credit companies and tell them you had your identity stolen and credit was opened fraudulently. They'll send you to their fraud department and they can tell you how to dispute the credit. Usually letters with the police report.
-- Send letters to your credit bureau disputing each item on your credit report that is fraudulent with a copy of the police report.

Doing all this above cleaned up my credit and I had no negative impact to my credit worthiness after that. However, it was about 30 hours of work to get this all done.