Security Freezes on Credit Reports

Most states in the U.S. have enacted laws that allow consumers to have the major credit reporting agencies place a "security freeze" on their credit reporting file (see map). This generally blocks access to their file. The primary purpose of these freezes is to make it more difficult for someone who has stolen that person's identity to open a credit account. If the person who requested the freeze wants to apply for credit, they must "unfreeze" their credit file by contacting the credit reporting agency. In late 2007, all three major credit reporting agencies began voluntarily allowing freezes in the states that did not yet have laws in effect. Read more