Same goes for anyone you’re caring for who is incapacitated and can’t advocate for themselves, and for whom you have a power of attorney document. If your child’s information has been compromised, you can place a hold on their credit file as well. You can also call Experian or mail in a credit freeze request. There’s no cost for placing a credit freeze, according to federal law, and it will take effect immediately if you place the request online. You’ll also need to create a PIN, which you’ll use to remove the freeze when you’re ready. To freeze your credit with Experian, simply go to the Experian website and input your name, address, Social Security number, date of birth and email address. The tips below are specific to Experian’s credit freezing process. It’s important to know that you have to file a credit freeze request with the three major credit bureaus, which are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Placing a hold as soon as you know you’ve been exposed will help you avoid having your money stolen or your credit destroyed. When that happens, you don’t know if the fraudster simply got a hold of your card information or whether they have the data to take out loans or credit lines under your name. You may also want to place a credit freeze if you’ve noticed fraudulent charges or withdrawals on your existing accounts. PII refers to details such as your name, address, birth date, Social Security number and driver’s license number. See related: What you need to know about common identity theft techniques When should you freeze your credit?Īny time your personally identifiable information (PII) is stolen or exposed through a data breach, you should consider freezing your credit. Even if an identity thief has your personal information, they won’t get far in opening a new account if your credit data is blocked. A credit freeze prevents lenders from pulling your credit score or history to open a new loan or credit card. There is a way you can fight back, however, and that is by freezing your credit. But your score can be jeopardized if your personal data gets hacked or someone fraudulently opens accounts in your name. One of the best things you can do for your finances is protect your credit.Ī good credit score and history are essential to getting loans and credit cards, not to mention qualifying for low interest rates.
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