News-Record.com

Here's a summary statement:

Stop identity thieves from accessing new credit in your name with a security freeze. Placing a security freeze costs $10 per credit bureau and is a way for you to keep new creditors from accessing your credit report and, thus, stop them from issuing new credit in your name ... In the alternative, companies, such as the three credit bureaus, can monitor your credit for a fee and will notify you if there is any activity on your credit report, including if anyone looks at your credit report.

Info for the three big credit bureaus:

EQUIFAX PO Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 www.equifax.com 1-800-685-1111 (credit report orders) 1-800-525-6283 (fraud)

EXPERIAN
PO Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742

TRANSUNION
PO Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
www.tuc.com
1-800-916-8800
(credit report orders)
1-800-680-7289 (fraud)

I ripped this next section directly from the tip sheet entitled "Freeze Access to Your Credit:" ((Click here for the original PDF)

What is a Security Freeze A 'security freeze' is a new consumer right provided by North Carolina law, enacted as part of the Identity Theft Protection Act of 2005 pushed by Attorney General Roy Cooper. Placing a security freeze on your credit reports can block an identity thief from opening a new account or obtaining credit in your name.

A security freeze, also known as a credit or a file freeze, keeps new creditors from accessing your credit report without your express authorization. If you activate a security freeze, an identity thief cannot take out new credit in your name, even if the thief has your Social Security number or other personal information, because creditors cannot access your credit report.

How to Place a Security Freeze
Any consumer can request a security freeze. They're free to identity theft victims who have filed a police report. Other consumers will pay $10 to each of the three credit bureaus for a total cost of $30 per person to freeze a credit report for an unlimited time.

To place a freeze, send a letter by certified mail to each of the three credit bureaus that includes the following information along with payment:

• Full name including middle initial and any suffix (such as Jr.)
• Home addresses for the last five years
• Social Security Number and date of birth
• Two proofs of residence (examples: copy of driver’s license, utility bill, insurance statement, bank statement)
• Police or DMV report if you’re a victim of identity theft
• $10 payment by check, money order, or credit card* (Visa, Master Card, American Express or Discover accepted. Must include card name, account number and expiration date)

*TransUnion accepts payment by credit card only.

A sample letter is available at www.ncdoj.com/idtheft that you can copy and send to all three credit bureaus. (Editing note:I'll post a copy of that sample letter lower down on this page.)

How to Lift or Remove a Security Freeze
Within ten days of a credit bureau placing a security freeze on your credit, the bureau will send you a unique PIN number and instructions on how to lift the freeze temporarily or to remove it permanently.

If you want to take out a loan, get a new credit card or apply for a job or certain services, you can lift the security freeze for a certain period of time by notifying the credit bureau according
to its procedures. The credit bureau should "thaw" your freeze within three business days of receiving the request.

The credit bureaus can charge you a fee up to $10 for temporarily lifting or permanently removing the freeze, unless you are a victim of identity theft and have provided a valid police report or complaint.

More Information about a Security Freeze

• Credit bureaus must place a freeze on your credit within five business days of receiving your written request.
  
• A creditor who requests your file will see a message or code indicating that the report frozen and may treat your application as incomplete. The creditor will not see your credit score.
  
• Certain entities can continue to access your credit despite the freeze, such as government agencies for purposes of collecting child support payments or taxes and your existing creditors or collection agencies acting on their behalf.
  
• Other creditors may also use your information to offer you pre-approved credit. You stop most pre-approved credit offers by calling (888) 5-OPT-OUT or by going online: www.optoutprescreen.com.
  
• You will still be able to get a free copy of your credit report annually from each credit bureau by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
  
• For more information, see the NC Identity Theft Protection Act, N.C.G.S. § 75-63.

Now, here's that sample letter that was mentioned earlier ((Click here for the original PDF, which will produce a much nicer looking form):

Letter to Request a Security Freeze

SELECT ONE: (To request a freeze from all three credit reporting bureaus, send a separate certified letter to each bureau.)

Equifax
Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348

Experian Security
Security Freeze
P. O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

Trans Union
Security Freeze
P. O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

To whom it may concern:

I would like to place a security freeze on my credit file.

My full name is: __________________________.
My current address is: ______________________________
_____________________________________________________.

My former address and/or addresses over the last five years are:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

My Social Security number is: ______________ .

My date of birth is: __________.

As proof of my residence, I am enclosing the following two items:
1. .
2. .

CHECK ONE
__ I am an identity theft victim and a copy of my police report or DMV Investigative report of identity theft is enclosed.
OR
__ I will pay the fee of $10 for placing the freeze on my credit.
Yours truly,

(Place signature here.)