I have a special treat for you all today. You have to pay a service to do this to hear some companies tell it. ;)

I’m telling you how for FREE!

Bet ya didn’t know that you can LOCK your credit report. Yep, lock it. From inquiries, from background checks, from pre-approved offers, from identity theft, from everything except accounts you already have open.

Pull a fast one on those companies who want you to pay for this level of security…

Okay, for your credit reports to be locked it’ll take a little money - but it’s ten to twelve dollars for each company and it’ll cost the same to unlock it if you need to.

Your existing creditors will still be able to report to your credit and send you offers but no one will be able to perform an inquiry, a background check, a credit check or anything.

If you want it released for a certain period of time you can do so, you can also have it released to just one person. You have to notify the credit agency 5 days before you take any action on your credit file and in writing.

To freeze your credit you need to send the letter by certified mail - return receipt requested so that you know when they’ve received it and you’ll know when you can tell someone to pull your report.

Each of these instances may cost you a fee. This is free to people who have a police report verifying identity theft. The addresses you’ll write to are below:

Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, Georgia

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

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

Here’s what you have to include:

1. A letter by certified mail.

2. Provide your full name, including middle initial, address, social security number and date of birth.

3.You haven’t moved but if you had over the past five years you’d need to list your addresses out for the past five years.

4. Provide proof of current address with a utility bill or phone bill.

5. Send a photocopy of a government issued id card or license.

6. Pay the fee by check, money order or credit card.

After five days the freeze will be in place. After ten days you’ll receive a pin number or password, you know what to do once you get that.

Credit bureaus have to lift a freeze three days after receiving your request to lift it. If anyone tries to pull your file while it is frozen, they will get a code that indicates the report is frozen. You can still order your own report however and your score is not affected by this.

By the way if you haven’t stopped the pre-approved credit card offers read this opt out guide to find out how.

The case law that allows you to lock your credit report is called the Regulation of Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act.

I’ve attached a sample letter so you can just plug your info and the address to the proper agency in so that you don’t have to do much to get this going.

Security Freeze Sample Letter

Read this article if you want to know how to put a
Fraud Alert On Your Credit File before you lock it.

I hope this guide proves to be useful to you, and please know that you DO NOT have to pay for information to protect yourself. You CAN find it for free. Look through my archives for multiple articles that help you help yourself. I believe in doing what you can do yourself, because that is the only way you can be sure YOUR interests are what are important.

That’s all for today folks, don’t be suckered into paying for something that you can get for free!