Posted by Mackenzie Arsenault on December 17, 2015
With the holidays upon us and online shopping in full force it is good to remember one step that can help protect your identity – freeze your credit.
A credit freeze prevents companies or individuals from accessing your credit report. This prevents new lines of credit from being issued in your name i.e. loans or credit cards. Any consumer can place a freeze on their credit by contacting each of the three bureaus by mail, online or phone. Typically, unless you are a victim of identity theft there is a $10 fee at each bureau to freeze and then an additional fee to unfreeze. As of October 15th, 2015 Maine became one of a few states that allow their residents to freeze and unfreeze their credit for FREE!
The process is the same but without the charge.
Maine resident or not we recommend credit freezes for those who do not have an immediate credit need, want to protect their privacy or have been a past victim of identity theft.
Contact information for the three bureaus:
Equifax: 1-800-349-9960
www.freeze.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
Trans Union: 1-888-909-8872
www.transunion.com/freeze
