A security freeze blocks access by new creditors to your credit report. You have the right to institute a security freeze on your credit report for any reason if you are a Nebraska resident, as established under state law. You must follow the procedures laid out by the major credit bureaus to place a freeze on your report.
Filing
Complete a security freeze form for each of the three major credit bureaus in the U.S., Transunion, Equifax and Experian. Send supporting documentation, including a copy of your state identification and proof of your current address---such as a bank statement---by certified mail to each credit bureau. The forms and exact process varies for each agency, but the form typically requests your personal information, such as your name, address and Social Security number, and must be signed and dated. A unique pin number is sent by mail to your home once the freeze has been processed; the pin is needed to lift or end the freeze. You can dictate how specific you want the freeze to be in Nebraska, blocking all new creditors from your report indefinitely or for a specific time range.
Rights
All consumers can place a security freeze on a credit report in Nebraska, including a minor under the age of 19. However, the parent or guardian assisting with or completing the freeze form must submit proof of legal relationship, such as a birth certificate for the minor or a court order. A person who wants to only lift the freeze for a specific creditor instead of defined a period of time has the right to do so, and he can end the freeze at any time by following the directions of the credit bureau.
The credit bureau can take one to two days to process a temporary or permanent freeze lift, so the consumer can encounter difficulty if attempting to get new credit without removing the freeze beforehand.
Benefits
A security freeze protects your credit. New creditors cannot see your report for the purpose of opening a new account in your name without having your PIN. A victim of identity theft can prevent criminals from opening new accounts and creating debt in her name. You can still see which creditors attempted to access your report while under a security freeze, a helpful option if you are trying to track down an identity thief in Nebraska or outside of the state.
Considerations
You must lift your security freeze by contacting the credit bureaus and supplying your PIN if you want to allow a creditor to view your report. Credit card companies and other creditors with which you have an existing relationship, can access your report in Nebraska, but only for pre-screened offers or existing account purposes. A creditor you already have an account with cannot open a new account in your name without the freeze being lifted.
Fees
Each bureau charges $3 for placing or lifting a security freeze for Nebraska residents as of 2011. Victims of identify theft do not have to pay a fee for a security freeze, but you must provide documentation of the crime, such as a police report.
The credit bureau can take one to two days to process a temporary or permanent freeze lift, so the consumer can encounter difficulty if attempting to get new credit without removing the freeze beforehand.
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