How to Freeze Your Social Security Number With a Credit Bureau

Your credit report and the Social Security Number (SSN) the credit bureau has on file carries significant importance for individuals interested in a loan or other form of credit. Individuals who have their Social Security number linked to a poor credit score may encounter difficulty finding low-interest credit rates, and may be rejected outright. Sometimes, individuals who fall victim to identity theft find their SSN used in conjunction with false information that may jeopardize their credit score. Learn how to freeze your credit report and the connected SSN with a credit bureau in order to protect your personal identity and credit score.

Instructions

1

Understand what a credit freeze accomplishes. When your credit score is frozen, your Social Security Number is locked and no one can apply for credit under your name. This prevents identity thieves from using stolen Social Security Numbers. If you ever want to apply for credit, you will have to contact the credit bureau and lift the freeze.

2

Collect your personal information. You will need to provide this information to each credit bureau at which you wish to freeze your credit report and the Social Security Number on file. You will need to provide the credit bureau with all basic identity information (e.g. date of birth and name). You will also need to provide proof of current address (e.g. a recent utility bill with your name and address on it), a list of all addresses that you lived at for the past 5 years, and a clear photocopy of a state-issued ID card.

3

Type a short, straightforward letter to the credit bureau. You may find the contact information for all three of the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) on their respective websites (links in the Resources section). In the letter, specify that you wish to freeze your credit report.

4

Place the letter in a manila envelope, along with all documents and identification you collected in Step 2. Never send original documents. If you need to use something like a birth certificate, make a photocopy and send the copy.

5

Send the envelope to the credit bureau via certified mail. This ensures that the letter will get to the intended recipient, and you have proof of the date that you sent the letter.

6

Wait for the credit bureaus to respond to your letter with confirmation that your credit score and Social Security Number have been frozen. You may receive a letter with a special personal identification number that you must use if you ever wish to lift the freeze on your file.