Security Freeze

A Security Freeze is a way for you to control access to your credit information. Depending on your state of residence, details may vary.

• What is a Security Freeze?
• Who is eligible for a Security Freeze and does it cost anything?
• Will TransUnion share a request for a Security Freeze with other credit reporting agencies?
• How do I add a Security Freeze to my credit report?
• Can I temporarily lift a Security Freeze?
• How do I temporarily lift the Security Freeze?
• How do I permanently remove a Security Freeze?
• Are there situations that my credit report will be provided to another party even though it has a Security Freeze?
• How do I change my PIN?
• What do I do if I lose my PIN?
• Do I qualify for a free Security Freeze?
• How long will my file remain frozen?

What is a Security Freeze?
When a Security Freeze is added to your TransUnion credit report, all third parties, such as credit lenders or other companies, whose use is not exempt under law will not be able to access your credit report without your consent.

The Security Freeze may delay, interfere with or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make that involves access to your credit report. This may include, but is not limited to, new loans, credit, mortgages, insurance, rental housing, employment, investments, licenses, cellular phone service, utility service, digital signature service, Internet credit card transactions and extension of credit at point of sale.

Additionally, while your report is frozen, companies that provide consumer data to TransUnion will not be allowed to update name, address, SSN and date of birth information on your credit report. If there are any changes made to your name or address while your file is frozen, please notify TransUnion directly so that we can update your personal information and have the security freeze rules and any applicable fees applied for that state.  The changes should be mailed to TransUnion as instructed in the Security Freeze information letter you will receive after your file is frozen.

If you wish to apply for a new credit account or other credit relationship, and the prospective lender or company needs to access your credit report, you will need to either remove or temporarily lift the Security Freeze unless the situation is one of those exempt from Security Freezes as defined by law.

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Who is eligible for a Security Freeze and does it cost anything? (Security Freeze Table)

Security Freeze is available to all consumers who reside in the United States, including Puerto Rico, Guam and Virgin Islands. The table below provides detail on any fees that may apply.

If you are an identity theft victim and are eligible for a free Security Freeze as indicated in the table above, you will need to provide a copy of a valid identity theft report you have filed with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency.

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If I request a Security Freeze on my TransUnion credit report, will it be shared with the other credit reporting agencies?
The TransUnion Security Freeze will be applied only to your TransUnion credit report. If you wish to restrict access to your credit report at other consumer reporting agencies, you must contact them directly.

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How do I add a Security Freeze to my credit report?
If you wish to add a Security Freeze to your credit report, you must submit a written request (MN, NM, DC and ND residents may make their request by telephone by calling 888-909-8872. Residents of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and West Virginia may make their requests via overnight mail). Your written request must include your name, address, Social Security Number along with the applicable fee, if any, for the service.  Acceptable forms of payment are check, money order, or credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa).  Please also include proof of your current residence, such as a state issued identification card or driver's license. Once your request is received, the Security Freeze will be added within the time required by your state. You will be provided with an information letter including a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Mail your written request to: TransUnion, Fraud Victim Assistance Department, P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834. (New York, New Jersey, and West Virginia residents making their request via overnight mail may send their requests to TransUnion, Fraud Victim Assistance Department, 1561 E. Orangethorpe Ave. Fullerton, CA 92831.)

If you are a victim of identity theft and can provide TransUnion with a copy of a valid identity theft report, a department of motor vehicles investigation report, or similar proof that you have been a victim of ID theft, you will not be charged a fee for the Security Freeze services. If you are a resident of North Dakota, you may fax your request with your identity theft document(s) to (714) 525-0668, Attention: Security Freeze Request. If you are not a victim of identity theft, please refer to the Security Freeze Table for fees (if any). Under certain circumstances, as defined by state law, you may be eligible for reduced fee or free Security Freeze services.

If your state entitles you to add a Security Freeze at no charge due to your age, please send us verification of your date of birth with your Security Freeze request. Acceptable forms of verification include a copy of one of the following documents that shows your date of birth: a birth certificate, driver's license, state identification, or some other legal document indicating date of birth.

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Can I temporarily lift the Security Freeze? 
Yes.  A temporary lift is a process that allows TransUnion to release your credit report to third parties, such as credit lenders or other companies, while your file is frozen. Certain states allow you to choose either a global lift or a specific third party lift. A global lift will allow any third party with a permissible purpose to receive your credit report. A specific third party lift will allow only third parties with a permissible purpose and a unique access code to receive your credit report. This access code will be provided to you at the time the specific third party lift is set. You must notify the third party that this access code will be required in order to access your credit report and that you will be providing this access code to them.

You must specify the amount of time, in days, that you want this temporary lift in effect. For all temporary lifts, the minimum time period is one days and the maximum time period is 30 days. Please refer to the Security Freeze Table for fees that may apply for this service.

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How do I temporarily lift the Security Freeze?
To temporarily lift your Security Freeze by phone, you can call 888-909-8872. Please have ready your Social Security number, date of birth, Security Freeze PIN, lift type, start and end dates and the payment method to be used to pay the applicable fee, if any, for the service. Under certain circumstances, as defined by state law, you may be eligible for reduced fee or free Security Freeze services. To temporarily lift your Security Freeze by mail, complete the Lift section of the Security Freeze Form that was sent to you with the Security Freeze information letter, after you requested the Security Freeze, and mail it to the address shown at the bottom of the form.  Acceptable forms of payment are check, money order, or credit card (American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa).  When selecting the start date for your temporary lift, be sure to allow mail delivery time for your request to reach TransUnion.

It may take up to three business days to process your request to temporarily lift the Security Freeze by mail. If you request a temporary lift by phone, it may take up to 15 minutes to process your request. It may take longer if you have lost the Security Freeze PIN that we provide to you when you first request the Security Freeze be placed on your credit file.

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How do I permanently remove a Security Freeze?
To permanently remove the Security Freeze from your credit report, you must submit a written request or a completed copy of the Security Freeze Form provided in the Security Freeze information letter you received to the address shown at the bottom of the form (PA and TN residents may make their request by calling 888-909-8872). Please include your TransUnion file identification number (FIN), Security Freeze PIN, and the applicable fee, if any, for the service. Acceptable forms of payment are check, money order, or credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa).  Under certain circumstances, as defined by state law, you may be eligible for reduced fee or free Security Freeze services.

TransUnion will remove the Security Freeze within three business days and will notify you of the removal. Mail your written request to: TransUnion, Fraud Victim Assistance Department, PO. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834.

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Are there situations that my credit report will be provided to another party even though it has a Security Freeze?
Yes.  According to state laws, there are situations and organizations that are exempt from the Security Freeze. Your credit report may be released to the following parties for a permissible use even if there is a Security Freeze on your file:

• Companies that have a current financial relationship with you
• A prospective assignee of a financial obligation that is reviewing your account for maintenance, monitoring, increasing credit lines, account upgrades and enhancements and collecting the financial obligation
• State or local agency, law enforcement, trial court, Child Support Agencies or a private collection agency acting on a court order, warrant or subpoena
• Uses falling under FCRA Section 608 - Disclosures to Governmental Agencies
• Uses falling under FCRA Section 625 - Disclosure to FBI for Counterintelligence purposes
• FCRA defined prescreening
• Any person or entity for the purpose of administering a credit file monitoring subscription service to which the consumer has subscribed providing a consumer with a copy of his or her credit report upon the consumer's request
• Any person or entity for the purpose of providing a consumer with a copy of his or her credit report upon the consumer's request
• All other exemptions as allowed by the state where you currently reside.

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How do I change my PIN?
If you know your TransUnion file identification number (FIN) and PIN, you may call our toll free telephone number, 888-909-8872. You may be asked to verify your identity again. If you do not know your PIN, you may request a new one in writing. Please provide proof of identification, such as a copy of your driver's license, passport, birth certificate or other proper identification forms. A fee may be requested for residents of some states for a replacement PIN.

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What do I do if I lose my PIN?
If you lose the PIN that was issued to you when you added the Security Freeze to your credit file, you may request a new one in writing.  Please provide proof of identification, such as a copy of your driver's license, passport, birth certificate or other proper identification forms. A fee may be required for residents of some states for a replacement PIN.  For additional information on replacing your lost PIN, call our toll free telephone number, 888-909-8872.

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Do I qualify for a free Security Freeze?
Security Freeze services may be free of charge to you depending on your state of residence. Services may also be free if you are a victim of identity theft in an eligible state and can provide the consumer reporting agency with a valid identity theft report or other valid report from a law enforcement agency. In some states, consumers over a certain age are eligible for free Security Freeze services. Please refer to the Security Freeze table.

If you believe you qualify for a free Security Freeze due to identity theft you must supply our office with a copy of a Law Enforcement report alleging identity theft that has been filed with your local law enforcement department or the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If you believe you qualify for a free Security Freeze due to your age, please send us verification of your date of birth with your Security Freeze request. Acceptable forms of verification include one of the following documents that show your date of birth: a birth certificate, driver's license, state identification, or some other legal document indicating date of birth.

If you are a resident of the State of Washington and have been notified of a breach of computerized data that contained your information, please provide our office with a copy of the notification to receive your Security Freeze free of charge.

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How long will my file remain frozen?
In general, the Security Freeze will remain on your file until you request its removal in writing. Security Freeze for some states remain in effect for seven years from the date the file is frozen.

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