How to freeze your child’s credit report

As a result of the rollback of the Dodd-Frank Act, you can now freeze your minor’s report for free to prevent accounts from being opened in their name before they’ve had a chance to build their credit.

If your child is younger than 16, you can ask the major credit bureaus to create a file for your child and then freeze it. If your child is older than 16 but younger than 18, they can request the freeze for themselves.

How to freeze a child’s credit report

To freeze your child’s credit report, you must submit a form and supporting documentation that includes copies of:

• Your government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.
• A utility bill, court document or other way to confirm your mailing address.
• Your child’s birth certificate.
• Your child’s Social Security card.

Each credit bureau lists accepted documentation to prove your identity, mailing address and authority to act on behalf of your child.

After you mail in your form and proof, the credit bureaus create a credit file under your child’s name first. They then freeze the report to prevent lenders, creditors and identity thieves from applying for credit cards, bank accounts or loans under your child’s name.

Equifax

1. Download and print the Minor Freeze Request Form.
2. Gather the required documentation, including government-issued ID, proof that you’re the parent of your child and a copy of your child’s Social Security card and birth certificate.
3. Complete your form and mail it with documentation to:

   Equifax Security Freeze
   PO Box 105788
   Atlanta, GA 3034

Experian

1. Print Experian’s freeze request page.
2. Complete the form on behalf of your child, indicating any details as comments where indicated.
3. Gather required documentation that includes your government-issued ID, your child’s birth certificate and Social Security card and a utility bill or other accepted way to confirm your mailing address.
4. Mail the completed page and required documents to:

   Experian
   PO Box 9554
   Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion

1. Write a letter requesting a protected consumer freeze for your child, indicating their full name.
2. Gather and copy your child’s birth certificate or other accepted proof that you can act on behalf of your child.
3. Gather and copy sufficient proof of documentation, such as your Social Security card, your birth certificate or your driver’s license.
4. Mall your letter and supporting documentation to:

   TransUnion Protected Consumer Freeze
   PO Box 380
   Woodlyn, PA 19094

How much does it cost to freeze my child’s credit report?

You won’t pay a fee to request a freeze of your child’s credit report, thanks to the repeal of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Can I unfreeze my child’s credit report?

Yes. All three credit bureaus allow you to unfreeze a credit file for free online for one to 30 days or more:

• Equifax. Call 800-685-1111 or sign in to your MyEquifax account.
• Experian. Call 888-397-3742 or use the PIN assigned to you to unlock the freeze online.
• TransUnion. Call 888-909-8872, create a TransUnion account or sign in to an existing one.

Should I freeze my child’s credit report?

Yes, if you’re worried about bad actors using your child’s Social Security number to open fraudulent credit accounts.

A few reasons to freeze early:

• Children are favored targets for identity theft. More than 1 million children were victim to identity fraud in 2018 alone.
• Fraud can go unnoticed for years. By the time you discover that someone has stolen your child’s identity, it can spell enormous damage to your child’s credit.
• Fixing your child’s credit report is expensive. Correcting the damage that results from child identity fraud can cost you more than $540 million.
• Data breaches are increasing. As the 2017 Equifax data breach showed, breaches are serious and unpredictable when it comes to identity theft.

Taking action for a freeze is entirely up to you, however, teaching your children about credit reports can help set them on the right financial path at an early age.

Monitor your minor’s credit score with these paid services

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Name	Product	Starting price	Trial period	Credit scores	Credit monitoring	Credit reports	Update frequency
Experian Credit Report		$19.99	7 days	TransUnion, Equifax, Experian	Yes	TransUnion, Equifax, Experian	Monthly, Annually	Get your credit report and FICO score for just $1 with enrollment in Experian CreditWorks credit monitoring. Cancel anytime.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
TransUnion Credit Report		$24.95	No	TransUnion, Equifax, Experian	Yes	TransUnion, Equifax, Experian	Monthly	TransUnion credit score, monitoring and identity theft insurance.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
myFICO		$19.95	No	TransUnion, Equifax, Experian	Yes	TransUnion, Equifax, Experian	Monthly	Get quarterly access to your most widely used FICO® Scores and a 3-bureau credit report.	More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Equifax Small Business Credit Reporting		$99.95	No	TransUnion, Equifax, Experian	Yes	TransUnion, Equifax, Experian	Annually	Monitor your key business relationships to protect your company from losses.	More Info		loading Fetching your data...
GoFreeCredit.com		$24.95	7 days	TransUnion	Yes	TransUnion	Monthly	$1 for a seven-day trial to get access to your credit score and credit report from TransUnion.	More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Credit Karma		$0	No	TransUnion, Equifax	Yes	TransUnion, Equifax		More Info		loading Fetching your data...

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Bottom line

Freezing your child’s credit report is a free way to prevent thieves from assuming your child’s identity before they’ve had a chance to enter the credit market.

And if you’d like to take a deeper dive into how credit reports work, feel free to check out our guide.

Frequently asked questions

• How long do credit freezes last?

  Indefinitely, until you choose to lift the freeze.

• How do I monitor my child’s credit?

  Equifax, Experian and TransUnion offer similar ways to monitor your child’s credit report. Contact the credit reports directly to get started.

• How can I find out if someone is using my child’s Social Security number?

  You can contact the Social Security Administration directly to determine whether anyone is using their number. Contacting a credit bureau can also provide information on illegal use.