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Generally, you will need to freeze at all three bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax and Experian - to make it effective. It's possible, however, that a bureau doesn't have a report on you - and it's silly to pay to freeze something that doesn't exist. So before you apply, get a copy of your free annual credit report from each bureau to see who has a report on you. You will also want to check the freeze terms at each bureau before deciding. How to apply: TransUnion has its system up and running. Send your name, Social Security number and a credit card number and expiration date (for the $10 charge) to TransUnion, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, Calif., 92834-6790. If you are a victim of ID theft, freezes and thaws are free. For more information, call 1-888-909-8872.
Steer clear of companies offering to fix your credit - Money Matters
Q: I'm 53. After years of taking care of my ill father, I've got about $17,000 in credit card debt. My interest rates have been jacked up because my credit rating is so bad. (I made some late payments during times my dad was in the hospital and life was crazy.) I've heard about places that can fix your credit. I'd like to get caught up on my bills but it's impossible with interest rates of more than 30 percent. Can these places really fix your credit rating? R.I., Lakewood A: Steer clear of these outfits. There are only three types of supposed credit-repair companies: Those that charge hundreds of dollars to write letters to the credit bureaus to dispute negative information on your report. If the information is accurate, it won't be deleted. If it's inaccurate, you can write the letters yourself at no charge.
Credit freeze can head off identity theft
IT COULD happen to you. Somebody swipes your Social Security number, then uses it to open a credit card in your name. Before you know it, you've become a victim of identity theft and have a pile of bills for things you didn't buy. Orinda resident Sylvia Coates has found a way to prevent that unpleasant scenario from happening by freezing her credit reports. "I can't tell you how wonderful it is. I think it is the only foolproof way," she said. Coates applied for a credit freeze soon after that option become available in California in 2003, thanks to passage of a state law that requires credit reporting bureaus to let consumers initiate a credit freeze. Having a credit freeze means that access to your credit reports and credit scores cannot be shared with potential creditors or lenders unless you give permission.
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