How to freeze your credit report?

You have to pay $10 to any of the three credit reporting agencies and also have to send them a copy of your ID to freeze your credit report. Credit bureaus take five business days to freeze your credit report and another 10 business days to send you a confirmation letter with a PIN and toll free number to call in case you need to lift the freeze.

And if you are a victim of identity theft, then you do not have to pay to freeze your credit report but you have to provide the police report or complaint to the credit reporting agencies. After the freeze, no one will have the access to your credit report or credit score.

You can temporarily lift the security freeze by paying $10 if you required or pay $12 so that selected creditors have the access to your report. Here are credit reporting agencies contact info you can use to receive a copy of your credit report, to dispute information on your credit report or to place a fraud alert

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, www.equifax.com, P.O Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742), www.experian.com, P.O Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289, www.transunion.com, Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790