Thanks to the new Consumer Protection Act, you can now freeze your kids’ credit (and your own) for free in all 50 states! And… you can request the freeze by phone or online WITHOUT putting sensitive information the mail!
Below, you’ll find a summary of our Child Credit Freeze investigation along with links and a Step-By-Step Guide to Freeze Your Child’s Credit.
#NewsMom NOTE:
We recently discovered some of the bureaus may be requiring you mail in sensitive documents despite laws intended to prevent that. We are investigating and hope to provide an alternative soon. Please check back for an update. In the meantime, we do not recommend mailing in the required documents.
Read more here: Experian Child Credit Freeze Warning: Parents Beware of Mailing Sensitive Info
The Back Story:
As a Consumer-Investigative reporter, I’ve covered child ID theft for years. So, when I became a mom I immediately set out to freeze my own toddler’s credit. What I discovered led to a year-long series of editorial blogs that ultimately prompted a new state law and a series of consumer reports.
It may have taken a few years (and a few dozen massive hacks), but lawmakers finally listened and now every parent has the tools to help protect their child from ID theft.
From medical records to insurance databases to school district computers, hackers are increasingly gaining access to our kids’ sensitive data. Research shows that kids could be 50 times more likely to have their identities stolen than adults, in part, because kids’ pristine credit records provide a blank slate for thieves and often go unchecked for more than 18 years.
A credit freeze is widely believed to be the single best tool to prevent financial ID theft. However, for years, the credit bureaus have refused to let parents freeze their kids’ credit unless they lived in a state where lawmakers had passed a law that forced the bureaus to allow child credit freezes.
In “Why My Toddler Has a Credit Card,” I revealed a loophole I discovered that allowed me to freeze my daughter’s credit even though we lived in a state without a child credit freeze law.
However, I quickly discovered that the credit bureaus themselves were putting the identities of both parents and children at risk by using antiquated security protocols. Among other things, they required I mail sensitive documents to a PO box!
In “How I Forced the Bureaus to Freeze My Child’s Credit,” I outlined the security risks, provided alternative and detailed the 6-month effort to encourage changes.
Citing this continuing coverage, California Assemblyman Mike Gatto introduced the child credit freeze legislation AB 1580 that, for the first time, would give California parents the right to freeze their child’s credit before they were victimized. It unanimously passed the state senate and assembly and was signed by the governor in 2016.
California’s Child Credit Freeze Legislation prompted calls for a similar federal law. That came in 2018 with the implementation of the Consumer Protection Act!
Now all parents can freeze their kids’ credit (and their own) for free! You can also request the freeze by phone or online WITHOUT being forced to put sensitive information the mail!
For tips on how to freeze your kid’s credit, check out our 2016 “Step-By-Step Guide to Freeze Your Child’s Credit.”
It includes a detailed summary of hard-to-find contact information, tips and sample documents specific to each bureau, along with a candid description of the hurdles and security concerns you may encounter along the way.
We’ll be updating the guide shortly with a revised “how-to” following the implementation of the federal law. In the mean time, reach out to me if you have any trouble freezing your kid’s credit.
(And remember, DON’T put your social security number or other sensitive info in the mail!)
Continuing Coverage: Investigating Child ID Theft & Credit Freezes
Why My Toddler Has a Credit Card
Over the years, I’ve covered far too many news stories about identity theft. I’ve interviewed adult identity theft victims, child identity theft victims, security experts and even convicted ID thieves. So, from the day I received my daughter’s Social Security card, I was determined to freeze her credit. A credit freeze / security freeze… [Continue...]
How I Forced the Credit Bureaus to Freeze My Child’s Credit
When I first began covering credit freezes, I was shocked that the bureaus would not let me freeze my child’s credit. As I’ve mentioned in several blog posts and broadcast news stories, a credit freeze is widely believed to be the single best tool to prevent financial ID theft. It basically prevents anyone from running a credit check in your name… [Continue...]
You Need My Social Security Number But You Won’t Give Me Your Employee ID?
By now, most people know that their Social Security number is the key to their identity, so they need to be very judicious about who they share it with. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that the credit bureaus required me to give my number to an unidentified foreign call center rep (without an employee ID). On its surface… [Continue...]
TransUnion Child Credit Freeze Summary
While the TransUnion child credit freeze process is relatively easy, especially if you live in a state that requires them to let you freeze your child’s credit, their standard procedure for implementing a “protected consumer freeze” (outlined here) presents a couple of significant security risks. This detailed how-to guide includes hard-to-find… [Continue...]
Equifax Child Credit Freeze Summary
The Equifax child credit freeze process is by far the most consumer-friendly of the three credit bureaus; however, it presents a couple of significant security risks. This detailed how-to guide includes hard-to-find contact information, tips and sample documents specific to an Equifax child credit freeze. [Continue...]
Experian Child Credit Freeze Summary
The Experian child credit freeze process is by far the least consumer friendly; however, the bureau has made great strides in the area of consumer protections over the past six months. This detailed how-to guide includes hard-to-find contact information, tips and sample documents specific to an Experian child credit freeze. [Continue...]
Before You Pay for Credit Monitoring or ID Protection…
There are a growing number of companies offering a growing number of credit monitoring or ID protection services. But here’s what they don’t tell you: Most Americans don’t actually have to pay a dime for those services. In fact, most Americans don’t. According to Javelin Research, while Americans spent $1.4 billion on ID protection services… [Continue...]
NewsMom Blog Prompts Child Credit Freeze Legislation
Citing these NewsMom blog posts and KPIX reports, this week California Assemblyman Mike Gatto introduced the child credit freeze legislation AB 1580. For the first time, it would give parents the right to freeze their child’s credit and utilize what is believed to be the single best tool to prevent financial ID theft. [Continue...]
Kids At Risk Of ID Theft; How To Freeze Your Child’s Credit • CBS San Francisco
Children may be at greater risk than their parents for identity theft, but the fix could expose them to even more risk. ConsumerWatch reporter Julie Watts explains how the credit bureaus are putting kids at risk, and how to help prevent child ID theft by safely freezing your kid’s credit. [Continue...]
How to Protect Kids From ID Theft… One Year Later
More than a year after my first NewsMom blog on the topic, we finally aired the TV version of “How I Forced the Bureaus to Freeze My Child’s Credit.” The two-part TV news series (below) was followed by a first-of-its-kind #FacebookLive chat where thousands gathered to ask questions about child ID theft and the child credit freeze process. [Continue...]
Child Credit Freeze Federal Legislation Stalled Due To Politics • CBS San Francisco
A California bill that would help protect kids from ID theft is one step closer to becoming law. The state legislation was introduced as a result of ConsumerWatch Reporter Julie Watts’ work. However, Watts explains that a federal bill that could offer the same protection to kids nationwide has stalled due to party politics. [Continue...]
Politics Stall Child Credit Freeze Law?
After years of reporting on child ID theft and struggling to freeze my own child’s credit, I was pleased to learn that California Assemblyman Mike Gatto introduced state legislation based on what we found. But similar federal legislation is stalled in committee, at least partly due to partisan politics. [Continue...]
Child Credit Freezes Now Available Nationwide
From medical records to insurance databases to school district computers, hackers are increasingly gaining access to our kids’ sensitive data. Research shows that kids could be 50 times more likely to have their identities stolen than adults, in part, because kids’ pristine credit records provide a blank slate for thieves and often go unchecked for more than 18 years. A [Continue...]
Parents Complain: Experian Making Child Credit Freezes Harder & Risky
Concerned parents say Experian is suddenly making it harder and more risky to freeze your kids’ credit now that a new law requires the bureau to allow free child credit freezes in every state. [Continue...]
A Step-by-Step Guide to Freeze Your Child’s Credit
A step-by-step guide to freeze your child’s credit with detailed summaries for each bureau outlining security concerns, hard-to-find contact information, tips and sample documents specific to that credit bureau. [Continue...]
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