How to "Freeze" Your Child’s Credit Files

Tips for Parents and Guardians

California parents and guardians can help protect their children from the fraudulent use of their personal information. A parent or legal guardian of a child under 16 years of age may activate a "security freeze" of credit records in the child’s name. The security freeze, previously available only to California adults, is the strongest defense against certain types of identity theft.

Giving Your Child a Fraud-Free Start

Children make attractive targets for identity thieves. A child’s Social Security number is appealing because it is usually "clean" and does not show up in fraud databases. The crime is often not discovered until the child comes of age, giving thieves years to use stolen identities and years to damage the credit histories of unsuspecting children.

For child victims, the consequences of identity theft are devastating. When victims become young adults and seek independent lives, banks, landlords, hiring managers, and utility companies discover victims’ negative credit histories and say, "no deal," a roadblock to financial independence.

You can help shield your child’s credit history with a security freeze. Most businesses will not open credit accounts without first checking a consumer’s credit history. When a security freeze is in place, someone who applies to get credit using your child’s name and Social Security number will be rejected. Access to your child’s credit records will stay "frozen" until you say so, or until your child removes the freeze after reaching the age of 16.

How Can I Place a Freeze on My Child’s Credit Records?

As a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 16, you can place a freeze by contacting the three nationwide credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You must provide the credit bureaus with certain information and documents. See the instructions for each credit bureau at the end of this sheet.

There is no fee to freeze a credit record. Do not confuse freezes with locks. Both work in a similar way, but locks may require a subscription and monthly fees.

How Long Does It Take for a Child’s Security Freeze to Be in Effect?

Credit bureaus must place the freeze no later than 3 business days after receiving your written request. The credit bureaus will send you written confirmation of the freeze within 5 business days of its placement.

How Long Does the Freeze Last?

The freeze of a child's credit records remains in place until it’s removed by the parent or guardian or by the child when he or she is 16 years old or older. Removing a freeze requires submitting a written request to the credit bureaus, along with documentation similar to what is required for placing the freeze. There is no fee for removing a security freeze. The credit bureaus must remove a freeze within 3 business days after receiving a request for removal.

What Law Requires Security Freezes for Children Under 16?

The California law that requires credit bureaus to comply with a request for a security freeze from a parent or guardian of a child under 16 years of age is California Civil Code sections 1785.11.9, 1785.11.10, and 1785.11.11. The same provisions allow representatives of other types of "protected consumer," including children under 16 in foster care and persons for whom a guardian or conservator has been appointed, to place a freeze.

Instructions for Placing a Child Security Freeze with Credit Bureaus

Equifax

Download the request form from Equifax’s website or write a hard-copy letter to Equifax and request a "protected consumer security freeze."

Include in the body of the letter:

• Name of the person requesting and relationship to the child (parent or guardian)
• Complete name, current address, and former address of parent or guardian
• Social Security number and date of birth of parent or guardian
• Social Security number and date of birth of the child
• Signature of requestor

Attach with the letter:

• Copy of minor child's birth certificate
• Copy of minor child's Social Security card
• Copy of parent/guardian's driver's license or other valid government-issued identification, Social Security card, or birth certificate
• The child’s birth certificate; a court order, a lawfully executed and valid power of attorney, or foster care certification

Send letter and required documents by mail:
Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, Georgia 30348

For more information, call Equifax at (888) 378-4329. Equifax website information is available here: https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/.

Experian

Download the request form from Experian’s website or write a hard-copy letter to Experian and request a "protected consumer security freeze."

Include in the body of the letter:

• Full name of the person requesting and relationship to the child (parent or guardian)
• Social Security number and date of birth of parent or guardian
• Address(es) for the past two years of the parent or guardian
• Phone number of the parent or guardian
• Child's full name, Social Security number, and date of birth
• Child's address(es) forthe past two years
• Child's address
• Signature of requestor

Attach with the letter:

• Copy of a government-issued identification card, such as a driver's license
• Copy of a bank statement, utility bill or other bill, or insurance statement showing your name and address
• Copy of child's Social Security card
• Copy of the child's birth certificate
• For guardian: copy of the court document naming you as the guardian or other appropriate court appointed documents

Mail request letter and supporting documents to:
Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

For more information, call Experian at 1-888-397-3742. Experian website information is available here: https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html.

TransUnion

Write a hard-copy letter to TransUnion and request a "protected consumer freeze."

Include in the body of the letter:

• Name of the person requesting and relationship to the child
• Name of the child
• Address of the child
• Signature of requestor

Enclose with the letter, one of the following qualifying documents indicating that the requestor has proof of authority to make the request on behalf of the child:

• Court order
• Power of Attorney
• Document issued by a Federal, State, or local government agency showing proof of parentage, including a birth certificate
• For a child in foster care: a written communication from a county welfare department or county probation department, certifying that the child is in a foster care setting

Enclose one of the following identification documents for both the child and the parent or legal guardian:

• Social Security number or copy of Social Security card
• Copy of driver's license, state ID card, or any other government-issued identification
• Certified or official copy of child's birth certificate

Send the request letter and the supporting documents to:
TransUnion
P.O. Box 380
Woodlyn, PA 19094

TransUnion website information is here: https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze/credit-freeze-faq#freeze-other-minor-0.