How to Freeze Your Child's Credit Report

As a parent, it’s easy to forget that your child has a credit report, and that it is vulnerable to theft, just like yours. More than 1 million children had their identity stolen in 2017, but yet there’s not a lot of information available to help parents protect their kids.

If you want to take action to freeze your child’s credit report, here are the steps:

  1. Get a copy of their Birth Certificate and provide an address for the previous two years for the child.

  2. Provide a copy of a driver’s license or state ID card for yourself, along with an address proof such as a utility bill or insurance statement.

Here are the direct links you’ll need to complete this process:

Experian: https://www.experian.com/freeze/form-minor-freeze.html

TransUnion: https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resource/child-identity-theft

Equifax: https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_FrzMinorChild.jsp

If you believe someone has stolen the identity of your child, here is a resource from the CFPB to take action: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/how-to-protect-vulnerable-children-from-identity-theft/

We’re happy to answer any questions that you may have. Don’t let your child’s future be hampered due to identity theft and poor credit.

Alex Grimnes