Many Iowans are concerned about identity theft. One tool to help stop identity theft is placing a security freeze on your credit report. This restricts access to your credit information which scammers use to open accounts in your name.
A security freeze does not affect your credit score or prevent you from getting your free annual credit report. A security freeze will still allow certain entities to have access to your credit information, such as:
- Existing creditors or debt collectors acting on their behalf
- Government agencies in response to court or administrative orders, subpoenas or search warrants.
On April 10, 2018, Governor Reynolds signed SF 2177 which made changes to Iowa law regarding security freezes, including prohibiting consumer reporting agencies from charging fees for "placing, removing, temporarily suspending, or reinstating a security freeze." The prohibition of fees regarding a security freeze took effect on July 1, 2018.
There are three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) that offer three separate credit reports. The Iowa Attorney General's office has information and instructions about obtaining a security freeze on your credit reports.