• October 5, 2007

Credit report issuer Experian says it will offer the option to freeze credit reports to consumers nationwide.

Beginning Nov. 1, Costa Mesa-Calif.-based Experian will allow consumer across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories to place a freeze on their credit report. A credit file freeze prevents new creditors from accessing the credit file without the consumer's consent.

Experian's file freeze will be free to victims of identity theft. Unless state law mandates otherwise, there will be a $10 fee to institute, temporarily lift or permanently remove the freeze. Experian will continue to offer the placement of fraud security alerts on a credit file for consumers who may be victims of identify theft at no charge.

--Tanya Irwin