Wisconsin's Child Credit Protection Act allows parents and legal guardians to sign up with the three major credit reporting agencies to protect their child’s credit record so that anyone seeking to open a new credit account in their child’s name cannot access the credit report; hopefully resulting in the rightful denial of their application.
A protected consumer according to Wisconsin state law is a consumer under 16 years of age at the time of the request or a consumer for whom a guardian or conservator has been appointed.
All three credit reporting agencies must be notified separately.
There is no fee if you have a valid investigative report of alleged identity theft or complaint filed with a law enforcement agency.
Parents and legal guardians are not able to place a protected consumer security freeze over the telephone or online due to the documentation requirements.
Equifax
Any request for a security freeze on a protected consumer or minor should be submitted in writing to:
Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, Georgia 30348
When submitting your written request, please include the following information:
Information and documents of representative or guardian, including parent.
Complete name, including any suffix (e.g. Jr., Sr., etc.)
Complete address
Copy of a Social Security Card, or a certified or official copy of a birth certificate
Copy of a driver's license, an identification card issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration or any other government issued identification, or a copy of a utility bill that shows name and home address
Information and documents of protected consumer or minor.
Complete name, including any suffix (e.g. Jr., Sr., etc.)
Complete address
Copy of a Social Security Card
For minor - a certified or official copy of a birth certificate
For person under guardianship or POA, an order issued by a court of law, a lawfully executed and valid Power of Attorney, or a written, signed and notarized statement that expressly describes your authority to act on behalf of the protected consumer.
Experian
Any request for a security freeze on a protected consumer or minor should be submitted in writing to:
Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
To request a security freeze for a protected consumer in your care, submit all of the information listed below:
Information and documents of representative or guardian, including parent.
Your full name including middle initial (and generation such as JR, SR, II, III)
Social Security number
Complete addresses for the past two years
Date of birth
$10 fee or a valid investigative or incident report of alleged identity theft or complaint filed with a law enforcement agency
One copy of a government issued identification card, such as a driver's license, state or military ID card, etc.
One copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement, etc.
Information and documents of protected consumer or minor.
Child's full name including middle initial (and generation such as JR, SR, II, III, etc., if applicable)
Birth Certificate
Social Security Card
If you are the minor’s guardian, be sure to include a copy of the operator’s license, court document naming you as the guardian or other appropriate court appointed documents.
If the protected consumer has been appointed a guardian or conservator, please include a signed court document indicating conservatorship or guardianship, etc.
Once your request and all of the required information for both you and the minor has been received, a freeze will be placed on the minor's credit file. If a credit file for the minor does not currently exist, a file for the minor will be created.
TransUnion
Any request for a security freeze on a protected consumer or minor should be submitted in writing to:
TransUnion Protected Consumer Freeze
P.O. Box 380
Woodlyn, PA 19094
When submitting your written request, please include the following information:
A written request to place a "protected consumer freeze" on the named individual’s file AND one of the following qualifying documents indicating that the requestor has Proof of Authority of the named individual.
One of the following identification documents for both the named individual and the parent/representative.
Proof of social security number (i.e. SSN card)
Proof of name and address (Driver’s License, State of Gov’t Issued ID Card)
Copy of Birth Certificate (for minor’s)
For any additional questions or concerns, please contact TransUnion at (800) 916-8800. Be sure to inform the representative that you are calling in regards to a "Protected Consumer Freeze."
For more information on protecting your child’s identity, see DATCP's Protecting Your Child's Identity fact sheet.