Why Freeze Your Credit?     Many of us who have reached a point in life where we no longer borrow money for cars, homes, TV's or whatever,  and worry about identity theft, may be interested in placing a "credit freeze" on their credit information held by the major credit reporting agencies.  If a thief then tries to buy a Lamborghini or open an account at Nordstrom's, using your identity, the lender can not see your credit information and is unlikely to extend credit to the thief.  IIn the event that you do wish to use credit the freeze can be lifted either temporarily or permanently.   Lifting a freeze now takes only a few minutes.    A few entities can access your records even after a freeze is in place.  These include some government agencies and anyone with whom you already have a credit account such as your mortgage holder and your present credit card companies.    There are downsides to a freeze.  If you need credit in a hurry, as when a department store offers you 20% off your current purchase if you will only sign up for their credit card, you may not be able to do this.  If you want to get an online insurance quote it may not work.  You will need to lift the freeze to buy most insurance, open an account at a new bank or to sign up with a new cell phone company..    About fees:  The usual cost is $10 to place a freeze with one company.  The cost to lift a freeze temporarily or permanently is another $10.  If you are married each spouse should place a freeze with each company, that's $60!  If you have been a victim of ID theft already those fees can be waived.  If you wait until next September, when Washington's new  law becomes effective, fees to place a freeze for those over 65 will be waived. The fees for lifting a freeze will not be waived. If you want to read the Attorney General's letter about this, click here.  If you want to visit the Attorney General's web site relating to credit freeze, click here.  And here's a recent (02/02/2008) article by Suze Orman.         If you still want to know how to freeze your credit then                                      Click here!      Feel free to call me if you have any questions about this at   884-3559.                                                                          Stay tuned!!                                                                   Bob Geiberger