How do I freeze my credit information?
If you believe you are the victim of fraud, including identity fraud, you can ask credit reporters to suppress or ‘freeze’ your credit information for 10 working days. You can also ask for a 'freeze' if you lose your credit card or other item which someone could use to commit identity fraud.
When there is a freeze on your credit record, the credit reporting agency will not disclose information in your credit record with any new credit providers, and this prevents anyone else from using the information fraudulently to get new loans or credit cards.
The new changes to the Credit Reporting Privacy Code have simplified the process for individuals to obtain an initial credit suppression or freeze. An individual’s request to obtain an initial credit suppression to one of the three credit reporters will be treated as a request to all of them, making it possible for all three credit reporters to act upon a single application.
This change is designed to make the credit freezing process quicker to the benefit of both the affected individuals and the lending industry.
If a credit provider asks the credit reporter for your credit information, the credit reporter can tell them that your credit information is suppressed. The credit provider will know that you may be the victim of fraud and that someone else may be applying for credit in your name.
If you want to apply for credit while your credit information is suppressed, you can ask the credit reporter to release the information to a particular credit provider or for a certain period of time. The credit reporter must take careful steps to confirm your identity before agreeing to do this.
The three credit reporting agencies in New Zealand are:
Clicking on one of the above links will take you to the relevant section of the reporter's website, providing information on how to freeze your credit information.
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