Placing Credit Freezes with Smaller CRAs

If you place a credit freeze with each of the 3 major credit reporting agencies (CRAs) (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), you'll cover about 90-95% of potential Identity fraud and theft.

There are some smaller CRAs that you could also place freezes with. Sometimes they are used by some of the phone carriers/cell phone stores or other businesses who need to make a decision about approving your credit. However, you would only be enhancing your identity fraud and theft coverage by about 1%. If it gives you more peace of mind to freeze these as well, then please use the list below.

Here is a list of the smaller, popular CRAs:

• Sagestream
• CoreLogic
• LexisNexis
• Innovis
• DataX Ltd
• Factor Trust
• MicroBilt / Connect
• Clarity Services Inc
• ChexSystems
• NCTUE
• Certegy

Lastly, it is important to remember that placing a freeze makes it difficult to extend new lines of credit not just for others but for you as well. If your credit needs to be run, you will need to temporarily lift the freeze, so keep that in mind if you do decide to go with freezing the smaller CRAs and make note of who you have placed freezes with.