Kids and Credit Fraud: How to Check Your Child’s Credit File

Theoretically, there should be no credit files in existence at Equifax, Transunion, or Experian for children ages 13 and under, unless they have already been the victim of fraud. But that’s not a hard-and-fast rule, and you may want to find out if your minor children have credit files established, and take control of those file, if you can.

Unfortunately, there is no federal law currently allowing parents/guardians to freeze credit reports for minors.

Our neighbors in Wisconsin have a state law that does allow parents/guardians to freeze kids’ credit reports, hence Wisconsin residents have access to a process to request that a credit file be created for a minor (if one doesn’t already exist) and then frozen.

Here’s how: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ChildCreditProtectionAct.aspx.

Minnesota does not currently have a law allowing parents to freeze their kids’ credit. So for those of us who live in Minnesota, we have a more complicated and less effective process. But there are still options to get control of your children’s data and credit files. Here’s what each of the three credit bureaus will allow you to do with your kids’ credit files:

1. Equifax has two options:
a. You can request a freeze for your minor child using the following process, with certified copy of your child’s birth certificate: https://help.equifax.com/s/article/ka137000000DS3eAAG/How-do-I-place-a-security-freeze-on-a-protected-consumer-s-and-or-minor-s-Equifax-credit-file.

b. Alternatively, you can report to Equifax that you believe your child’s information may have been used to obtain credit. This option only requires a plain copy of the minor’s birth certificate, and requires Equifax to check for the existence of a credit file and report back to you. If there is no credit file in existence, that is good news – but you may want to check back regularly to make sure no file has been created.

https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_FrzMinorChild.jsp

2. Transunion allows you to check for the existence of a minor’s credit file using this form: https://www.transunion.com/credit-disputes/child-identity-theft-inquiry-form

Transunion also has a minor credit suppression option. This is a free service you can request for your minor children. If you send a request to Transunion with the required documents, they will place a credit suppression message in your child’s credit file, as follows: “This consumer is a minor. Date of birth is MM/DD/YY. Proof of minor Social Security and birth certificate received.” When Transunion suppresses the credit report, it also blocks creditors from obtaining your minor child’s credit report. And you do not have to request its removal, because the suppression will expire the month that the minor is set to turn 18. To request this free service, send: a copy of the minor’s birth certificate; a copy of the minor’s Social Security card; and proof of your identification (i.e. a copy of your driver’s license, government issued identification card, etc.) to: Transunion, Attention: Child ID Theft, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016. (If you are not the minor’s parent, also include a copy of your guardianship documents.)

3. Experian will allow parents and guardians to check for the existence of a credit file for children under 13: https://www.experian.com/fraud/form-minor-child.html

This link also contains instructions for your minor child ages 14 – 17 to request his or her own credit report.

Identity theft is especially problematic for minors, because it can be years before anyone notices that their data has been compromised. Minnesota law doesn’t provide a way for parents to freeze their kids’ credit files, but you can reduce the risk of minor credit fraud by using Transunion’s minor credit suppression option and monitoring periodically for the existence of a minor’s credit file with Experian and Equifax.

Share your experiences monitoring your kids’ credit files with me by emailing megan@joshjohnsonlaw.com.

This blog is not legal advice, but rather general information about the process for monitoring the credit files of minor children.