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When you freeze your credit, you get one of the few identity-theft protections that’s free, takes only minutes online and doesn’t hurt your credit score. It works by blocking lenders from viewing your credit file, which means a thief who has your Social Security number generally can’t open a new account in your name. This guide explains how to freeze your credit at each bureau, what a freeze does and doesn’t do, and how to lift it when you need to apply for a loan.
What it means to freeze your credit
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a credit freeze, also called a security freeze, restricts access to your credit report so that prospective creditors can’t see it. Because lenders usually won’t approve credit without checking your file, a freeze makes it much harder for someone else to open an account using your information.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says a freeze doesn’t affect your credit score, and it doesn’t stop you from using your existing credit cards, applying for a job, renting a home or buying insurance. It stays in place until you remove it. Under federal law, which took effect September 21, 2018, placing, lifting and removing a freeze is free.
A few parties can still see a frozen file, according to the CFPB: companies you already do business with, certain government agencies such as child support offices, and companies you hired to monitor your credit. You can also still see your own reports.
Freeze your credit at all three bureaus
This is the step people miss. A freeze at one bureau isn’t shared with the others, the FTC says, so you need to contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion separately. Anyone can freeze their credit for any reason. You don’t need to be a victim of identity theft.
Equifax lets you place a freeze online through a free myEquifax account (you must be 18 or older) or by phone. Its own page lists (888) 298-0045. Another bureau’s page lists a different number for Equifax, so confirm the number on Equifax’s site before you call. When you verify your identity by phone, Equifax offers a one-time PIN by text or questions based on your credit report.
Experian offers a freeze through a free online account, by phone at 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742) or by mail to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Experian says you no longer need a PIN. A mailed request needs your full name, Social Security number, two years of addresses, date of birth, a copy of a government ID and a copy of a utility bill or bank statement, and can take up to three days.
TransUnion lets you add a freeze through an online account on its Service Center or by phone at 800-916-8800. Online and phone requests are close to immediate. You can also use mail, and online lifts can be scheduled up to 15 days ahead.
Keep a record of each confirmation. Some bureaus issue a PIN and others don’t, so don’t assume every bureau gives you one. If you get a PIN or password, store it in a password manager.
How fast does a freeze take effect?
The law sets deadlines. A freeze requested online or by phone must be in place within one business day. A mailed request must be handled within three business days. A lift requested online or by phone must take effect within one hour, and a mailed lift within three business days. The bureau must send written confirmation within five business days, according to the CFPB and FTC.
How to lift a freeze after you freeze your credit
A freeze blocks you too. Applying for a credit card, a loan, an apartment, insurance or sometimes a job can mean the other side needs to see your file. The FTC suggests asking which bureau they use, lifting the freeze only there, and putting it back when you’re done. You can log in to your account, call, or mail a request. Then choose either a temporary lift for a set period or a permanent removal.
Plan ahead. Although a lift must happen within an hour, TransUnion advises allowing a few minutes before a lender checks, so don’t wait until you’re at the dealership.
Credit freeze versus fraud alert versus credit lock
People mix these three up, and the right pick depends on whether you want to block access or just add a warning. A fraud alert doesn’t block access to your report. It tells businesses to verify your identity before opening credit. The FTC says an initial fraud alert lasts one year and can be renewed, and if you place one with a bureau, that bureau must tell the other two. An extended fraud alert lasts seven years. It’s meant for identity-theft victims who have an FTC identity theft report or a police report. Nothing stops you from having both a freeze and a fraud alert.
A credit lock is usually a product that bureaus offer, often through paid monitoring. The CFPB says locks usually cost a fee and aren’t more effective than a free freeze, and the FTC notes only freezes are free under federal law.
Freeze your child’s credit, too
Federal law lets a parent, guardian or authorized person request a freeze for a child under 16, or for someone who’s incapacitated or has a guardian. If the child has no credit file, the bureau creates a record and freezes it, so it can’t be used to get credit. The FTC says it’s free.
Most child requests go by mail with proof of identity and authority. Equifax asks for a form plus copies of the parent’s ID, proof of the relationship, and the child’s Social Security card and birth certificate. TransUnion takes child freezes by mail only. Experian has a minor request page on its site. Details differ by bureau, so check each one’s current instructions.
Don’t forget the specialty reports
To freeze your credit completely, cover these reports too. Other companies besides the big three keep files on you. The CFPB’s list of consumer reporting companies marks about 20 that offer a freeze, including Innovis, the National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities Exchange (NCTUE) and ChexSystems, which screens people opening bank accounts. NCTUE says its freeze is free and offers online, phone and mail options. Innovis and ChexSystems don’t state a fee on their pages, and both issue PINs, so confirm any cost before you go ahead.
Check your credit reports while you’re at it
When you freeze your credit, it doesn’t tell you what’s already on your reports. The FTC says the three bureaus permanently extended free weekly reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the only authorized site. If you find an error, dispute it with the bureau and with the business that supplied the information. The FTC says the bureau generally has 30 days to investigate and must send written results, plus a free updated report if the file changes. Scam texts are a common way thieves get your details, so see our guide on how to spot a scam text.
Common mistakes
The biggest slip is freezing at only one or two bureaus, which leaves a gap. Losing the login or PIN makes later lifts slow. Forgetting to lift the freeze before a big application can hold up a mortgage or an apartment approval. And a freeze doesn’t stop someone from misusing an account you already have, so keep watching your statements.
Editor’s take
If you’ve never chosen to freeze your credit, do it this week and put the three logins in a password manager. The inconvenience is a few minutes each time you apply for credit, and that’s a fair price for blocking new-account fraud. Pair it with free weekly report checks, and you’ll catch problems early.
