To freeze your credit, contact each of the three nationwide credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, separately. Online is fastest: create a free account on each bureau’s site and turn the freeze on. You can also call or write.
A credit freeze is free by federal law, doesn’t affect your credit score, and lasts until you lift it. When you apply for a loan or card, you lift it for a few days at the bureau your lender uses.
A credit freeze is the single most effective step against someone opening new accounts in your name. It takes about 20 minutes for all three bureaus, costs nothing, and you can undo it any time. This guide walks through each bureau, plus how to lift a freeze, how to freeze a child’s credit, and when a fraud alert makes more sense.
What a credit freeze does (and doesn’t do)
A freeze restricts access to your credit report. Most lenders won’t approve a new credit card, loan or phone contract without checking your report, so a thief with your name and Social Security number gets turned away. According to the FTC and USA.gov:
- It’s free to place, lift and remove at all three bureaus.
- It lasts until you lift it. There’s no expiry date to remember.
- It doesn’t affect your credit score.
- Your existing accounts keep working. You can still use your cards and pay your loans.
- You can still check your own credit report while it’s frozen.
- The FTC says it won’t stop you applying for a job, renting an apartment or buying insurance.
What it doesn’t do: it won’t stop someone using a card number they already stole, and it won’t block every kind of fraud, such as tax or medical identity theft. It’s a lock on new credit, not a full shield.
Before you start
- Your Social Security number, date of birth and current address (plus previous addresses from the last few years, in case you’re asked).
- An email address and phone number you can use to verify your identity.
- A password manager or a safe place to store three new logins. Our password generator makes strong ones.
- About 20 minutes.
Type the bureau web addresses yourself or use the links in our sources list. Search ads and texts offering to “freeze your credit for you” are a common trick, and you never need to pay anyone to place a freeze.
How to freeze your credit at each bureau
You need to freeze at all three. A freeze at one bureau doesn’t carry over to the others, and you can’t predict which one a fraudster’s lender will check.
| Bureau | Online | Phone | By mail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equifax | myEquifax account (18+) | (888) 298-0045 | Security freeze request form on equifax.com |
| Experian | Free Experian account in the Freeze Center | 1-888-397-3742 | Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 |
| TransUnion | TransUnion Service Center account | 800-916-8800 | Written request with name, address and SSN |
Equifax
- Go to Equifax’s Security Freeze page (equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/).
- Create a myEquifax account or sign in. You must be at least 18 to create an account.
- Verify your identity, then choose to place a security freeze.
- Save your myEquifax username and password. You’ll use them to lift or remove the freeze later.
No account, or under 18? Call Equifax at (888) 298-0045. Equifax says it verifies callers with a one-time PIN sent by text or with questions based on your Equifax credit report.
Experian
- Go to Experian’s credit freeze help page (experian.com/help/credit-freeze/) and open the Freeze Center.
- Sign in or create a free Experian account.
- Turn the freeze on. Experian says online freezes and unfreezes happen in real time.
You can also call 1-888-397-3742, or mail a request to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Experian says mail requests take up to 3 days to process.
TransUnion
- Go to TransUnion’s Credit Freeze page (transunion.com/credit-freeze).
- Create a free TransUnion Service Center account, or sign in.
- Verify your identity and add the freeze.
TransUnion also takes freeze requests by phone at 800-916-8800 or by written request with your name, address and Social Security number.
A bureau site may show offers for paid credit monitoring or identity protection while you sign up. You don’t need any of them to get a freeze. Skip past them.
PINs, passwords and accounts
Years ago each bureau mailed you a freeze PIN, and losing it was a headache. Today the bureaus mostly use online accounts instead:
- Experian says you no longer need a PIN. A free Experian account is all you need to manage your freeze.
- Equifax lets you manage the freeze with your myEquifax username and password, or by phone. It has a help page for managing an older freeze if you’ve lost the PIN.
- TransUnion uses your Service Center login.
Treat these logins like a bank password. Use a unique password for each and turn on two-step verification where offered. If one of your passwords turns up in a data breach, follow our guide on what to do when your password is leaked.
How to lift a freeze when you apply for credit
Applying for a mortgage, car loan, credit card or new phone plan? You don’t have to remove the freeze for good. Lift it temporarily, and only at the bureau your lender uses. Ask the lender which one that is. If they don’t know, lift all three.
- Experian: sign in, choose Schedule a thaw, then Add a thaw and pick a start and end date.
- TransUnion: sign in to the Service Center, choose Temporarily Lift Freeze and enter the dates.
- Equifax: sign in to myEquifax and choose to temporarily lift the freeze, or call (888) 298-0045.
Federal rules set the timing. According to USA.gov, a bureau must place a freeze within 1 business day of an online or phone request, and lift one within 1 hour. Requests by mail can take up to 3 business days. So lift online or by phone, ideally a day before you apply.
Pick an end date a week or two out. The freeze switches back on by itself, so you can’t forget.
How to freeze your child’s credit
Children are attractive targets because nobody checks their credit for years. The FTC says parents can freeze credit for free for children under 16, and the freeze stays until you ask for it to be removed. The process is different from an adult freeze, and it’s mostly done by mail with documents:
- Equifax: download the Minor Freeze Request form and send proof of identity for both you and your child. Parents, legal guardians and people with power of attorney can apply.
- Experian: request by mail with a government-issued ID and a copy of a utility bill or bank statement showing your name, address and issue date.
- TransUnion: calls it a Protected Consumer Freeze. Send a written request with proof that you can act for the child (a birth certificate, court order or guardianship document) and proof of identity for both of you. TransUnion says it can’t take these online or by phone.
Each bureau lists the exact documents it wants on its own site, so check before you mail anything. Send copies, never originals.
Fraud alert vs credit freeze: which do you need?
A fraud alert doesn’t block access to your report. It tells businesses to check with you before opening a new account. It’s lighter and easier, but weaker.
| Feature | Credit freeze | Fraud alert |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| How long it lasts | Until you lift it | 1 year (renewable); extended alert 7 years |
| Who to contact | All three bureaus | One bureau; it tells the other two |
| What it does | Lenders can’t see your report | Lenders should verify your identity first |
| Applying for credit | Lift it first | No action needed |
The FTC says an extended fraud alert needs an identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov or a police report. Military members can also place a free active duty alert that lasts one year. Many people use both: a freeze for strong protection, and an alert after a scare.
If someone has already used your identity
Freeze your credit at all three bureaus straight away, then report it at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC site builds a personal recovery plan and the report you need for an extended fraud alert. Change passwords on your email and bank accounts, and switch to passkeys where you can. Shopping online this season? Read our guide to Black Friday scams too, and find more protection tips in our security guides.
FAQ
Does freezing my credit cost anything?
No. Placing, lifting and removing a freeze is free at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion under federal law.
Will a credit freeze hurt my credit score?
No. The FTC says a freeze doesn’t affect your score or your existing accounts, and you can still check your own report.
How long does it take to lift a freeze?
Within 1 hour if you ask online or by phone. Mail requests can take up to 3 business days.
Do I have to freeze all three bureaus?
Yes. Each bureau keeps its own report, and a freeze at one doesn’t apply to the others.
Can I freeze my child’s credit?
Yes, for free, for children under 16. Each bureau has its own process, usually a mailed request with proof of identity and proof you’re the parent or guardian.
Should I get a fraud alert or a freeze?
A freeze is stronger because lenders can’t see your report at all. A fraud alert is easier and only needs one call, but it only asks lenders to verify your identity.
Sources
- Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts (FTC Consumer Advice)
- Get a credit freeze to stop identity thieves (FTC Consumer Advice)
- Is a credit freeze or fraud alert right for you? (FTC)
- How to place or lift a security freeze on your credit report (USA.gov)
- Security Freeze (Equifax)
- Freeze or Unfreeze Your Credit File for Free (Experian)
- Credit Freeze (TransUnion)
