How to Get a Credit Freeze at All 3 Bureaus: Freeze vs. Lock

To freeze your credit at all three bureaus, you file a separate request with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — online, by phone, or by mail — and each must place the freeze within one business day of an online or phone request, or within three business days of a mailed one. It is free at every bureau, available whether or not you have been a victim of identity theft, and it has no effect on your credit score.¹ The three bureaus operate independently, so a freeze at only one or two leaves a gap a thief can use.

What to Have Ready Before You File

Each bureau asks for the same core information to match you to your file:

Full legal name, spelled exactly as it appears on your government ID
Social Security number, all nine digits
Date of birth
Current address and every previous address from the past two years

Online and phone filings collect this through the bureau’s forms or automated system. If you file by mail, include clear photocopies of a government-issued photo ID and a recent utility bill, bank statement, or insurance statement showing your name and current address.² Send copies, not originals. Any mismatch in spelling, digits, or addresses slows things down because the verification system cannot confirm who you are.

Filing With Each of the Three Bureaus

You need to contact all three. Pick whichever channel you prefer at each — the outcome is the same, only the speed differs.

Equifax

The quickest route is a free myEquifax account, which lets you place, lift, or remove a freeze from your dashboard. By phone, call 888-298-0045.³ Mail requests go to Equifax Security Freeze, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348.

Experian

Experian has an online freeze portal, and the phone line is 888-397-3742.² Mailed requests go to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013.

TransUnion

TransUnion’s online Service Center freezes your file immediately after you create a free account. The phone system at 888-909-8872 is automated and open at any hour.⁴ Mailed requests go to TransUnion, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094.⁵

How Fast the Freeze Takes Effect

Federal law fixes the deadlines. Online or phone requests must be honored within one business day. Mailed requests must be honored within three business days after the bureau receives your letter. Within five business days of placing the freeze, the bureau must send you confirmation along with instructions for lifting or removing it later.⁶

Some bureaus issue a PIN or password. Equifax uses your myEquifax login instead. Save whatever credentials you receive — you will need them to manage the freeze later.

Lifting or Removing the Freeze When You Apply for Credit

The freeze stays in place until you ask for it to come off. You will need to lift it any time you apply for a new credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or other product that runs a credit check.

You have two choices. A temporary lift reopens your file for a date range you pick, then the freeze snaps back on automatically. TransUnion, for example, lets you schedule a temporary lift up to 15 days ahead through the online Service Center.⁷ A permanent removal takes the freeze off entirely, and you would need to place a new one to get the protection back.

Removal timelines are faster than placement. Online or phone requests must be processed within one hour. Mailed requests must be processed within three business days.⁶ Both temporary lifts and permanent removals are free.¹ If you lose your PIN, each bureau offers identity verification alternatives through its online portal or phone line.³

What a Freeze Does Not Block

A freeze stops new creditors from pulling your report, which is how most fraudulent accounts get opened. Some access continues even with a freeze in place. Your existing creditors keep their access. Government agencies such as child support enforcement offices can still view your file. Any credit monitoring service you have authorized keeps running.¹

A freeze also does not cover every kind of identity theft. It will not stop someone from filing a fraudulent tax return in your name, committing medical identity theft, or running up charges on cards you already have. Keep watching your bank and card statements. And the federal freeze law does not apply to credit checks for employment screening, tenant screening, or insurance underwriting, so those inquiries may still go through.¹

Freeze or Lock: Which You Want

Each bureau also sells a product called a credit lock. It sounds similar and works differently. A freeze is a right guaranteed by federal law, always free, with legally required timelines for placement and removal. A lock is a private contract governed by the bureau’s own terms of service.¹

Locks sometimes carry a monthly fee, often bundled with monitoring services, and their contracts may include arbitration clauses that limit your legal options. A lock is no more effective at blocking inquiries than a freeze. For most people, the free freeze does the same job without the cost or the contract.

Closing Gaps at Specialty Bureaus

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion cover most credit decisions, but other reporting agencies track other kinds of accounts. If you want fuller coverage, freeze those files too.

Innovis is a fourth consumer credit bureau some lenders use. Freeze your file free online at innovis.com or by phone at 866-712-4546.⁸

ChexSystems tracks banking history — banks and credit unions check it when you apply to open a checking or savings account. Freeze your file through the ChexSystems Consumer Portal online, by phone at 800-887-7652, or by mail at Chex Systems, Inc., Attn: Security Freeze Department, P.O. Box 583399, Minneapolis, MN 55458. Mail requests need a color copy of your ID (front and back), a copy of your Social Security card, and proof of address dated within the last 90 days.⁹

The National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange (NCTUE) tracks payment history for phone, cable, and utility accounts. Some providers check it when you apply for new service, and you can place a free freeze on your NCTUE report to keep unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name.¹⁰

1
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Is a Credit Freeze or Security Freeze on My Credit Report
2
Experian. Freeze Your Credit File for Free
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Equifax. Security Freeze – Freeze or Unfreeze Your Credit
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TransUnion. Credit Freeze – Freeze My Credit
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TransUnion. Freeze Your Credit Report by Mail or Phone
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Active Duty Alerts
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TransUnion. Freeze Support Center – Credit Freeze FAQs
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Innovis. Add or Manage a Security Freeze
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ChexSystems. Place a Security Freeze
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NCTUE. Consumer