How to Put a Freeze on Your Credit at All 3 Bureaus

To freeze your credit at all 3 bureaus, contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately and ask each one to place a security freeze on your file. You can do it online, by phone, or by mail, and it is free at every bureau under federal law.¹ Online and phone requests usually take a few minutes each, and the freeze must be in place within one business day.

A freeze blocks new creditors from pulling your report, which is what stops someone with your Social Security number from opening accounts in your name.² It does not affect your credit score, and it does not touch the credit cards, loans, or mortgages you already have. A freeze at one bureau has no effect on your file at the other two, so skipping any bureau leaves an opening.³

What to Have Ready Before You Start

Each bureau verifies your identity before placing the freeze. Have this information in front of you:

Your full legal name as it appears on your credit file
Date of birth
Social Security number
Current and previous addresses from the last two years
A government-issued ID such as a driver’s license or state ID

Online and phone requests generally only ask for the personal information above; the bureau then asks security questions drawn from your credit file to confirm you are who you say.⁴ Mail requests are heavier: include a signed letter requesting a freeze plus copies (not originals) of documents such as your driver’s license, Social Security card, and a utility bill or bank statement showing your current address.⁵ Certified mail with a return receipt gives you proof of delivery.

Placing the Freeze at Each Bureau

Equifax

Online: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services⁶
Phone: 800-685-1111⁷
Mail: Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348

Experian

Experian also has a free mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play that lets you manage the freeze from your phone.⁴

TransUnion

Online: transunion.com/credit-freeze⁸
Phone: 888-909-8872 (automated freeze system)⁹
Mail: TransUnion, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094⁹

Online is the fastest path at all three bureaus: you create an account, answer identity questions, and confirm the freeze. Phone works the same way through automated prompts. Since you will likely need to lift the freeze later for a loan or credit card application, creating an online account with each bureau now makes future changes quicker.

How Fast the Freeze Takes Effect

Federal law puts firm clocks on the bureaus. Online and phone requests must be honored within one business day. Mail requests must be honored within three business days of receipt.¹

Within five business days of placing the freeze, each bureau must send you written confirmation and explain how to remove it later.¹ Some bureaus issue a PIN or password with the confirmation; Experian now uses account-based logins instead.⁴ Keep whatever you receive in a safe place. You will need it to lift the freeze. Once placed, a freeze stays in effect until you ask for it to be removed.³

Lifting the Freeze When You Need Credit

When you apply for a mortgage, car loan, or new credit card, the lender needs to pull your report, so you have to lift the freeze first. You can lift it temporarily for a set window of time, or remove it permanently.¹⁰ A temporary lift is usually the safer choice: the freeze goes back on automatically at the end of the period.

If you ask the lender which bureau they use, you can lift only at that bureau instead of all three. Federal law requires bureaus to process electronic and phone lift requests within one hour, and mail requests within three business days.¹ Lifting is free.

Who Can Still See Your Report

A freeze does not block everyone. Your existing creditors can still review your file for account management. Certain government agencies, including child support enforcement, retain access. Credit monitoring services you signed up for can still see your report. And you can always pull your own credit file, including free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.³ Your existing accounts continue to report payments to the bureaus normally.

How a Freeze Differs From a Fraud Alert or a Credit Lock

A fraud alert is lighter than a freeze. It tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity but does not block access to your file. An initial alert lasts one year and is renewable, and you only need to contact one bureau, which must notify the other two.²

A credit lock is a commercial product from the bureaus, sometimes bundled with paid subscriptions. Locks work similarly to freezes but operate under the bureau’s terms of service rather than federal law. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has said locks are no more effective than freezes.³

Freezing a Child’s or Protected Adult’s File

Children are frequent identity theft targets because their Social Security numbers have no credit history attached, and misuse can go unnoticed for years. Federal law lets parents and legal guardians freeze a minor’s credit file.

Because the child has no existing online account or credit file, these requests are typically handled by mail. Equifax, for example, asks for a copy of the child’s birth certificate, the child’s Social Security card, your government-issued ID, and proof of your relationship to the child, such as the birth certificate or a court order.¹¹ Experian and TransUnion have similar requirements; contact each for their forms and mailing addresses.

If you are a court-appointed guardian or conservator for an incapacitated adult, you can place a freeze on that person’s file too. You will need proof of your authority, such as a court order or valid power of attorney, along with proof of your own identity.¹² These requests are also generally handled by mail.

Two Specialty Reports Worth Freezing Too

The big three are not the only companies keeping files on you. A couple of specialty agencies track records that identity thieves also target, and freezing those files closes gaps a standard three-bureau freeze leaves open.

ChexSystems keeps the banking-history records that banks check when you open a checking or savings account. Freezing your ChexSystems file makes it harder for someone to open fraudulent bank accounts in your name. You can freeze it online through the ChexSystems consumer portal, by phone at 800-887-7652, or by mail to Chex Systems, Inc., Attn: Security Freeze Department, P.O. Box 583399, Minneapolis, MN 55458.¹³

The National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange (NCTUE) tracks payment history for phone, cable, and utility accounts, which a thief can use to open service in your name. You can freeze the NCTUE report online, by phone at 866-349-5355, or by mail to Exchange Service Center — NCTUE, P.O. Box 105561, Atlanta, GA 30348.

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Security Freezes
2
Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
3
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Is a Credit Freeze or Security Freeze on My Credit Report
4
Experian. Freeze or Unfreeze Your Credit File for Free
5
TransUnion. Freeze Support Center – Credit Freeze FAQs
6
Equifax. Credit Report Services
7
Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports
8
TransUnion. Credit Freeze – Freeze My Credit
9
TransUnion. Freeze Your Credit Report by Mail or Phone
10
USAGov. How to Place or Lift a Security Freeze on Your Credit Report
11
Equifax. Freezing Your Childs Credit Report FAQ
12
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Managing Someone Elses Money – New Protection From ID Theft and Fraud
13
ChexSystems. Security Freeze Information