How to Freeze Your Credit, Step by Step
A credit freeze is one of the simplest, strongest steps you can take to protect yourself from new accounts being opened in your name. It is free, it does not affect your credit score, and it stays in place until you choose to lift it. This guide walks through it one bureau at a time, in plain language.
Please read: This article gives general information only, not individualized financial advice. See our Financial Disclaimer for more detail.
In this article
- What a credit freeze does — and does not do
- Before you start: what you will need
- Step by step: freeze at all three bureaus
- How to lift a freeze when you need credit
- Freeze or fraud alert: which one?
- Your credit-freeze checklist
- Frequently asked questions
What a credit freeze does — and does not do
When you place a credit freeze (also called a security freeze), the credit bureau will not release your credit report to most new lenders without your permission. Because lenders usually check your report before opening a new account, a freeze makes it much harder for someone else to open credit in your name.
A freeze does not stop charges on accounts you already have. A thief who already has your card number can still use that card. Keep checking your bank and card statements for charges you do not recognize, even after you freeze.
A freeze also does not affect your credit score, and it does not stop you from checking your own free credit reports.
Before you start: what you will need
You must contact all three nationwide credit bureaus separately: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Freezing at only one bureau leaves the other two open.
Have ready: your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, and a way to verify your identity (online accounts usually ask security questions). Keep the PIN or password each bureau gives you in a safe place — you will need it to lift the freeze later. Never share that PIN by email or with an unexpected caller.
Step by step: freeze at all three bureaus
- Equifax — use its credit-report services page online, or call 1-800-685-1111.
- Experian — use its help pages online, or call 1-888-397-3742.
- TransUnion — use its credit-help pages online, or call 1-888-909-8872.
- At each bureau, choose "security freeze" (not a paid "lock" — locks may have monthly fees, while a freeze is free by federal law).
- Confirm the freeze at each bureau and save the confirmation. Do not stop after one or two bureaus.
Timing, from the Federal Trade Commission: if you request online or by phone, the bureau must place the freeze within one business day. By mail, it must place it within three business days of receiving your request. Check each bureau's site for its mailing address if you prefer to write.
How to lift a freeze when you need credit
When you apply for new credit — a card, a loan, a car purchase — the lender may need to see your report. You can lift the freeze temporarily, then put it back.
- If you know which bureau the lender will use, you only need to lift at that bureau.
- If you do not know, lift at all three to be safe, then re-freeze when you are done.
- Online or phone lifts must happen within one hour; mail lifts within three business days.
- Set a reminder to re-freeze. A temporary lift that you forget about leaves the door open again.
Freeze or fraud alert: which one?
| Feature | Credit freeze | Fraud alert |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| What it does | Blocks most new lenders from seeing your report | Tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new credit |
| How to place | Contact all three bureaus | Contact one bureau — it must tell the other two |
| How long it lasts | Until you lift it | An initial fraud alert lasts one year; people who have experienced identity theft and have completed an FTC identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov or filed a police report can get an extended alert lasting seven years |
You can have both a freeze and a fraud alert. If you suspect identity theft, also report it at IdentityTheft.gov, where you can get a free recovery plan.
Your credit-freeze checklist
- ☐ Freeze placed at Equifax, with confirmation saved
- ☐ Freeze placed at Experian, with confirmation saved
- ☐ Freeze placed at TransUnion, with confirmation saved
- ☐ PINs/passwords stored safely (not in an email or on a note by the computer)
- ☐ Existing bank and card statements still checked regularly
- ☐ Reminder set to re-freeze after any temporary lift
Frequently asked questions
Does a credit freeze hurt my credit score?
No. The Federal Trade Commission states that placing or lifting a freeze does not affect your credit score.
Do I really need to contact all three bureaus?
Yes. Each bureau holds its own report. A lender might check any one of them, so a freeze at only one bureau is not enough.
What if I need credit in a hurry?
Lift the freeze online or by phone — bureaus must lift it within one hour by those methods. If you know which bureau the lender uses, lifting at that one bureau is enough.
Sources and next steps
Key facts in this article follow the Federal Trade Commission's consumer guidance on credit freezes and fraud alerts, including the free placement, timing rules, and the difference between freezes and fraud alerts. Bureau phone numbers are those published by the FTC. If any number or web page has changed, use the FTC's current guidance to find the bureau's official contact page.
Related reading: Scams Targeting Seniors: Warning Signs. If you shared personal information with a scammer, see our safety guidance in that article and consider a freeze right away.
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