The Single Most Protective Step You Can Take Today

Even if you have never been a victim of identity theft, a credit freeze is worth doing right now. Data breaches are constant — your personal information may already be on criminal markets without you knowing. A credit freeze costs nothing, takes about 15 minutes across all three bureaus, and stops the most common and financially devastating form of identity theft: new account fraud, where a thief uses your Social Security number to open credit cards and loans in your name.

What a Credit Freeze Does — and Doesn't Do

A credit freeze — also called a security freeze — instructs the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) not to release your credit report to new creditors. When a lender can't pull your credit report, they can't approve a new credit application — which means a thief with your Social Security number can't open accounts in your name.

What it does: Blocks new credit accounts from being opened in your name. Prevents most forms of new account fraud.

What it doesn't do: It does not affect your existing credit cards, loans, or accounts. It does not affect your credit score. It does not prevent existing creditors from accessing your report. It does not prevent employers or landlords from accessing reports you've authorised. It doesn't stop all forms of identity theft — medical identity theft and tax fraud, for example, use different systems.

Freeze vs. Fraud Alert — Which Should You Choose?

🔒 Credit Freeze Recommended
  • Blocks all new credit applications entirely
  • Strongest protection available
  • Free at all three bureaus by federal law
  • Lift in minutes online when you need credit
  • Stays in place indefinitely until you remove it
  • Must be placed at each bureau separately (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
  • Requires a temporary lift when applying for new credit
Best for almost everyone. The small inconvenience of lifting it is worth the protection.
⚠️ Fraud Alert
  • Only needs to be placed at one bureau — they notify the other two
  • Easier to manage if you apply for credit frequently
  • Free
  • Does not block credit — only asks lenders to verify your identity
  • Lenders can still approve credit without extra verification
  • Initial alert lasts only 1 year (7 years after confirmed identity theft)
Weaker protection. Choose only if you apply for credit regularly and find the freeze inconvenient.

Step 1: Freeze Your Credit at Equifax

Online (Fastest — Recommended)

  1. Go to equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze (type this directly — don't click links from emails)
  2. Click "Place or Manage a Freeze"
  3. Create a myEquifax account if you don't have one (you'll need your SSN, date of birth, and a valid email address)
  4. Follow the prompts to verify your identity — you may be asked to answer security questions based on your credit history
  5. Confirm the freeze is placed — save the confirmation email or take a screenshot

By Phone

Call 888-298-0045. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address ready. The agent will verify your identity and place the freeze. Request a confirmation number and write it down.

By Mail

Send a written request to: Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348-5788. Include your full name, current address, previous address (if moved in the last 5 years), Social Security number, date of birth, and a copy of a government ID and utility bill or bank statement. Allow 3 business days for processing.

2

Step 2: Freeze Your Credit at Experian

Online (Fastest)

  1. Go to experian.com/freeze/center.html
  2. Create an Experian account or log in if you have one
  3. Click "Add a Security Freeze" — Experian's interface shows a simple toggle button that switches from "Unfrozen" to "Frozen"
  4. Complete identity verification and confirm the freeze
  5. Save your confirmation number

By Phone

Call 888-397-3742. Have your personal information ready. Processing is typically immediate by phone.

By Mail

Send to: Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Include the same documentation as Equifax. Allow 3 business days.

3

Step 3: Freeze Your Credit at TransUnion

Online (Fastest)

  1. Go to transunion.com/credit-freeze
  2. Create a TransUnion Service Center account or log in
  3. Click "Add Freeze" and confirm your choice
  4. Save the confirmation

By Phone

Call 888-909-8872. Processing is typically immediate.

By Mail

Send to: TransUnion, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094. Allow 3 business days.

Pro Tip: Create Online Accounts at All Three Bureaus First

Even if you prefer phone or mail for placing the freeze, create online accounts at each bureau now. When you need to temporarily lift the freeze later — for a car loan, mortgage, or new credit card — having an online account means you can do it in minutes instead of waiting on hold or mailing documents. Bureau law requires online unfreeze requests to be processed within 1 hour.

How to Temporarily Lift Your Freeze

When you want to apply for new credit — a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or rental application — you'll need to temporarily lift the freeze. Ask the lender or landlord which credit bureau they use, then lift only that bureau for a short window (3–7 days is usually enough).

Phone lifts are also immediate. By law, credit bureaus must process online and phone unfreeze requests within one hour. Mail requests can take up to three business days.

After the window closes, the freeze automatically reinstates — you don't need to do anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a credit freeze, and what happens when you freeze your credit? +
A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) tells the credit bureaus not to release your credit report to new lenders. When a lender can't pull your report, they can't approve a new account — so a thief with your Social Security number can't open credit cards or loans in your name. It's free by federal law, doesn't affect your credit score or existing accounts, and stays in place until you lift it. You place it separately at all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Is a credit freeze free, and how long does it take? +
Yes — placing, lifting, and removing a credit freeze is free at all three bureaus under federal law (the 2018 Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act). If you request it online or by phone, the bureau must place the freeze within one business day. A lift requested online or by phone must be completed within one hour. Mail requests take up to three business days.
Will freezing my credit affect my current credit cards, loans, or credit score? +
No. A credit freeze has no effect on your existing credit cards, loans, or accounts — they keep working exactly as before — and it does not lower your credit score. Your score is based on your payment history, balances, and account age, none of which a freeze touches. The freeze only stops new creditors from pulling your report to open new accounts.
How do I unfreeze or permanently remove my credit freeze? +
You have two options at each bureau. For a temporary thaw, lift the freeze for a set window (3–7 days is usually enough) and it reinstates automatically. For permanent removal, log in and turn the freeze off. Online or phone requests must be processed within one hour by law; mail takes up to three business days. Unfreeze by phone if you prefer: Equifax 888-298-0045, Experian 888-397-3742, TransUnion 888-909-8872. You only need to lift the bureau a lender will use — for an auto loan, ask the dealer's finance office which bureau they pull.
I don't have a computer. Can I freeze my credit by phone? +
Yes. All three bureaus accept phone requests: Equifax 888-298-0045, Experian 888-397-3742, TransUnion 888-909-8872. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address ready. You can also do it by mail, though it takes about 3 business days versus immediate processing by phone.
Is freezing my credit the same as freezing or locking a credit card? +
No — these are three different things. A credit freeze locks your credit report at the bureaus so no one can open new accounts in your name. Locking an individual credit card (for example, the "lock card" toggle in your Capital One or Chase app) only stops new charges on that one card; it does nothing for your credit report. A credit lock is a separate commercial product from the bureaus that works like a freeze but may carry monthly fees and lacks the freeze's legal protections. For identity-theft protection, the free credit freeze is what you want.
Should I freeze my credit? +
For almost everyone, yes. Because it's free, doesn't affect your score, and stops the most damaging form of identity theft (new account fraud), the only real downside is the minor step of lifting it when you apply for new credit. If you apply for credit very frequently you may find a fraud alert more convenient, but the freeze is stronger protection.
Can I freeze my child's or an elderly parent's credit? +
Yes. A parent, guardian, conservator, or legal representative can place a free "protected consumer freeze" on the credit file of a minor or an incapacitated adult. You contact each bureau separately and provide proof of your authority (such as a birth certificate, court order, or power of attorney) along with identity documents. This is a smart step for both children and older parents whose information may be exposed.
Do I also need to "freeze" my Social Security number? +
You can't "freeze" a Social Security number the way you freeze credit, but freezing your credit is the main protection against someone using your SSN to open accounts. For extra protection you can self-lock your SSN through E-Verify's myE-Verify Self Lock and block electronic access to your record in your my Social Security account at ssa.gov.
Does Credit Karma freeze my credit? +
No. Credit Karma and similar apps let you monitor your credit, but they cannot place a credit freeze for you. You must place the freeze directly with each bureau — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — using their official websites or phone lines listed above.
Does a credit freeze protect against all types of identity theft? +
It protects against new account fraud — the most common and financially damaging form. It does not protect against tax identity theft (covered by the IRS Identity Protection PIN), medical identity theft (covered by monitoring your Medicare and insurance statements), misuse of existing accounts, or employment identity theft. For comprehensive protection, combine a credit freeze with an IRS IP PIN, regular credit report monitoring, and careful review of financial and Medicare statements.

Sources

FTC — Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
Source for credit freeze legal requirements: free by federal law under the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (2018). Freeze takes effect within 1 business day; lift within 1 hour when requested online.
Equifax, Experian, TransUnion — Freeze Your Credit
The three major credit bureaus are required by federal law to place and lift credit freezes free of charge. Equifax: equifax.com, Experian: experian.com, TransUnion: transunion.com.
All statistics are sourced from official government agencies and peer-reviewed research. Data is reviewed on an ongoing basis as new reports are released.