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.

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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.

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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

Will freezing my credit affect my current credit cards or loans? +
No. A credit freeze has absolutely no effect on existing accounts. Your current credit cards, mortgage, car loan, and any other existing credit continue to function exactly as before. The freeze only prevents new creditors from pulling your report to open new accounts.
Will it lower my credit score? +
No. A credit freeze has no impact on your credit score whatsoever. Your score is calculated from your payment history, balances, and account age — none of which are affected by a freeze.
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 3 business days versus immediate processing by phone.
I froze my credit and now I need to apply for a car loan. What do I do? +
Ask the car dealership's finance department which credit bureau they use (often Experian or Equifax for auto loans). Log into that bureau's website or call them, and request a temporary lift for 3–7 days. The lift takes effect within one hour online. After the window, the freeze reinstates automatically. You only need to lift the bureau the lender is using — there's no need to lift all three.
Is a credit freeze the same as a credit lock? +
No. A credit freeze is a federally regulated right — free, legally enforceable, and processed within guaranteed timeframes. A credit lock is a commercial product offered by the bureaus, often as part of a paid monitoring subscription. Locks can typically be toggled instantly through apps, but they don't carry the same legal protections as a freeze. For most seniors, the free federally mandated freeze is the better choice.
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.