- A credit freeze is an identity protection tool that bars third parties from seeing your credit report.
- You must contact each of the three major credit bureaus individually to freeze your credit.
- You can ask the credit bureaus to unfreeze your credit at any time.
Your credit history and credit score dictate many of the major milestones in your life, from renting an apartment to buying a house. Unfortunately, bad actors know this, which is why your identity and credit are common targets for theft.
Fortunately, you have a few tools in your credit toolbox you can deploy to reduce the risk of identity theft. One of these tools is a credit freeze, which halts any new credit-related activity.
What is a credit freeze?
A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, prevents the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — from sharing your credit report with any person or lender. This will stop potential lenders from looking at your credit file but will also prevent anyone from fraudulently taking out a loan or opening a line of credit in your name.
Benefits of a credit freeze
"If you've been the victim of a data breach or identity theft, a credit freeze is a good way to mitigate the risk of further damage to your finances and identity," says Greg Mahnken, a former credit industry analyst with Credit Card Insider. "If an identity thief or unauthorized person tries to apply for credit in your name, they will not be able to access your credit reports and the application will be denied."
A credit freeze gives you control over who and for what reason your credit report is accessed.
There are still several parties that can access your credit reports after you've placed a freeze on them. First and foremost, freezing your credit will not prevent you from accessing your weekly free credit reports. Companies with which you already have a credit relationship and the debt collection agencies they employ will continue to have access to your credit.
Credit freezes were made completely free in 2018 by the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. It is also free to unfreeze your credit if you want to use it for anything, such as a new credit card or to buy a home.
"Freezing your credit is an effective, cost-free way to make it harder for thieves to open up credit cards or other financial accounts in your name," says Dana Marineau, the former vice president of communications at Credit Karma. "But keep in mind that it can be a hassle to remove a freeze from all three bureaus every time you need a credit check."
Downsides to freezing your credit
There can be downsides to freezing your credit. You have to apply the credit freeze to each credit bureau separately, and if you do want to apply for credit, you will have to temporarily lift the credit freeze, which will require planning ahead because lifting the credit freeze will take time.
How to freeze your credit with each bureau
The most important thing to know when you freeze your credit is that the credit bureaus will not notify each other of a credit freeze like they would when you report identity theft. You'll need to freeze your credit from all three bureaus individually.
1. Gather your information
For each of the bureaus, you'll need to provide personal information including your full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, and home address.
If you request a credit freeze by mail, you will need to provide additional documents that verify your identity, SSN, and address. For your identity, you will need to include a copy of your driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID. For your SSN, you'll need a copy of your Social Security card, pay stub with your SSN included, W-2 form, or 1099 form. To verify your address, you will need to include a copy of a lease agreement, pay stub with address, utility bill, or phone bill.
2. Reach out to all three credit bureaus
You will need to place a credit freeze with each of the three major credit bureaus individually. This can be accomplished online, by phone, or by mail.
Equifax credit freeze: You can easily freeze your credit with Equifax on its website, or via an automated phone line: 800-685-1111 (800-349-9960 for New York residents). If you'd rather talk to a human, its customer care number is 888-298-0045. You can also freeze your credit by mail using the Fraud Request Alert Form.
Experian credit freeze: To freeze your credit at Experian, you can visit Experian's online Freeze Center. You can also call 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742). You can also send a written request to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013.
TransUnion credit freeze: You can request a TransUnion credit freeze through its online portal. You can also add a freeze via the automated phone system (or opt to speak to a live agent) by calling 888-909-8872. You can also print and complete TransUnion's Security Freeze Request Form.
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3. How to unfreeze credit
You can unfreeze your credit at any time online, by phone, or through the mail. These requests must be made with each individual credit bureau, just like a credit freeze.
Equifax and TransUnion both have an option to temporarily lift a credit freeze, in which you send a time frame where your credit report thaws. After that time period elapses, your credit report automatically refreezes.
Unfreeze requests made online or by phone must be granted within one hour. If you make your request by mail, the credit bureau has three business days to unfreeze your credit.
If you're applying for credit, try asking your lender which bureau they request credit reports, from so you only have to unfreeze that credit report.
Credit freeze vs. credit lock
Both credit freezes and credit locks place restrictions on who can access your credit report. While they function similarly, they differ in a few ways:
- Cost: Credit freezes are free. Credit locks are features of identity protection services, which can cost money.
- Unlocking: A credit lock allows you to unlock your credit report anytime, on your computer or mobile device, when you want to allow access. To unlock a credit freeze, you must request it from the credit bureau, and it can take one hour to three days.
- Notifications: With a lock, you can also receive notifications if your credit report changes or someone tries to access your report. Credit freezes do not provide this feature.
Alternatives to a credit freeze
Because it's free, a credit freeze is a great option for protecting your identity. However, there are additional tools you can deploy to protect your credit.
Fraud alert
You can place fraud alerts on your credit, which will require lenders to take reasonable steps to confirm your identity before extending lines of credit. Once you place a fraud alert through one of the credit bureaus, that bureau is required to inform the other bureaus.
A fraud alert lasts a year before you have to renew it. You can look into extended fraud alerts, though they are only available to people who have reported an instance of identity theft through IdentityTheft.gov or have already been a victim of identity theft.
Credit monitoring services
There are numerous credit monitoring services that allow you to keep tabs on your credit reports without cutting access to them. Some of the best credit monitoring services are even free. Unfortunately, while credit monitoring services don't prevent identity thieves from stealing your identity, they can notify you the moment someone tries to access your credit.
Identity protection services
If you want to prevent identity theft, your best bet is signing up for an identity theft protection service. These subscription services monitor your private information, secure your sensitive documents, and help you recover your identity if it's stolen. Some of the best identity protection services also include cybersecurity features that will protect you from viruses and malware.
Frequently asked questions about credit freezes
How long it takes for a credit freeze to take effect depends on how the request is made. If you make the request either online or by phone, the credit reporting agencies must freeze your credit report within one business day. If the request is mailed, credit reporting agencies must freeze your credit report within three business days.
Credit freezes and credit locks have similar functions in that they restrict who can access your credit report. The main difference between the two is cost: Credit freezes are free while credit locks are part of identity protection services that can cost money.
No, someone else cannot freeze your credit if you're an adult. However, if you're under 16, your parent or legal guardian can freeze your credit on your behalf.
No, freezing your credit does not hurt your credit score, but it may make accessing your credit harder.
