Everyday Digital Explained

How Do I Freeze My Credit at All Three Bureaus for Free?

Last verified against 11 official sources

Short answer: Freezing your credit is free by federal law, but you have to do it separately at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The FTC says a freeze makes it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name, doesn't affect your credit score, and lasts until you lift it. When you apply for credit, you can lift it for free. The FTC says a bureau must lift a freeze within one hour if you ask online or by phone, or within three business days if you ask by mail.

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  • Freezes are free at all three bureaus. If a page asks you to pay or start a subscription, you're looking at a different product, not the free freeze.
  • Type the bureau's web address yourself or call the number on its freeze page. Don't use freeze links or phone numbers from unexpected emails, texts, or calls.
  • No one needs you to move money to "protect" your credit. The FTC says it will never tell you to transfer your money to protect it.

Step by step

  1. Have your details ready. Each bureau will check that you are who you say you are. For mail requests, Experian asks for your full name, Social Security number, addresses for the past two years, date of birth, and copies of an ID and a bill or statement. Equifax says it may confirm who you are with questions from your credit report or a one-time code sent by text.
  2. Freeze at Equifax. Go to equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze and choose Place a Security Freeze, or call (888) 298-0045. Managing a freeze online takes a free myEquifax account, and you must be 18 to create one.
  3. Freeze at Experian. Go to experian.com/help/credit-freeze, or call 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742). Experian says you no longer need a PIN; you manage the freeze with a free Experian account. By mail, write to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013.
  4. Freeze at TransUnion. Go to transunion.com/credit-freeze and create a free TransUnion Service Center account, or call 800-916-8800. TransUnion says a freeze added online or by phone typically takes effect almost immediately.
  5. Save your logins and confirmations. Write down the email and password you used for each bureau's account and keep them somewhere safe. You'll need them to lift the freeze later. The CFPB says each bureau must send you written confirmation within five business days, including how to remove the freeze.
  6. Lift it when you apply for credit. Ask the lender which bureau it will check, then lift the freeze only there, as the FTC suggests. You can lift it for a set time: TransUnion lets you schedule a lift up to 15 days ahead, and Experian lets you schedule a "thaw" with start and end dates. Put the freeze back when you're done.
  7. Keep checking your accounts. The FTC says a freeze doesn't stop a thief from making charges on accounts you already have. Keep watching your bank, credit card, and insurance statements, and check your free credit reports.

Freeze vs. fraud alert vs. credit lock

Credit freeze: Free by federal law since September 21, 2018, under the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. You contact each bureau yourself. The FTC says a freeze lasts until you lift it and doesn't affect your credit score.

Fraud alert: Also free. The FTC says it tells businesses to check with you before opening new credit in your name, but unlike a freeze, it doesn't stop them from seeing your report. You contact one bureau, and it must tell the other two. An initial alert lasts one year and can be renewed. An extended alert, for people who've filed an FTC identity theft report or a police report, lasts seven years. An active duty alert lasts one year.

Credit lock: A product the bureaus sell, often as part of a paid plan. The FTC and CFPB say locks work in a similar way but may have monthly fees. The CFPB says locks are no more effective than freezes, which are free and which you have a right to by law.

How fast a bureau must place or lift a freeze

Online or by phone: The FTC says the bureaus must place a freeze within one business day and lift it within one hour. By mail: they must place or lift it within three business days after they get your request.

Lifting is free, and you can lift a freeze for just a set period. TransUnion says a temporary lift can be immediate but suggests waiting a few minutes before the lender pulls your report.

If a bureau won't place or lift your freeze properly, the FTC says to call the bureau first. If that doesn't fix it, file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or 855-411-2372.

Why you may see different phone numbers

The FTC's IdentityTheft.gov lists general numbers for the bureaus: Equifax 800-685-1111, Experian 888-397-3742, and TransUnion 888-909-8872. The numbers on this page come from each bureau's own freeze page. TransUnion's freeze page lists 800-916-8800 for freezes, and 888-909-8872 for spouses adding or removing freezes for each other.

Common questions

Does freezing my credit cost anything or hurt my credit score?

No. The FTC says there's no cost to place or lift a credit freeze, and it doesn't affect your credit score. You can still use your current credit cards and check your free credit reports while your credit is frozen.

How long does a credit freeze last?

Until you lift it. The FTC says a credit freeze lasts until you lift it, and Experian and TransUnion both say a freeze stays on your file until you ask to remove it. There's no need to renew it.

Is a credit lock better than a credit freeze?

Not according to the CFPB. It says credit locks are offered for a fee, often bundled with other paid services, and are no more effective than security freezes, which are free by law. A freeze is the option set out in federal law.

Can I freeze credit for my child or an aging parent?

Yes, with paperwork. The FTC says parents can get a free freeze for a child under 16, and guardians, conservators, and people with a valid power of attorney can get one for the person they represent. Each bureau has its own forms, often by mail. See the FTC's Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts page at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/credit-freezes-and-fraud-alerts for links to each bureau's instructions.

Do I have to lift the freeze at all three bureaus to apply for credit?

Not always. The FTC suggests finding out which bureau the lender will use, lifting the freeze at that one bureau, and putting it back once the credit check is done.

Official sources

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