How to freeze your credit

What is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, making it nearly impossible for identity thieves to open new credit accounts in your name. When you apply for credit, the credit bureau (like Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) typically shares your credit file with the creditor. But if your credit is frozen, the bureau won’t release your report, so the creditor can’t approve any new credit. Even if a stranger obtains your sensitive data like your Social Security number or birthdate, they won’t be able to use it to open new accounts. 

A security freeze doesn’t affect your existing accounts, credit score, or current loans — plus, you can lift the freeze to apply for credit when you need to.

How to freeze your credit with all three bureaus

If you want to freeze your credit with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), you’ll need to reach out to each one separately. You can do this online, over the phone, or by mail. If you choose the online or phone option, your credit may be frozen within one business day. But if you mail the bureaus a letter, it might take up to three business days to process the freeze.

Use the following contact information to freeze your credit with all three credit reporting agencies:

Equifax

• Online: Equifax credit freeze webpage
• Phone: 888-298-0045
• Mailing address:

Equifax Info Services LLC

P.O. Box 105788

Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

Experian

• Online: Experian credit freeze webpage
• Phone: 888-397-3742
• Mailing address:

Experian Security Freeze

P.O. Box 9554

Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion

• Online: TransUnion credit freeze webpage
• Phone: 800-916-8800
• Mailing address:

TransUnion

P.O. Box 160

Woodlyn, PA 19094

Once you freeze your credit, it stays that way until you decide to lift the freeze yourself.

How to freeze your credit with Experian

To freeze your credit with Experian, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Experian website.
2. Create an account if you don't have one and log in.
3. Be prepared to provide your personal information like your full name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number to verify your identity.
4. After you log in, freeze your credit by following the on-screen instructions.
5. Create a PIN that you'll later use to unfreeze your credit.

And done! Experian will inform you when the credit freeze is active.

How to freeze your credit with Equifax

Follow these steps to freeze your credit with Equifax:

1. Go to the Equifax website.
2. If you don't have an Equifax account, create one and log in.
3. Enter personal details, such as your full name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number, to verify your identity.
4. Look for the option to freeze your account and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Create a 6-digit PIN so you can later manage your credit freeze.

How to freeze your credit with TransUnion

To freeze your credit with TransUnion:

1. Go to the TransUnion website.
2. Create an account if you don't have one and log in.
3. Provide your full name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number to verify your identity.
4. Follow the prompts to freeze your identity.
5. Confirm your identity once again.
6. Create a PIN that you will later use to lift the freeze.

Once your credit freeze is active, you'll get a confirmation from TransUnion.

What information do you need to freeze your credit?

To freeze your credit, have this information ready:

• Personal information. Be prepared to submit your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and your address (current and previous addresses for the last few years).
• Proof of identity. Some credit bureaus may request identification, such as your driver's license, a copy of your utility bill, or government-issued ID, to verify your identity.
• PIN or password. When freezing your account, most credit bureaus require you to create a PIN or password. You'll need this if you want to lift the freeze or manage it in the future.
• Contact information. A credit bureau might ask for your email address or phone number for verification or notifications about the freeze.

When should you freeze your credit?

Freezing your credit is a good idea if you want to protect your identity and prevent strangers from opening fraudulent credit accounts in your name. It's a proactive, free way to keep your money and identity safe, so we recommend freezing your credit if you're not planning on taking out loans anytime soon.

A security freeze may also help minimize the damage if your data has been compromised in a data breach. Just contact all the credit bureaus as soon as possible, and rest easy knowing that no criminal will be able to take out a loan using your identity.

The only thing to remember is that you'll have to lift the freeze if you're looking to buy a new car, house, or phone. The seller will have to peek at your credit report to check your ability to pay. But don't worry — you can easily lift it through each credit bureau's website.

Who has access to your frozen credit reports?

The purpose of a credit freeze is to restrict new creditor access to your credit report and prevent identity theft or fraud. However, it doesn't block the access completely — some entities can still check your credit report:

• Existing creditors. Your current creditors can check your credit file for account review or risk management.
• Debt collectors. If you owe debt, collectors working for your creditors may access your frozen reports to find your contact details.
• Government agencies. In certain situations, such as in the case of a court order, subpoena, or search warrant, the government might still be able to check your frozen credit report.
• Insurance companies. In some states, insurers may see your credit report when reviewing or renewing your insurance policy.
• Employers. Some companies might want to check your credit file before hiring you, but only with your consent.
• You. And, of course, you can access your own credit report whether it's frozen or not.

What's the difference between a credit freeze and a credit lock?

The difference between a credit freeze and a credit lock is that a credit freeze is a free service mandated by federal law, while a credit lock is something the credit bureaus offer, usually for a fee. See how they compare:

Definition

Credit freeze. A free service that blocks access to your credit reports and prevents criminals from opening new accounts in your name.

Credit lock. Usually a paid service that restricts access to your credit reports but easier to manage than a credit freeze.

Cost

Credit freeze. Free.

Credit lock. Some services may charge a fee.

Activation

Credit freeze. Requires contacting each credit bureau (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) separately.

Credit lock. Can be activated via an app or website.

Access

Credit freeze. You must unfreeze your credit to access reports.

Credit lock. You can easily lock and unlock your credit through an app or website.

Security level

Credit freeze. Protects from unauthorized credit checks.

Credit lock. Protects from unauthorized credit checks.

Impact on credit score

Credit freeze. No impact.

Credit lock. No impact.

Management

Credit freeze. Can be inconvenient because you have to remember PINs for each bureau.

Credit lock. Easily manageable through an app or website.

How to unfreeze your credit

If you're planning a purchase for which you need credit or a loan, you'll have to lift your credit freeze first. Just like freezing your credit, you can thaw it permanently or temporarily by contacting the three major credit bureaus. 

You can unfreeze your credit online, over the phone, or by mail. If you call the credit bureau, it will lift the freeze almost immediately. Online requests are usually processed within an hour, while a request via mail could take up to three business days.

A permanent thaw means that your credit stays unfrozen until you decide to freeze it again, while a temporary thaw lets you schedule when your credit should be accessible and when it should be frozen again. For example, you could schedule it to temporarily lift when you need to open that new credit line and have it freeze automatically a day or two later.

Other ways to protect your credit report

Besides freezing your credit, you can do a few other things to protect your credit report:

• Monitor your credit regularly. Check your credit report for fraudulent activity and unfamiliar transactions at least twice a year. NordProtect's credit monitoring service can help you track your credit file and alerts you about any changes or suspicious activity on your credit report.
• Use strong passwords. Create strong and unique passwords for your financial accounts. Make sure they contain uppercase and lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions. Never carry out financial transactions over public Wi-Fi. However, if you absolutely need to, use a VPN.
• Shred personal documents. Destroy personal documents containing your sensitive information, such as Social Security number, full name, addresses, and contact details.