To freeze your U.S. credit, file a separate security freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It's free, doesn't change your credit score, and stays active until you lift or remove it at each bureau.
A freeze limits access to your credit file, so it can block many new-account applications. It won't stop charges on an existing card, protect a current loan, or prevent someone from taking over a bank account. You still need to watch statements, alerts, and credit-report changes.
Quick freeze checklist
- Gather your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and any prior addresses the bureau asks for.
- Open the official freeze pages for Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Complete each bureau's identity check separately. One login or PIN does not cover the other files.
- Save every confirmation number, password, PIN, or account-recovery detail in a secure place.
- Check your credit reports for unfamiliar accounts, addresses, or inquiries.
The Federal Trade Commission's guidance on credit freezes and fraud alerts is a useful comparison if you're deciding between a freeze and a fraud alert.
What a credit freeze does
A security freeze limits access to your credit file by businesses that would otherwise review it before approving a new application. It doesn't erase your report, close existing accounts, or remove old information.
| Situation | What a freeze means |
|---|---|
| Someone applies for a new credit card or loan | The prospective creditor usually cannot access the frozen report |
| Your credit score | The freeze does not raise or lower your score |
| An existing credit card or loan | The current creditor may still review the account |
| An unauthorized purchase on an existing account | The freeze does not block card fraud or account takeover |
| A legitimate application | You may need to lift the relevant freeze before approval |
| A rental, utility, insurance, or employment screening | Ask which bureau the organization uses before you lift anything |
A freeze is strong protection against many new-account fraud attempts, but it is not a full identity-theft shield. It also does not keep a criminal from using stolen details against an account you already have.
Before you start
Go directly to the bureaus' official websites. Don't enter your Social Security number after following a link in an unexpected email, text message, or search ad.
Have these details ready:
- Full Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Current address
- Previous addresses, if requested
- Email address and phone number
- Government-issued ID, if the bureau cannot verify you electronically
Each bureau runs its own verification process. Don't assume one bureau's password, PIN, or account will work anywhere else.
How to freeze the three major credit files
You need three separate requests. Freezing one bureau's file leaves the other two open.
Equifax
Start at the official Equifax credit freeze page. Create or access your account, request the security freeze, and complete identity verification.
Save the confirmation after the request is accepted. If the online process fails, use the phone or mail instructions shown on Equifax's current page instead of an old number or address.
Experian
Use the Experian Freeze Center. Choose the security-freeze option, enter the requested details, and complete the identity check.
Keep the confirmation and recovery information. If Experian cannot verify you online, follow its current instructions for a phone or mail request.
TransUnion
Go to TransUnion's credit freeze page. Sign in or create an account, request the freeze, and complete the verification steps.
Record the confirmation details before leaving the page. TransUnion also lists other request methods if you can't finish online.
How long the bureaus have
Under federal freeze rules, a bureau generally must place a freeze within one business day after receiving an online or phone request. A mailed request generally must be completed within three business days after the bureau receives it.
Verification problems can still slow you down. If you suspect fraud, submit the online requests first and keep copies of each confirmation.
Should you freeze Innovis or ChexSystems?
The three major bureaus cover most credit applications, but they are not the only consumer reporting companies.
- Innovis offers a separate security freeze.
- ChexSystems has a separate Security Freeze process that may matter when someone applies for a bank or credit union deposit account.
These freezes are optional and do not replace the three-bureau freeze. A ChexSystems freeze won't block a new credit-card application using Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, and a three-bureau freeze won't block access to a ChexSystems report.
If you're applying for a checking or savings account soon, ask the institution which consumer reporting company it checks. You may need to lift the relevant specialty freeze before the application can be completed.
How to lift a freeze for a loan, rental, or screening
You don't need to remove the freeze permanently every time someone needs access. A temporary lift is often enough.
- Ask the lender, landlord, employer, or screening company which bureau it will check.
- Sign in to that bureau's official freeze portal.
- Choose a temporary lift and set the dates or period requested.
- Give the organization time to submit its inquiry.
- Confirm that the freeze returns after the temporary period, or reset it if the bureau requires a separate action.
A mortgage lender may check more than one bureau. Another business may check only one. Lifting all three when only one is needed leaves more of your file open than the application requires.
If you no longer want the freeze, ask for permanent removal. Temporary lifts and permanent removals are free under the federal security-freeze rules. If you lose a PIN or password, use the bureau's official recovery process rather than paying a third party.
Will a freeze delay an application?
It can. A frozen report may keep the organization from completing its normal review, even though the freeze itself doesn't affect your score or credit history.
Ask the organization:
- Which bureau or bureaus it will check
- When it plans to submit the inquiry
- Whether it needs a temporary lift or permanent removal
- How long it needs the report to remain accessible
For a mortgage, arrange the lift before the lender submits the credit pull. Confirm with the lender after changing the freeze, because the inquiry may not run again automatically.
Credit freeze vs. fraud alert
A fraud alert doesn't block access to your report. It tells businesses to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit.
| Feature | Credit freeze | Initial fraud alert |
|---|---|---|
| Access to your report | Restricts most prospective-creditor access | Businesses can still access the report |
| Duration | Remains until you lift or remove it | Generally lasts one year |
| Where to request it | Separately at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion | Request it through one bureau, which should notify the other two |
| Best use | Strong protection against new-account fraud | Easier warning when you suspect identity theft |
| Cost | Free | Free |
If you are an identity-theft victim, you may qualify for an extended fraud alert lasting seven years. The bureau generally requires an FTC identity theft report or a police report for that request.
Choose a freeze when you want to restrict new credit applications. Choose a fraud alert when you want businesses to verify applications but still need relatively easy access to your file.
Freezing a child's credit
A parent or legal guardian can request a freeze for a child under 16. Children often don't have an established credit file, but the bureau's minor-freeze process can protect the child's identifying information before it becomes a target.
You'll generally need to provide documents showing:
- Your identity
- The child's identity and Social Security number
- Your address
- Your relationship to or authority over the child
Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately and follow each bureau's current minor-freeze instructions. Keep written confirmations and copies of the documents you submitted.
Freezing your own credit does not create a child's freeze. When the child reaches the age at which they can manage the file, check each bureau's rules for access and control.
An adult spouse generally must place their own freeze. Marriage doesn't combine credit files. If you're helping another adult, ask the bureau about its authorized-representative or power-of-attorney procedure.
How much does a credit freeze cost?
A standard security freeze is free at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Federal rules also make temporary lifts and permanent removals free.
Old state-by-state fee charts may be misleading because they can predate the federal rule. State procedures can still matter for minor freezes, legal representatives, and mailed documentation, so follow the current instructions from the relevant bureau.
You don't need paid credit monitoring or a commercial credit-lock product to place the free federal security freeze. Read the options carefully so you don't mistake an optional service for the freeze itself.
What to do after a data breach or suspected identity theft
A freeze is only one part of recovery. Take these steps:
- Freeze all three major credit reports. Add Innovis or ChexSystems if the suspected fraud involves those types of reports.
- Review your credit reports. Use AnnualCreditReport.com, the official source for free credit reports.
- Contact the affected creditor or bank. Use the institution's official website or the number on your statement, not contact details supplied by a suspected scammer.
- Secure existing accounts. Change passwords, enable multifactor authentication, and report unauthorized card or bank transactions promptly.
- Create a recovery plan. IdentityTheft.gov provides steps for reporting and recovering from identity theft.
- Dispute accounts or information you don't recognize. Keep copies of reports, dispute letters, confirmations, and notes from conversations.
A freeze can help prevent another fraudulent account, but it won't remove an account that was already opened. That requires a separate fraud investigation and dispute.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to freeze all three credit bureaus?
For broad protection against new credit accounts, yes. Each bureau keeps a separate file, and a freeze at one doesn't cover the others.
Does freezing credit hurt my credit score?
No. A freeze doesn't change your score. It can add a step when a lender or screening company needs to access your report.
How long does a credit freeze last?
It remains in place until you request a temporary lift or permanent removal. It doesn't expire on its own under the standard process.
Can an employer check my credit while it's frozen?
A frozen report may prevent an employer or screening company from completing its check. Ask which bureau it uses and lift only that file if access is necessary.
Does a credit freeze stop all identity theft?
No. It focuses on new accounts that require a credit report. It won't stop unauthorized activity on existing bank, card, phone, or online accounts.
What's the first step if I see an account I don't recognize?
Freeze the three major reports, contact the creditor's fraud department, check your other accounts, and use IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery checklist.