How to Freeze Your Credit for Free at All Three Bureaus
A credit freeze is free, does not affect a credit score and generally blocks prospective creditors from accessing a credit file, but consumers must contact each nationwide credit bureau separately.
Timeline
- Before applying for credit: Place a freeze separately with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- When a legitimate credit check is needed: Temporarily lift the freeze with the bureau or bureaus the creditor will use.
- After the check: Allow the temporary lift to expire or restore the freeze.
A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, restricts prospective creditors from accessing a consumer's credit file. Because most lenders check a credit report before opening a new account, the restriction can make it harder for an identity thief to obtain new credit in someone else's name. Federal consumer agencies say placing, lifting and removing a freeze is free, and a freeze does not change the consumer's credit score. [1][2]
To cover the three nationwide credit reports, a consumer must contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion separately. Placing a freeze with one bureau does not cause the other two to freeze their files. Consumers should start from links published by the FTC or CFPB, or type each bureau's official address directly, because identity thieves can imitate account and security pages. [1][2]
A freeze also applies to the person who requested it. Before applying for a credit card, loan or another product that needs a credit check, the consumer can ask which bureau the business plans to use and temporarily lift that bureau's freeze. The CFPB says an electronic or telephone request to lift a freeze must generally be completed within one hour; a mailed request can take up to three business days. [2]
A credit freeze and a fraud alert are different tools. A freeze blocks most prospective creditors from seeing the file until it is lifted. An initial fraud alert leaves the report available but tells businesses to verify identity before granting new credit. The FTC says a consumer contacts all three bureaus for freezes, while contacting one bureau is enough to start an initial fraud alert because that bureau must notify the other two. [1]
The protection has limits. Existing creditors and certain other permitted users may still access the file, and a freeze does not stop a thief from taking over an account that already exists. Consumers should continue reviewing bank and card activity, use strong account security and check credit reports for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries. A freeze is therefore one layer of identity protection rather than a complete monitoring service. [1][2]
Consumers do not have to be identity-theft victims before freezing their files. Anyone can request a freeze, and it remains until the consumer removes it or schedules a temporary lift. Parents or guardians can also request protected-consumer freezes for eligible children under federal rules. Each bureau may require identity information and provides its own process for managing the freeze later. [1][2]
A paid credit lock should not be confused with the legal right to a free security freeze. The CFPB notes that bureaus may market locks with paid services, while freezes are free by law. For a person responding to actual identity theft, freezing reports can be combined with reporting the incident at IdentityTheft.gov, closing compromised accounts and following a recovery plan tailored to the misuse. [2][3]
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission — Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — What is a credit freeze or security freeze?
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — What to do after identity theft