You want to stop someone from opening loans or credit cards in your name, and you want it done today. Freezing your credit is the strongest free tool for that job, and you can place every freeze online in one sitting.
A freeze locks lenders out of your credit report, so any new-account application gets declined. It is free under federal law, it does not touch your credit score, and it lasts until you remove it.
The one catch most people miss: you must freeze each credit bureau separately. A freeze at one does not carry over to the others. This guide walks you through all three nationwide bureaus first (online, then phone, then mail), then the secondary agencies that close the remaining gaps.
Gather Your Identity Details First
Every bureau verifies who you are before placing a freeze. Having your information ready makes each one a quick task.
Collect the following:
- Full legal name, including any suffix.
- Social Security number and date of birth.
- Current address plus every home address from the past two years.
For mail requests only, you also need copies (never originals) of a government-issued photo ID and a proof of address such as a utility bill, bank statement, pay stub, or tax form.
You no longer need to create or remember a PIN to manage a freeze online at any of the three major bureaus. PINs only come into play with mail requests at certain secondary agencies, covered below.
Freeze Experian Online
Start with Experian because the file updates in real time. Go to experian.com/help/credit-freeze, the credit freeze management page.
- 1.Choose "Create a free account" (or "Sign in" if you have one), then "Get started."
- 2.Verify your identity with your name, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, and your addresses from the past two years; you may also need government-issued ID details.
- 3.Place the freeze. Experian processes it in real time, with no PIN required.
When you later need credit, you can remove the freeze permanently or "schedule a thaw" with a start and end date so your file unfreezes and re-freezes automatically. A thaw takes minutes to about an hour.
Freeze Equifax Online
Go to the Equifax credit-freeze page at equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services and create or sign in to a free "myEquifax" account.
- 1.Provide your name, address, Social Security number, and identity-verification details to set up the account.
- 2.Place the freeze from inside myEquifax. You can also check your freeze status from the same dashboard, and the Equifax mobile app offers the same controls.
- 3.No PIN is needed when you manage the freeze online.
To unfreeze later, log back into myEquifax and pick a temporary lift (with dates) or a permanent removal. Confirm the exact on-screen button labels as you go, since Equifax updates its interface periodically.
Freeze TransUnion Online
Go to transunion.com/credit-freeze and open the "TransUnion Service Center," which is also built into the TransUnion app.
- 1.Provide your name, the last four digits of your Social Security number, address, and birthdate, then answer identity-verification questions.
- 2.Watch the marketing-consent toggle. An option to receive offers from TransUnion and its partners defaults to YES, so switch it off if you do not want them.
- 3.Place the freeze, which is free.
To unfreeze, log back in and select a temporary or permanent lift. No standing account is required for a phone request, but the online flow is fastest.
Use the Phone Lines If You Prefer
If you would rather not create accounts, each bureau takes freeze requests by automated phone, processed within one business day. Verify your identity with your address, birthdate, Social Security number, and security-question answers.
- Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742).
- Equifax: 888-298-0045 to place a freeze; 800-349-9960 (automated) or 888-298-0045 to lift one.
- TransUnion: 800-916-8800; you can complete it through the automated system or ask for an agent.
Send a Mail Request As a Last Resort
Mail is the slowest route, taking up to three business days after the bureau receives your letter. Include your full name with any suffix, address, Social Security number, date of birth, and copies of your ID and proof of address.
- Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013.
- Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 (certified mail recommended). Use the Equifax Security Freeze Request Form.
- TransUnion, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094.
Freeze ChexSystems to Block Bank-Account Fraud
Banks and credit unions check ChexSystems when you open a checking or savings account, so this freeze stops fraudulent new bank accounts that a credit freeze cannot. You must be 18 or older to place your own.
- 1.Online: go to chexsystems.com/security-freeze/place-freeze, open the "ChexSystems Consumer Portal," and click "Register" (or "Login").
- 2.Phone: call 800.887.7652 (representatives 7:00am to 11:00pm Central, Monday to Friday; automated system 24/7).
- 3.Mail: Chex Systems, Inc., Attn: Security Freeze Department, P.O. Box 583399, Minneapolis, MN 55458, including your name, address, date of birth, SSN, a color copy of your state ID front and back, a copy of your Social Security card, and proof of address dated within the last 90 days.
Freeze Innovis, the Fourth Bureau
Some lenders, mortgage companies, and utilities pull Innovis instead of the big three, so add it for fuller coverage.
- 1.Online: use the "Submit the Security Freeze Request Online" form at innovis.com/personal/securityFreeze.
- 2.Phone: call 1-866-712-4546.
- 3.Mail: complete the "Security Freeze Request by Mail" form and send it to P.O. Box 530088, Atlanta, GA 30353-0088.
Once your identity is verified, Innovis places the freeze and mails a confirmation letter containing a 10-digit Security Freeze PIN. Keep that letter, since you will need the PIN to manage the freeze later.
Know What a Freeze Does and Does Not Do
A freeze limits access to your credit report so creditors generally cannot pull it, which blocks new loans and credit cards from being opened in your name, whether fraudulent or legitimate.
It does not prevent fraud on your existing accounts. Stolen cards, skimmed numbers, and account takeover are still possible, so keep monitoring your statements and reports.
A freeze also does not stop prescreened credit offers on its own; opt out of those separately. And it does not affect your credit score or block you from using accounts you already hold.
Note that a "credit lock" (such as a bureau's app-based toggle) is a different, account-based product governed by the bureau's own terms rather than federal freeze law. Stick with the free "security freeze" if your goal is the legal protection.
Freeze a Child's Credit by Mail
A minor or protected-consumer freeze generally cannot be completed fully online. For Experian, complete the request online first, then print and mail (or overnight) the form with documents.
- 1.Mail to Experian, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013, or overnight to 701 Experian Parkway, Allen, TX 75013.
- 2.Include for yourself: a government-issued ID, a piece of mail showing your current address, your name, SSN, date of birth, and all home addresses for the past two years.
- 3.Include for the child: birth certificate and Social Security card.
Experian adds the freeze within three business days of receiving the information. Repeat the process at all three bureaus, each separately, to fully protect a child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does freezing my credit hurt my credit score?
No. Placing or lifting a freeze does not affect your credit score, and it does not stop you from using credit accounts you already have.
How long does a freeze take to go into effect?
Online or by phone, a bureau must place it within one business day; Experian processes it in real time. By mail it takes up to three business days. Lifting a freeze online or by phone happens within one hour.
Do I really have to freeze all three bureaus?
Yes. A freeze at one bureau does not cover the others, which is the most common mistake people make. This differs from a fraud alert, where you contact only one bureau and it notifies the other two.
What do I do when I actually need new credit?
Temporarily lift, or "thaw," the freeze before you apply. Online and phone thaws take effect within one hour, so plan a little ahead. If you know which bureau the lender will pull, you can lift just that one.
Is a freeze enough to protect me from all identity theft?
No. It blocks new-account fraud at the bureaus you freeze, but it does not protect existing accounts. For broader coverage, also freeze ChexSystems (bank accounts) and Innovis, and keep monitoring your statements.
My identity was already stolen. What else should I do?
Place freezes at all three bureaus, then report the theft at IdentityTheft.gov to get a free, personalized recovery plan. Identity-theft victims who file an FTC Identity Theft Report there can also request an extended seven-year fraud alert.
