How to Get a Credit Freeze at All 3 Bureaus

To freeze your credit at all three bureaus, you file a separate request with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — online, by phone, or by mail. Each freeze is free, required by federal law, and stays in place until you lift it. A freeze blocks new lenders from pulling your credit report, which stops most fraudulent account openings, and it has no effect on your credit score. Because the three bureaus operate independently, freezing only one or two leaves gaps a thief can use.

What You Need Before You File

Every bureau asks for the same core information to match you to your credit file:

Your full legal name as it appears on government-issued ID
Your Social Security number (all nine digits)
Your date of birth
Your current address and every previous address from the past two years

If you file online or by phone, you type this into the bureau’s form or automated system. If you file by mail, include clear photocopies of a government-issued photo ID and a recent utility bill, bank statement, or insurance statement showing your current address.¹ Send copies, not originals. Small mismatches in spelling, digits, or address history slow processing because the bureau’s verification cannot confirm you.

Filing With Each Bureau

Equifax

The fastest route is a free myEquifax account, which lets you place, lift, or remove a freeze from your dashboard. You can also call 888-298-0045 to manage a freeze by phone.² Mail requests go to Equifax Security Freeze, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348.

Experian

Use Experian’s online freeze portal for the quickest turnaround. The phone line is 888-397-3742.¹ Written requests should go to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013.

TransUnion

TransUnion’s online Service Center freezes your file immediately after you create a free account. The automated phone line at 888-909-8872 is available anytime.³ Mail requests go to TransUnion, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094.⁴

How Fast the Freeze Takes Effect

Federal law sets the deadlines. Online and phone requests must be processed within one business day. Mail requests must be processed within three business days of receipt.⁵

Within five business days of placing the freeze, each bureau must send you confirmation along with instructions for lifting or removing it later.⁵ Some bureaus issue a PIN or password; Equifax relies on your account login. Store whatever credentials you receive somewhere safe, because you will need them any time you want to lift the freeze.

Lifting the Freeze When You Apply for Credit

A freeze stays in place until you ask for it to come off, so you will need to lift it any time you apply for a new credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or anything else that requires a credit check. You have two choices: a temporary lift for a date range you pick, after which the freeze goes back on automatically, or a permanent removal. TransUnion, for example, lets you schedule a temporary lift up to 15 days in advance through its online Service Center.⁶

Removal timelines are tighter than for placement. Online and phone requests must be handled within one hour. Mail requests get three business days.⁵ Both temporary lifts and permanent removals are free.⁷

Lost your PIN or password? You are not locked out. Equifax lets you manage your freeze through your myEquifax login or verify yourself by phone with a one-time text code or knowledge-based questions.² Experian and TransUnion offer similar identity verification through their portals and phone lines.

What a Freeze Will Not Do

A freeze blocks new creditors from pulling your report, which is the main way thieves open fraudulent accounts. It does not block everyone. Existing creditors keep access to your file. Government agencies, including child support enforcement, can still view it. Any credit monitoring you have authorized keeps working.⁷

The federal freeze law also does not cover credit checks for employment screening, tenant screening, or insurance underwriting, so those inquiries may still go through.⁷ And a freeze cannot stop someone from filing a fraudulent tax return in your name, committing medical identity theft, or running up charges on cards you already have open. Keep checking your bank and credit card statements even after all three freezes are in place.

Credit Freeze vs. Credit Lock

Each bureau also sells a product called a credit lock. It sounds similar and works similarly, but the legal footing differs. A freeze is a right guaranteed by federal law, always free, with legally mandated timelines. A lock is a private contract between you and the bureau, governed by that bureau’s terms of service.⁷

Locks sometimes carry a monthly fee, often bundled with monitoring services, and their contracts can include arbitration clauses. A lock is not more effective at blocking credit inquiries than a freeze. For most people, the free freeze provides the same practical protection without the cost or contract terms.

Specialty Bureaus That Fill the Remaining Gaps

The big three cover most credit decisions, but other reporting agencies track different accounts. Freezing files at these bureaus closes additional openings a thief could use.

Innovis

Innovis is a fourth consumer credit bureau some lenders check. You can freeze your file free at innovis.com or by phone at 866-712-4546.⁸

ChexSystems

ChexSystems tracks banking history, and banks and credit unions check it when you apply to open a checking or savings account. You can freeze your file through the ChexSystems Consumer Portal, by phone at 800-887-7652, or by mail to Chex Systems, Inc., Attn: Security Freeze Department, P.O. Box 583399, Minneapolis, MN 55458. Mail requests need a color copy of your ID (front and back), a copy of your Social Security card, and proof of address dated within the last 90 days.⁹

NCTUE

The National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange tracks payment history for phone, cable, and utility accounts. Some providers check it when you apply for new service. Freezing your NCTUE report is free and helps prevent unauthorized utility or telecom accounts from being opened in your name.¹⁰

1
Experian. Freeze Your Credit File for Free
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Equifax. Security Freeze – Freeze or Unfreeze Your Credit
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TransUnion. Credit Freeze – Freeze My Credit
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TransUnion. Freeze Your Credit Report by Mail or Phone
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Active Duty Alerts
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TransUnion. Freeze Support Center – Credit Freeze FAQs
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Is a Credit Freeze or Security Freeze on My Credit Report
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Innovis. Add or Manage a Security Freeze
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ChexSystems. Place a Security Freeze
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NCTUE. Consumer