Credit Freeze Coach
The single best free thing you can do to protect your money.
What is a credit freeze?
It locks your credit reports so no one — not even you — can open a new loan, credit card, or account in your name without first un-freezing.
It does NOT: stop you from using current cards, lower your credit score, or cost any money. It's free by federal law.
It DOES: stop nearly all "someone opened a credit card in my name" identity theft. The FTC and AARP both recommend it.
What you'll need first
- Your full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number
- An email address (and access to it)
- 30 minutes — about 10 minutes per bureau
- A safe place to write down each bureau's PIN or password (you'll need them later to un-freeze)
Freeze each bureau (all 3 needed)
Equifax
Sign up for an account, verify your identity, then click "Place a freeze".
Experian
Sign up for an account, verify your identity, then click "Place a freeze".
TransUnion
Sign up for an account, verify your identity, then click "Place a freeze".
When you need a loan or credit card later
- Ask the lender which bureau they pull from (most pull just one).
- Go to that bureau's website or call them.
- Sign in with the username and PIN you saved.
- Choose "Lift freeze" — pick a date range (usually 1-7 days is enough).
- Apply for your loan. Re-freezing is automatic when the date passes.
Bonus protection — also free
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery at informeddelivery.usps.com. It emails you photos of mail before it arrives — so you'll know if a thief steals letters from your mailbox (Medicare cards, tax forms, etc.).