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    Credit Freeze Walkthrough

    Free at all three bureaus. 15 minutes total. Stops thieves from opening new accounts in your name.

    Why freeze your credit?

    It is the single best ID-theft prevention

    A frozen credit file blocks new accounts from being opened in your name. No new credit card, loan, or mortgage can be created without you lifting it first.

    It is free, since 2018

    Federal law (the Economic Growth Act) made credit freezes and unfreezes permanently free at all three bureaus. No fee, ever.

    It does not affect your credit score

    A freeze locks viewing — your score stays exactly the same. The freeze itself is invisible to lenders unless they try to pull a new report.

    It does not stop your existing accounts

    Cards you already have keep working. Auto-pays continue. The freeze only blocks NEW credit pulls.

    You can lift it temporarily for a real reason

    Buying a car, applying for a mortgage? Log in to each bureau, lift the freeze for a date range, then it auto-refreezes. Or do permanent — your call.

    Freeze each of the three bureaus

    0 of 3 done

    1. Equifax

    1-800-685-1111

    Steps

    1. 1.Go to equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze.
    2. 2.Click "Add a freeze".
    3. 3.Sign in or create a myEquifax account (free).
    4. 4.Verify identity with name, SSN, address, last credit account.
    5. 5.Click "Place freeze". Done in about 5 minutes.
    • •Free, lifetime. No fee to freeze, unfreeze, or refreeze.
    • •Save your PIN — you will need it to lift the freeze later.
    Open Equifax freeze page

    2. Experian

    1-888-397-3742

    Steps

    1. 1.Go to experian.com/freeze/center.html.
    2. 2.Click "Add a security freeze".
    3. 3.Sign in or create a free account.
    4. 4.Verify identity (same as Equifax).
    5. 5.Submit. Confirmation by email.
    • •Free.
    • •Experian also runs CreditWorks (paid monitoring) — DO NOT sign up for that. Stick to the free freeze.
    Open Experian freeze page

    3. TransUnion

    1-888-909-8872

    Steps

    1. 1.Go to transunion.com/credit-freeze.
    2. 2.Click "Add freeze".
    3. 3.Sign in or create a free Service Center account.
    4. 4.Verify identity.
    5. 5.Submit.
    • •Free.
    • •TransUnion will offer "TrueCredit" monitoring during signup — skip it.
    Open TransUnion freeze page

    Bonus: also freeze ChexSystems and Innovis

    Two smaller credit bureaus that ID thieves sometimes use. The same federal protections apply, also free.

    "Credit lock" vs "credit freeze" — they are not the same

    The bureaus push paid "credit lock" services (Lock & Alert, etc) that look easier but offer weaker legal protection. A federal credit FREEZE (the option above) is free and protected by federal law. Use the freeze. Skip the paid lock.

    Related

    ID Theft Recovery

    If something has already happened.

    Credit Report Reader

    Pull and read your reports.

    Online Banking Safety

    Lock down accounts you have.

    Quick Tip: write all three PINs on the same card with your tech-will (see /tools/tech-will-builder). Family will need them eventually.