Freeze Credit
What is a credit freeze?
A credit freeze blocks access to your credit reports, protecting against scammers’ attempts to access your credit reports and open fraudulent accounts. When someone applies for credit using your personal information, a lender or card issuer typically checks your credit before making a decision.
If your credit is frozen, the potential creditor cannot see the data required to approve the application.
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How to freeze your credit with all 3 bureaus
Contact each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — individually to freeze your credit:
• Equifax: Call 800-349-9960 or go online. Check out our step-by-step Equifax credit freeze guide.
• Experian: Go online to initiate, or for information call 888‑397‑3742. Here’s a detailed walk-through on getting an Experian credit freeze.
• TransUnion: Call 888-909-8872 or go online. Read our TransUnion credit freeze guide.
The quickest way to freeze your credit is online through your profile with each major credit bureau — and the bureaus really highlight this method on their websites. But placing a freeze over the phone is also fast. Bureaus must place the freeze within one business day if you request it online or by phone, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; they have three business days to complete a mailed request.
Information you need to freeze your credit
• Social Security number.
• Date of birth.
• Address.
Copy of your passport, driver’s license or military ID.
Copy of tax documents, bank statements or utility bills.
Proof of address, like a utility bill.
Note that if you freeze your credit by phone, be prepared to answer some authentication questions, too.
Once a credit freeze is in place, it secures your credit file until you lift the freeze. You can unfreeze (or “thaw”) credit temporarily when you want to apply for new credit.
How to unfreeze your credit
Go to the credit bureau website and use the account you used to freeze your credit to unfreeze your credit. You may also be able to unfreeze your credit by phone or mail if you can provide certain verifying information.
If time is of the essence, the fastest way to unfreeze your credit is online or by phone. That request must be granted in one hour by the bureau(s). Unfreezing your credit by mail takes three business days from when the bureau receives your request.
While it’s a good idea to keep your credit frozen all the time, there are some circumstances where you might need to thaw your credit temporarily. Primarily, you’ll need to unfreeze your credit if you’re applying for a new line of credit. Whether you’re in the market for a new car, mortgage, rental apartment or cell phone, your credit will be pulled by the lender to assess your ability to pay.
You might also need to unfreeze your credit if you plan to use a “buy now, pay later” service while online shopping. For example, Affirm — one of the most popular BNPL platforms — instructs applicants to temporarily lift credit freezes at all bureaus where they’ve placed them.
For a single application for credit, unfreeze only with relevant bureaus: You can ask the creditor which credit bureau it will use to check your credit and unfreeze only at that one.
When shopping around for credit, lift freezes at all three bureaus: If you’re applying with several lenders in a short period, it may make sense to lift the freeze at all three major credit bureaus.
Set a time limit for peace of mind: You can choose to unfreeze your credit for a specified time period, after which the freeze automatically resumes. While this option takes some of the pressure off you on remembering to restart your freeze, it’s important to give lenders the time they need to check your credit. For example, applying for a mortgage will require a longer time period than a car loan.
How to freeze your child’s credit
Parents and guardians can freeze the credit of a child under 16.
If you request a freeze for your child, the credit bureau must create a credit file for the child (assuming they don’t already have one), then freeze it. In addition to supplying the information required for an adult credit freeze, you’ll also need paperwork to verify the child’s identity and proof that you have standing to freeze the child’s credit.
You can also freeze the credit of a spouse or incapacitated adult at all three bureaus. You’ll need to provide the required documentation (copies of birth certificates, court orders and copies of Social Security cards, for example) and mail them to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You can find details online about this, as well as any downloadable freeze request forms, on each bureau’s security freeze page.
When should you freeze your credit?
If you’re not actively shopping for a credit card or loan, freezing your credit is wise. Freezing and thawing your credit are free, and NerdWallet recommends that all consumers protect themselves in this way.
If you think your data may have been compromised, for instance in a data breach, get a credit freeze. It’s especially key if your Social Security number may have been disclosed.
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Credit freeze or credit lock?
Both a credit freeze and a credit lock block access to your credit reports, but there are some major differences. Credit freeze services are mandated by federal law and are free, whereas a credit lock is a product offered voluntarily by a credit bureau, which may charge a fee. Equifax’s credit lock is free; TransUnion offers a free lock through its TrueIdentity product or as part of a broader paid subscription; Experian’s CreditLock is available only as part of a paid subscription package.
Credit locks may offer convenience, such as being opened and closed with a finger swipe on an app, but they offer fewer legal protections than a freeze.
Who can access your frozen credit reports?
A credit freeze makes your credit reports inaccessible to most people, with a few exceptions:
You can access your own records, including getting your free weekly credit reports. You can also check your free credit report summary and score from NerdWallet while your credit reports are frozen.
• Your current creditors still have access, as do debt collectors.
• Marketers can see your credit reports for the purpose of sending you offers.
• In certain circumstances, government or child support agencies can see them.
You can still permit an employer or potential employer to check your credit (though the version they see omits certain details).