Freeze Your Credit? How To
Freezing your credit is the single strongest move against new-account identity theft — and it's free, fast, and reversible. A freeze locks your credit file so lenders can't pull it, which stops most fraudulent applications cold. You do it once per bureau, online or by phone, in about ten minutes each.
TL;DR / Quick Fix
Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — online, by phone, or by mail, free of charge. You will create a PIN or account at each bureau to manage the freeze. Unfreeze temporarily when applying for credit; the freeze lifts on the schedule you choose.
Follow these steps
- Start with Equifax. Go to Equifax's security freeze page, create an account, and place the freeze. Save the login — you'll need it to lift the freeze later.
- Repeat at Experian. Same process on Experian's freeze page. Each bureau is separate — see freeze vs lock for why all three matter.
- Repeat at TransUnion. Complete the trio at TransUnion. Three freezes, roughly thirty minutes total, and your files are locked.
- Save your PINs and logins. Each bureau gives you credentials or a PIN for managing the freeze. Store them in your password manager — losing them complicates temporary lifts.
- Confirm each freeze. Each bureau confirms by email or on-screen. Verify all three show frozen before considering the job done.
- Plan temporary lifts. Applying for credit? Lift the freeze for a specific bureau and date range in advance — lifts can take up to an hour to process.
What NOT to do
- Do not pay anyone to freeze your credit. Freezes are free by federal law — services charging for this are selling convenience, not the freeze.
- Do not freeze and forget the credentials. Lost PINs turn a simple temporary lift into an identity-verification ordeal.
- Do not expect instant lifts everywhere. Most lifts process within an hour, but plan a day ahead for important applications.
- Do not confuse freezing with monitoring. A freeze blocks new accounts; it doesn't alert you to activity on existing ones — use both.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a freeze last?
Indefinitely — until you lift or remove it. There's no expiry and no maintenance needed.
Will a freeze stop all identity theft?
No — it blocks new credit accounts, which is the biggest category. Existing-account fraud and tax or medical identity theft need separate defenses.
Should I freeze my child's credit?
Yes — create the minor's file with each bureau, then freeze it. Children's clean files are prime targets for synthetic identity fraud.