How to freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion (2026)
Edited by Moe Ameen · Published
A credit freeze keeps most new lenders from pulling your credit report, and it costs nothing at Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. You place it with each bureau separately, online, by phone or by mail. When you want to apply for credit, you lift it, and the bureau has one hour to do that for an online or phone request, or three business days by mail. A freeze doesn't touch your credit scores.
Key takeaways
- Freezing and unfreezing are free at all three nationwide bureaus.
- One request covers one bureau, so you make three.
- Lifts requested online or by phone have to happen within an hour; mailed ones within three business days.
- Your scores stay the same while a freeze is on.
- Parents can freeze a child's file before the child turns 16, even if no file exists yet.
What does a credit freeze do?
It stops prospective creditors from seeing your credit file, which makes it harder for someone using your identity to open an account in your name.
That's the CFPB's definition: a freeze "prevents prospective creditors from accessing your credit file" [1]. A few groups can still see it, including lenders you already have accounts with, some government agencies such as child support offices, and any company you've hired to monitor your file [1]. The freeze stays on until you lift it [2].
Is it free to freeze your credit?
Yes. Federal law has made freezing and unfreezing free at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion since September 21, 2018. Paid credit locks are a different product.
The FTC says free freezes started on September 21, 2018, under a new federal law, and the same law made free freezes available for children under 16 [3]. Equifax says placing, lifting and removing a freeze costs nothing [4]. Experian's freeze is free too; its CreditLock only comes with a paid membership [5].
How do I freeze my credit at each bureau?
Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion one at a time, online, by phone or by mail. A request at one bureau doesn't reach the other two.
- Freeze at Equifax Create a myEquifax account and place the freeze online, or call (888) 298-0045 [4]. On the phone, Equifax checks it's you with a one-time PIN sent by text or with questions about your report [4].
- Freeze at Experian Open a free Experian account and freeze your file online, call 1-888-397-3742, or mail a request to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 [5]. A mailed request needs your full name, Social Security number, two years of addresses, date of birth, a copy of a government ID and a utility bill or bank statement [5].
- Freeze at TransUnion Start at transunion.com/credit-help, the page the FTC lists for TransUnion freeze requests [2]. Check TransUnion's own site for its current phone and mail options.
- Keep your logins Store each bureau's account login somewhere safe. Equifax and Experian both let you manage the freeze through that account later [4][5].
How fast it goes on: the bureau has one business day for an online or phone request and three business days after it receives a mailed one [1].
How long does it take to unfreeze your credit?
One hour for an online or phone request, and three business days after the bureau receives a mailed one, according to the CFPB.
Those are the latest a bureau can take [1]. Experian says changes made online happen in real time, and mailed requests take up to 3 days once it has them [5]. You can lift a freeze for a while or remove it for good [4].
What's the difference between a credit freeze, a fraud alert and a credit lock?
A freeze blocks new lenders from your file. A fraud alert leaves the file open but makes lenders check with you. A lock also blocks access, usually for a fee.
| Credit freeze | Fraud alert | Credit lock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free [1] | Free [2] | Often a fee, bundled with other paid services [1] |
| What it does | Keeps prospective creditors out of your file [1] | Businesses must check with you before opening credit; your file stays open [2] | Blocks credit applications at that bureau [5] |
| How long it lasts | Until you lift it [2] | 1 year for an initial alert; 7 years for an extended alert [2] | Set by the product's terms |
| Where you place it | At each bureau separately [1] | At one bureau, which must tell the other two [2] | With each bureau's own product |
| Right under federal law | Yes [1] | Yes [3] | No. The CFPB says locks are no more effective than free freezes [1] |
An extended fraud alert is for identity theft victims who've filed an FTC identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov or a police report [2]. Active duty servicemembers can place an active duty alert, which lasts one year and can be renewed for the length of a deployment [2].
Can I freeze my child's credit?
Yes. A parent or guardian can freeze the file of a child under 16 for free. If the child has no file, the bureau creates one so it can be frozen.
The CFPB calls these "protected consumers": children under 16, incapacitated people and anyone with a court-appointed guardian [1]. A file the bureau creates for this can't be used for credit [1]. The process isn't the same as for adults [2]. Equifax takes a Minor Freeze Request form with proof of the child's identity, your identity and your authority to act for them [4]. Experian handles minor freeze requests by mail [5], and TransUnion has its own minor freeze instructions [2].
Does freezing your credit hurt your score?
No. The CFPB says a security freeze doesn't affect your credit scores in any way, and the lenders you already use can still see your file.
Experian says the same about its own freeze [5][1]. Your existing cards and loans carry on as before, and what goes into a score is covered in how credit scores work.
Should I freeze my file at other reporting companies too?
It's worth considering. The CFPB lists a freeze option for ChexSystems, NCTUE, Innovis and LexisNexis, which feed bank, utility and insurance decisions.
- ChexSystems: banks and credit unions use account screening reports to decide whether to open a checking or savings account for you [6].
- NCTUE: phone, cable and utility companies often check reports when you apply for service [6].
- Innovis: sells supplementary data that lenders use to manage credit and fraud risk [6].
- LexisNexis (C.L.U.E.): claims and loss history that insurers use to set eligibility and rates [6].
Early Warning Services, the other bank screening company on the list, shows no freeze option [6]. The CFPB says its list is current as of January 2025 [6].
Glisten check
Where to place a freeze at each bureau
| Bureau | Online | Phone | Child under 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equifax | myEquifax account [4] | (888) 298-0045 [4] | Via Equifax Customer Care [4] | Minor Freeze Request form [4] |
| Experian | Free Experian account, changes in real time [5] | 1-888-397-3742 [5] | P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 [5] | By mail [5] |
| TransUnion | transunion.com/credit-help [2] | Not listed here | Not listed here | TransUnion's minor freeze FAQ [2] |
Equifax and Experian print their freeze phone numbers on their own freeze pages. TransUnion's freeze page refused every request we made on November 2, 2026, and other sites disagree on its number, so we've left its phone and mail details out. Get them from transunion.com.
Is this right for you?
Best for
- Anyone who doesn't plan to apply for credit in the next few weeks.
- People whose personal details turned up in a data breach, or who've had their identity stolen.
- Parents who want a child's file locked down before anyone can use it.
Not ideal for
- Someone in the middle of a loan or card application, who'd only have to lift it again.
- Stopping misuse of accounts you already have. Existing creditors can still see your file [1].
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use my credit cards with a freeze on?
Yes. A freeze only blocks prospective creditors, and lenders you already have accounts with can still see your file [1].
Do I need to freeze all three bureaus?
For full coverage, yes. The CFPB says you have to contact each nationwide bureau separately [1].
How long does a credit freeze last?
Until you lift it, the FTC says [2].
Can I lift a freeze at just one bureau?
Yes. The FTC suggests lifting it only at the bureau your lender will use [2].
Is a credit lock better than a freeze?
The CFPB says locks are no more effective than freezes, and they often come with a fee [1].
How we know this
On November 2, 2026 we read the CFPB's and FTC's pages on credit freezes and fraud alerts, the CFPB's list of consumer reporting companies, and Equifax's and Experian's own freeze pages. TransUnion's freeze pages wouldn't load for us that day, so the TransUnion details here come from the FTC. We checked the general rules against Credit Karma's freeze guide; where it covered the same points, it agreed.
- What is a credit freeze or security freeze on my credit report?, CFPB. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Credit freezes and fraud alerts, FTC. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Free credit freezes are here, FTC. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Security freeze, Equifax. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Security freeze center, Experian. Checked November 2, 2026.
- List of consumer reporting companies, CFPB. Checked November 2, 2026.