What exactly is a credit freeze?
- Equifax — 1-800-349-9960
- Experian — 1‑888‑397‑3742
- TransUnion — 1-888-909-8872
These credit reporting agencies allow you to seal your credit reports and use a personal identification number (PIN) that only you know and can use to temporarily "thaw" your credit so that legitimate applications for credit and services can be processed. That added layer of security means that thieves can't establish new credit in your name even if they do obtain your ID information. A freeze gives you protection against having accounts fraudulently opened in your name, something that credit monitoring services can’t provide
Freezing your credit files has no impact whatsoever on your existing lines of credit, such as credit cards. You can continue to use existing credit regularly even when your credit is frozen.
Freezes have been available for free to victims of ID theft for some years, now all three of the major credit bureaus adopted new rules allowing non-victims to have access to credit freezes.
Residents of various states may also freeze the credit reports of their minor children. Visit the National Conference of State Legislatures to see what the law is in your state.
There is no cost to freeze or thaw your credit. It is imperative that you freeze your credit with all 3 bureaus.
To un-freeze your credit so a vendor can pull your credit history. You can call the required reporting agency or go to their website. Both options take about 5 minutes. The thaw can be permanent or for a scheduled window of time, usually a few days. How to request a credit freeze You can create and manage an Experian credit freeze online or by calling 888-397-3742. Equifax lets you create and manage a credit freeze online or by calling 800-349-9960. You can create and manage your TransUnion credit freeze online or by calling 888-909-8872
Freezing your credit files has no impact whatsoever on your existing lines of credit, such as credit cards. You can continue to use existing credit regularly even when your credit is frozen.
Freezes have been available for free to victims of ID theft for some years, now all three of the major credit bureaus adopted new rules allowing non-victims to have access to credit freezes.
Residents of various states may also freeze the credit reports of their minor children. Visit the National Conference of State Legislatures to see what the law is in your state.
There is no cost to freeze or thaw your credit. It is imperative that you freeze your credit with all 3 bureaus.
To un-freeze your credit so a vendor can pull your credit history. You can call the required reporting agency or go to their website. Both options take about 5 minutes. The thaw can be permanent or for a scheduled window of time, usually a few days. How to request a credit freeze You can create and manage an Experian credit freeze online or by calling 888-397-3742. Equifax lets you create and manage a credit freeze online or by calling 800-349-9960. You can create and manage your TransUnion credit freeze online or by calling 888-909-8872
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