Does Experian Credit Lock Work for All 3 Bureaus?

An Experian credit lock stops lenders and creditors from pulling your Experian report, but it does not automatically lock the TransUnion or Equifax files, so those bureaus remain accessible unless you lock or freeze them separately; this single‑bureau limitation is why the next section explains how to lock all three bureaus quickly. Experian credit lock overview

The Experian credit lock freezes any request to view, pull, or update your Experian credit report, blocking both soft and hard inquiries that originate from Experian's database only.

For example, a mortgage application that submits a hard pull through Experian will be rejected while the lock is active, and pre‑approval offers that rely on Experian soft checks won't appear. An employer conducting a background check that uses Experian will receive a 'locked' result. Meanwhile, a lender that checks only TransUnion or Equifax can still access your data, and existing accounts that report to Experian won't refresh their balances until you lift the lock.

Lock all three bureaus instantly by activating Experian credit lock for Experian and filing a credit freeze with TransUnion and Equifax.

1. Log into your Experian account, navigate to the credit‑lock section, and toggle the lock on. Activate Experian credit lock now.
2. Open the TransUnion freeze portal, enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and address, then submit the freeze request. Start TransUnion credit freeze.
3. Visit the Equifax freeze page, provide the same personal details, and confirm the freeze. Begin Equifax credit freeze.
4. Check each bureau's online status page to verify the lock or freeze is active before proceeding with any new credit applications. This final check ensures all three files are secured.

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• Log into each bureau's portal (e.g., Experian credit lock portal, TransUnion.com, Equifax.com) and look for the 'Locked' badge next to your profile.
• Download the free annual report from each bureau via Free Annual Credit Report; the top of the statement will label the file as 'credit lock' or 'security freeze' if it's active.
• Run a soft‑pull check with a consumer‑grade service (Credit Karma for TransUnion and Equifax, Experian's free view for Experian); a message that the report is unavailable because of a lock confirms the protection.
• Call the bureau's lock‑specific hotline and ask the agent to read back the current lock status; they must state that your file is locked.
• Initiate a legitimate pre‑approval that only triggers a soft inquiry; a denial citing 'credit lock in place' proves the lock works without creating a hard pull.

Temporarily lifting the Experian credit lock lets a lender or employer pull your Experian report while keeping the lock in place for all other inquiries.

• Log in to your Experian account on the web or mobile app.
• Choose 'Unlock' or 'Temporary lift.'
• Select a duration (24 hours, 7 days, or custom up to 30 days).
• Confirm with your PIN, password, or two‑factor code.
• Share the generated lift confirmation number with the requesting party.
• After the chosen window expires, Experian automatically re‑locks your file.

This quick unlock works only for Experian; if you also locked TransUnion or Equifax you must repeat the process on those sites. The next section explains how these temporary lifts influence soft and hard credit checks.

A credit lock - whether you use Experian credit lock, TransUnion lock, or Equifax lock - rejects every soft and hard pull while the lock stays active. Soft inquiries for pre‑approved offers return a 'locked' status, and any hard application for credit or a loan is blocked outright.

A credit freeze blocks only new hard inquiries; soft checks still run and will report 'no‑freeze‑required.' Thus, if you freeze your Experian file without adding a lock, marketing offers can still appear even though lenders cannot open a hard account.

A credit freeze beats a credit lock whenever you need protection from all three major bureaus - Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax - at the same time. If you're applying for a mortgage, a new credit card, or any loan that could trigger inquiries at any bureau, a freeze blocks the request until you lift it with a PIN, whereas an Experian credit lock leaves the other two files exposed.

For example, a fraudster could open a loan using your TransUnion report while your Experian file stays locked; the loan would still be approved because the freeze never reached that bureau. A credit freeze stops this by shutting down all three reports, and you can still temporarily lift it for legitimate lenders. See the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's comparison of freezes and locks for details.

Only lenders that request credit from TransUnion or Equifax can process an application when you have an Experian credit lock.

• Auto lenders (e.g., Capital One Auto, Ally) - often submit applications to TransUnion and Equifax, so an Experian‑only lock does not stop their pre‑approval checks.
• Mortgage lenders (e.g., Rocket Mortgage) - typically obtain a 'tri‑bureau' credit snapshot; the lock on Experian alone is ignored because they also pull TransUnion and Equifax data.
• Major credit‑card issuers (e.g., Chase, Discover) - choose the bureau that yields the best score, frequently querying TransUnion or Equifax when Experian is locked.
• Student‑loan servicers (e.g., Navient, FedLoan) - verify borrower history using TransUnion/Equifax reports, so an Experian lock has no effect on their eligibility review.
• Payday‑loan platforms (e.g., LendUp, CashNetUSA) - rely on real‑time feeds that draw from all three bureaus; a lock on Experian alone leaves them able to see the applicant's credit.

How Experian credit lock works

Lenders that pull multiple bureau reports

A borrower named Maya placed an Experian credit lock two days before applying for a $300,000 mortgage with First‑State Bank. When the lender ran a full three‑bureau pull, Experian returned a 'locked' status while TransUnion and Equifax supplied normal scores, so the underwriter could not verify her credit history and put the loan on hold for 10 days until Maya temporarily lifted the Experian lock.

After unlocking Experian, the bank completed the appraisal and approved the loan, but the closing slipped from the original target date, costing Maya an extra appraisal fee and a one‑week delay in moving. The episode shows that an Experian‑only lock does not protect your file at TransUnion or Equifax and can interrupt time‑sensitive processes like mortgage approvals, underscoring why you should lock or freeze all three bureaus when a major transaction is pending. Consumer Finance blog on credit‑lock mortgage delays

Consider these situations and how a lock behaves:

• A new job or rental application runs a soft check; the lock stays in place and the inquiry is still permitted.
• Pre‑approved credit cards appear in the mail; they are soft pulls and do not require a temporary lift.
• Divorce proceedings request credit reports from all three bureaus; only Experian's file is frozen, so TransUnion and Equifax remain accessible.
• Moving to a new state often prompts an address‑validation soft inquiry that works despite the lock.
• Medical providers may run a soft verification before treatment; the lock does not block it.
• If you become an identity‑theft victim and file a police report, a credit freeze (see what a credit freeze does) offers broader protection than a single‑bureau lock.

Unusual lock scenarios you should plan for when you rely on an Experian credit lock include any event that pulls a soft inquiry, triggers a pre‑approved offer, or involves a bureau you haven't locked.

Plan ahead by adding separate locks or a nationwide freeze for TransUnion and Equifax, especially before major life changes like buying a home or opening a new line of credit. This avoids surprises like the mortgage delay described in the next section.