How Do I Freeze Or Unfreeze My Fair Isaac (FICO) Credit?

Freeze your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion by providing required ID and following the online or phone process; the freeze activates instantly and costs nothing.

1. Collect your personal data - Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and a government‑issued ID (driver's license or state ID). You'll also need the email address and phone number you used when you opened each credit account.
2. Choose a method -
   
   • Online: Visit Equifax's credit‑freeze portal, Experian's freeze center, or TransUnion's freeze page.
   • Phone: Call 1‑800‑Equifax‑Freeze (1‑800‑378‑4339), 1‑888‑397‑3742 for Experian, or 1‑800‑680‑7684 for TransUnion.

   
   Online and phone requests are processed immediately; a PIN or password is generated on the spot.

3. Submit and save your PIN - After verification, each bureau confirms the freeze and displays a PIN (or password). Write it down or store it securely; you'll need it to lift or remove the freeze later (see the 'freeze or unfreeze by phone, online, or certified mail' section).

The freeze does not affect your credit score, but it blocks new inquiries until you temporarily lift it for a lender.

• Freeze or lift online at each bureau's portal: go to the Equifax freeze page, the Experian freeze page, or the TransUnion freeze page, create an account using your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and answer security questions, set a PIN, then submit;

  the change is immediate and you can lift temporarily or permanently through the same login.

• Freeze or lift by phone: call Equifax 1‑800‑685‑1111, Experian 1‑888‑397‑3742, or TransUnion 1‑888‑909‑8872, provide your name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, and PIN (or receive a temporary PIN), and the agent processes the request during the call; the freeze or lift usually appears within minutes, though it may take up to an hour.

• Freeze or lift by certified mail: write a letter that includes your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and PIN (or request a PIN), attach a copy of a government‑issued ID, and mail to Equifax P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta GA 30348, Experian P.O. Box 4500 Allen TX 75013, or TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester PA 19016;

  the bureau must confirm receipt within three business days, the freeze becomes active on receipt, and lifting requires a separate certified‑mail request.

You need to supply your full legal name, current residential address, Social Security number, and date of birth, plus a government‑issued photo ID and a proof‑of‑address document when you request a credit freeze.

• Full legal name, as it appears on your Social Security card
• Current street address (no PO boxes)
• Social Security number (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
• Date of birth
• Government‑issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
• Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, or mortgage statement dated within the last 60 days)
• For online or phone requests, you'll also set a personal PIN or password that unlocks the freeze later
• Use the official freeze portals: Equifax credit freeze page, Experian freeze center, and TransUnion credit freeze service

Credit freeze does not lower your FICO score at any of the three major bureaus - Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. The freeze simply blocks new inquiries; the score you already have stays exactly the same because the underlying account data isn't altered.

When a lender needs to see your credit, the credit freeze forces them to request a temporary lift. If you grant it, the bureau shares the report and the loan can proceed; if you don't, the application stalls or is denied. For example, a mortgage lender calls TransUnion, you log into the portal, lift the freeze for that creditor, and the loan moves forward within minutes. Skipping the lift means the lender never receives a report, and the approval never happens.

Temporarily lift a credit freeze for a single lender by logging into each bureau's portal and requesting a 'temporary lift' (or 'thaw') that names the creditor and sets an expiry date.

• Gather the required IDs: Social Security number, date of birth, and the freeze PIN or password you received when you froze the file.
• Go to the online 'thaw' page for each bureau: Equifax credit freeze thaw, Experian credit freeze thaw, and TransUnion credit freeze thaw.
• Choose 'temporarily lift' (or 'thaw'), then enter the lender's name exactly as it appears on the credit request and pick the lift period (e.g., 3 days, 30 days).
• Confirm the request; the lift becomes active instantly online and within minutes by phone.
• No fee is required; the service is free under federal law.
• If you prefer not to use the web, call the bureau's toll‑free number, provide your PIN, and specify the same lender and dates.

After the lender finishes the inquiry, the freeze automatically re‑engages, leaving the rest of your credit shielded.

A fraud alert adds a modest layer of security without stopping lenders from seeing your report; you simply tell Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to flag your file and require extra ID before they open a new account. The alert is free, takes minutes to set up online or over the phone, and automatically lasts 90 days (extendable to one year), so you keep normal credit activity while reducing the chance of a thief slipping through unnoticed. Read more about how a fraud alert works.

A credit freeze, by contrast, locks all access to your report until you lift it with a PIN or password; it stops new credit from being issued entirely, which is ideal when you suspect identity theft or plan to be away from accounts for an extended period. The freeze is also free, activates instantly when you add it online, and requires the same basic ID information as a fraud alert, but you must temporarily lift it for each lender you trust. Learn how to place a credit freeze.

If you share credit, each co‑owner must request a credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion individually; a freeze on one person's file does not automatically protect the other's report.

A joint account appears on both consumers' credit files, so freezing only your file leaves the partner's file open to new inquiries. To fully shield a shared line, both parties should submit separate freeze requests and, if preferred, set a PIN for each bureau to lift the freeze temporarily. Some bureaus also allow a 'freeze on a specific consumer report,' but you must verify availability during the online or phone request.

You cannot freeze an ex‑spouse's credit unless you remain a joint account holder; you can only freeze your own file. If you still share an account after a breakup, each person must freeze their own report to stop unauthorized activity, and you can lift your freeze with the PIN you created (see the next section on PIN recovery). For step‑by‑step instructions, refer to the Equifax credit freeze guide.

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If you lost the PIN that protects your credit freeze, you can retrieve or reset it instantly through each bureau's online portal or by calling their dedicated freeze line.

• Minors: Parents or legal guardians can place a credit freeze on a child's SSN with Equifax credit freeze, Experian credit freeze, and TransUnion credit freeze at no cost; you must submit the child's birth certificate, your ID, and proof of guardianship.
• Elderly: Seniors or an authorized family member can request a freeze online or by phone; the bureaus require a government‑issued ID and, if acting on someone else's behalf, a power‑of‑attorney or written consent; the freeze activates instantly and a PIN is mailed.
• Legally incapacitated: A court‑appointed guardian or conservator files the request, providing the guardianship order, their ID, and the consumer's SSN; the freeze applies across all three bureaus immediately.
• PIN management: All three bureaus use the same PIN/password system, so you only need one set of credentials to lift or temporarily unblock the freeze for a lender.
• Impact on existing credit: A credit freeze blocks only new account openings; existing credit lines stay active, letting you use current accounts while the freeze protects against identity theft.

A credit freeze can extend to non‑traditional data files, but only a few of those files actually support a true consumer‑initiated freeze; the rest merely offer opt‑out or marketing restrictions.

ChexSystems and Innovis let you lock your file the same way you lock Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. You must submit a written request (or use their online portal), provide a government ID, and create a new PIN that is separate from the one used with the big three. ChexSystems consumer freeze and Innovis freeze request are free and become effective within minutes online.

CoreLogic, TeleCheck, and PRBC do not offer a formal credit freeze; they only allow you to opt out of marketing or limit data sharing, which does not stop new account inquiries. To reduce exposure you must contact each agency directly - CoreLogic's privacy portal, TeleCheck's consumer services line, and PRBC's opt‑out form - provide identification, and follow their specific instructions. Each process is independent; the PIN you set for the major bureaus does not apply.