How to Freeze TransUnion and Equifax?

A credit freeze stops any new credit inquiry from being opened at TransUnion or Equifax.

The freeze blocks:

• Requests to open a new credit card, loan, or mortgage.
• In‑person, online, or phone applications that require a soft or hard pull.
• Pre‑approved offers that rely on a fresh pull.

The freeze does not block:

• Access to your existing accounts, balances, or payment history.
• Fraud alerts you may have placed, which still trigger notifications of suspicious activity.
• Your ability to check your own credit score using a consumer‑provided portal (you'll need your PIN/password to temporarily lift the freeze for that purpose).

Understanding these limits helps you decide when to gather IDs (see 'gather ids and info before you freeze') and how to temporarily lift the freeze for a single application later in the article.

• Collect your Social Security number, full legal name, date of birth, current address, driver's license or state ID number, and a recent credit‑card or loan account number before you start a credit freeze.
• Keep a photocopy of your driver's license or state ID handy for mail‑in requests to TransUnion or Equifax.
• Have a recent credit‑card, mortgage or auto‑loan number ready; the bureaus use it to verify you own the credit history.
• If you have previously set a PIN or password with a bureau, locate it now; you'll need it to confirm the freeze online or by phone.
• Review the FTC guide on credit freezes to ensure you haven't missed any required details.

Freeze TransUnion by submitting a request online, by phone, or by mail; each method generates a PIN/password that lets you later lift or remove the freeze.

1. Online - Visit the TransUnion credit freeze portal, log in or create an account, enter your personal information, and confirm the freeze. You'll receive a PIN/password on screen and by email.
2. Phone - Call 1‑888‑909‑8872, provide your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and current address. The representative will process the freeze and mail you a PIN/password within 5 business days.

3. Mail - Write a letter that includes your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, current and prior address (if moved in the past 2 years), and attach copies of a government‑issued ID and a utility bill. Send it to:
   TransUnion LLC
   P.O. Box 2000
   Chicago, IL 60601

   TransUnion will mail you a PIN/password and freeze confirmation within 10 business days.

Keep the PIN/password safe; you'll need it when you temporarily lift or permanently remove the freeze (see the next section).

Freeze Equifax by submitting a request online, over the phone, or through mail, and you'll receive a PIN/password to manage the freeze.

How to freeze Equifax

• Online: Visit the Equifax credit freeze portal. Create an account or log in, enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and address, then confirm the freeze. The system displays your PIN/password immediately.
• Phone: Call 1‑800‑685‑1111 (Equifax automated line). Verify your identity with your name, SSN, and DOB, then request the freeze. The representative reads your PIN/password at the end of the call.
• Mail: Write a letter that includes your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and a statement requesting a credit freeze. Sign the letter and attach a copy of a government‑issued ID and a utility bill for address proof. Send it to:
  Equifax Security Freeze, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348.
  Equifax will mail your PIN/password within 10 business days.

Once you have the PIN/password, store it securely; you'll need it to temporarily lift or permanently remove the freeze in later steps.

Now move on to confirm your freeze and save the proof numbers.

Your credit freeze is complete once TransUnion and Equifax each provide a confirmation number and PIN/password.

• Locate the confirmation letter (email or mailed copy) from each bureau.
• Write down the confirmation number and the associated PIN/password.
• Photograph or scan the document and save it to a secure cloud folder.
• Store the original paper copy in a fire‑proof safe or filing cabinet.
• Record the date and method of freeze in a personal finance log.

Keeping this proof lets you lift a freeze quickly, proves the freeze if a bureau disputes it, and ensures you have the numbers handy for future temporary lifts or permanent removals. Update your records if you move, and retain the documents for at least a year.

Temporarily lift your credit freeze by logging into the bureau's portal or calling their dedicated thaw line, using the PIN or password you received when you froze your file.

1. Gather your PIN/password - locate the 4‑digit PIN (TransUnion) or password (Equifax) from your freeze confirmation email or mailed letter. Without it you cannot request a lift.
2. Choose lift method - decide whether you'll use the online tool, phone option, or mailed request. Online is fastest; phone works 24/7; mail adds a few days.
3. Log in or call
   • TransUnion: Visit TransUnion's credit‑freeze portal and sign in, or dial 1‑800‑680‑7289.
   • Equifax: Go to Equifax's freeze page or call 1‑800‑349‑9960.
4. Select 'temporarily lift' - enter your PIN/password, then specify either:
   • a date range (e.g., today through tomorrow), or
   • a specific creditor's name (e.g., 'Bank of America').

   The system will apply the lift only for that period or creditor.

5. Confirm the lift - the portal or phone rep will display a confirmation number. Save it; the creditor may ask for it during the credit check.
6. Notify the creditor - let the lender know the thaw is active so they can pull your report without delay.

After the agreed‑upon window expires, the freeze automatically reinstates - no further action needed.

Permanently remove a freeze by logging into each bureau's portal (or calling the toll‑free line), entering your PIN/password, and selecting 'lift freeze permanently'; you can also mail a signed request that includes your Social Security number, the freeze reference number, and a copy of a government ID.

After removal, the credit freeze no longer blocks new credit inquiries, so lenders can pull your TransUnion or Equifax report instantly; existing accounts stay open, fraud alerts remain active, and you no longer need to remember a PIN to access your reports - see the next section to decide which bureau to freeze first if you can't do both.

Freeze the bureau you can complete fastest - usually the one whose online portal you've already logged into or whose phone line you can reach immediately - because an online or phone credit freeze takes effect within minutes, whereas mail can take several days;

start with that bureau (for many users it's TransUnion if they've already set up an account, otherwise Equifax if its portal is more accessible), then follow the same steps for the other bureau as soon as you're able, ensuring continuous protection while the second freeze processes.

If you lose your PIN or password, reset it through the bureau's online portal, phone line, or mailed form after confirming your identity.

• Go to the TransUnion or Equifax website, select 'Forgot PIN/password,' and start the reset process.
• Verify your identity with your Social Security number, birth date, and the address you used when you froze your credit.
• Choose a reset option: receive a temporary code by email/text, or answer security questions, or request a mailed PIN.
• Follow the on‑screen or mailed instructions to create a new PIN/password and store it securely for future lifts.
• If online verification fails, call the freeze helpline (TransUnion 1‑888‑909‑8872 or Equifax 1‑800‑685‑1111), provide the same identification details, and request a new PIN to be mailed within 7‑10 business days.

A 'thin file' means you have fewer than six tradelines on your Experian report in the past 24 months, so Experian may not generate a score at all. Lenders typically compensate by using alternative data - rent, utility, cell‑phone bills - or by applying manual underwriting, which often requires a larger down payment, a co‑signer, or a higher debt‑to‑income ratio ceiling.

For example, a borrower with no Experian score but two years of on‑time rent and utility payments qualified for an FHA loan with the standard 5 % down payment, because the lender accepted the alternative data as proof of creditworthiness. Another applicant with only four tradelines and a minimum Experian score of 620 (the lowest conventional threshold) secured a conventional loan by putting down 10 % and keeping debt‑to‑income below 43 %. A third case involved a veteran with no Experian score who added a spouse whose Experian score topped 720; together they met the VA loan requirements without a down payment.

Each scenario shows how lenders generally evaluate thin‑file borrowers and what you can do to qualify.

A fraud alert is your go‑to when you suspect a one‑time breach but still need to apply for credit quickly; it tells TransUnion and Equifax to verify your identity before opening any new account, costs nothing, and automatically expires after 90 days (you can extend it).

A credit freeze remains the stronger choice for ongoing protection or when you're a high‑risk target; it blocks all new credit inquiries until you temporarily lift it with your PIN/password, and you'll need to follow the lift steps outlined in the 'temporarily lift your freeze for a single application' section.