How to Set Up a Credit Freeze
If you want to limit future creditors from accessing your credit, you may choose to place a credit freeze on your file. Follow these steps.
Step 1: Contact all three of the credit reporting agencies
Equifax — 1-800-349-9960
Experian — 1‑888‑397‑3742
TransUnion — 1-888-909-8872
Supply them with necessary personal identifying information such as your Social Security number and birthdate.
Step 2: Pay a fee of typically $5-10
This may be waived in the case of identity theft that has been reported to the police.
Step 3: Expect to receive a confirmation letter through the mail containing a PIN or password
Keep this letter safe as you will need it to unlock your credit freeze in the future.
Step 4: To lift a credit freeze:
- You must contact the credit reporting agencies directly to request that they lift your credit freeze. You will use the PIN or password included in your confirmation letter to identify yourself.
- You will need to pay a fee to lift the credit freeze.
- The credit reporting agencies have three business days to fulfill your request.
- If you wish to have a temporary lift of your credit freeze because you are applying for a job to trying to rent an apartment, ask which credit reporting agency they plan to check and temporarily lift the freeze on that one agency only.