How to freeze your credit
A freeze is a free and effective way to stop someone from opening credit in your name. Below are the links and phone numbers for all three bureaus and a guide to which tool fits your situation.
A freeze is free at all three bureaus, by federal law
A security freeze stops new-account fraud: no one, including you, can open credit in your name until you lift it. Since 2018, placing and lifting a freeze has been free for everyone at all three bureaus. You can do it online or by phone:
| Bureau | Online | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Equifax | equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services | 888-298-0045 |
| Experian | experian.com/freeze | 888-397-3742 |
| TransUnion | transunion.com/credit-freeze | 800-916-8800 |
Save the PIN or password each bureau gives you. You’ll need it to lift the freeze when you apply for credit.
Freeze, fraud alert or lock: which to use
| What it does | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Security freeze | Blocks new credit checks until you lift it. The strongest of these options. | Free (federal law) |
| Fraud alert (1 year) | Tells lenders to verify your identity first. Place it at one bureau, and that bureau must notify the other two. | Free |
| Extended alert (7 years) | For confirmed ID theft victims with an FTC report. Lenders have stronger verification duties. | Free |
| “Credit lock” apps | The bureaus’ app version of a freeze, sometimes bundled with a paid subscription. The legal freeze does the same job for free. | Free–paid |
Other free protections to set up
- IRS IP PIN: a 6-digit PIN that stops anyone else from filing a tax return in your name. Free at irs.gov/ippin.
- Bank account alerts: turn on transaction alerts at your bank so you can spot charges you didn’t make.
- If you’re already a victim, federal law (FCRA §605B) requires the bureaus to block fraudulent accounts within 4 business days of receiving your FTC identity theft report. Start at identitytheft.gov.
Kits For That is not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice. This guide is general information and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Bureau sites and phone numbers change, so check the current version before you rely on them. Facts verified against official sources in October 2026.