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To make it harder for someone to open new credit in your name, place a free security freeze with each of the three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Then check your credit reports and financial accounts regularly for unfamiliar activity. A freeze restricts prospective creditors’ access to your credit file; monitoring can help you spot misuse, but it does not prevent identity theft.
What a credit freeze does—and what it does not do
A credit or security freeze restricts prospective creditors’ access to your credit file. It is free, does not affect your credit score, and remains in place until you lift or remove it. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) explains the freeze’s scope and timing in its credit-freeze guidance.
A freeze is designed to make it harder for someone to open a new credit account using your identity. It does not freeze your bank accounts, prevent every kind of identity misuse, or block all access to your credit file. Existing creditors, certain government entities, and companies you have hired to monitor your credit may still access it in limited circumstances.
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How to place a freeze with all three credit bureaus
You must request a freeze separately from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Use the FTC’s credit bureau contact directory to reach each bureau through its official website or phone number. The directory lists these routes:
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- Equifax: Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services or 800-685-1111.
- Experian: Experian.com/help or 888-397-3742.
- TransUnion: TransUnion.com/credit-help or 888-909-8872.
Contact details and online steps can change, so use the FTC directory to confirm each bureau’s current route.
- Submit a security-freeze request to one bureau using its official site, phone line, or mail process.
- Repeat the request with the other two bureaus. A freeze at one bureau does not freeze your files at the other two.
- Save each confirmation and the credentials or recovery information you will need to manage the freeze later.
For nationwide consumer reporting companies, CFPB guidance says a bureau must place a freeze within one business day after a telephone or secure electronic request, or within three business days after a mailed request. It must send written confirmation no later than five business days after placement and explain how to remove the freeze. These timelines are for nationwide bureaus, not necessarily every consumer reporting company.
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How to lift a freeze when applying for credit
A prospective creditor generally needs access to your file to evaluate an application, so you may need to lift the freeze temporarily before applying for a credit card, loan, or other credit. You can request a temporary lift or remove the freeze free of charge through the bureau or bureaus whose reports the creditor may check. If you know which bureau the creditor uses, you may not need to lift all three; if you do not know, ask the creditor or plan to manage the freeze with each relevant bureau.
Under CFPB guidance, a nationwide bureau must process a lift within one hour when requested by phone or secure electronic method, or within three business days after a mailed request. Allow time for the change to take effect before submitting an application, and restore the freeze afterward if you temporarily lifted it.
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Freeze or fraud alert: which should you use?
A freeze restricts access to your credit file; a fraud alert asks businesses to take extra steps to verify your identity before certain new-credit actions. An alert does not block access to the file. Both are free, and you can use both tools.
| Tool | How it works | How to place it | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security freeze | Restricts prospective creditors’ access to your credit file. | Request separately from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. | Until you lift or remove it. |
| Initial fraud alert | Asks creditors to verify your identity before opening certain new credit. | Contact one nationwide bureau; it must notify the other two. | Up to one year. |
| Extended fraud alert | Provides a longer-lasting alert for eligible identity-theft victims. | Request through a bureau and provide the required identity-theft documentation. | Seven years. |
The FTC describes alert eligibility and placement in its identity-theft rights guidance and recovery steps. If you have experienced identity theft, use IdentityTheft.gov’s current instructions to decide whether to add an initial or extended alert as well as freezes.
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How to monitor for identity theft
Use more than one signal: credit reports can reveal new credit activity, while bank and other account records can show misuse that does not appear on a credit report.
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FTC recovery guidance says you can check your credit reports free every week through AnnualCreditReport.com. Review reports from all three bureaus for unfamiliar accounts, credit inquiries, addresses, or other changes. If you see an entry you do not recognize, verify it with the named creditor using contact details you find independently on the creditor’s official site.
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Review financial accounts and notices
Check bank and card statements and account alerts for unfamiliar transactions, withdrawals, or changes. Also pay attention to notices from phone, tax, and other relevant accounts. A credit report is only one way to detect identity misuse; not every fraudulent transaction or account will appear there first.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if you suspect identity theft
Move quickly to secure affected accounts, document what happened, and use the official recovery process. The FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov recovery steps and CFPB’s identity-theft guidance provide instructions for responding.
- Contact the affected business. Reach its fraud department using contact information from its official website. Ask it to secure or close compromised accounts and explain its process for disputing unauthorized activity.
- Change credentials. Change passwords and PINs for affected accounts. If a password was reused elsewhere, change it on those accounts too.
- Report the theft. Report it at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC’s process creates an Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan tailored to your situation.
- Add credit protections. Place freezes with all three bureaus if you have not already, and consider an initial or extended fraud alert as appropriate.
- Review reports and dispute fraudulent information. Use the free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Dispute inaccurate items with the credit bureau and the business that supplied the information, following their current instructions.
- Request blocking when appropriate. To ask a bureau to block information resulting from identity theft, FTC guidance says to provide an Identity Theft Report, proof of identity, and a description of the fraudulent information. Keep copies of what you submit and follow the current agency instructions.
Is paid identity monitoring worth it?
Credit monitoring generally watches credit-file activity and alerts you to changes. Identity monitoring may also look for your personal information in credit applications, public records, websites, or other sources. Some paid services include recovery assistance or identity-theft insurance, but coverage, features, and costs vary. CFPB explains the distinction in its guidance on credit monitoring services and identity monitoring or identity-theft services.
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CFPB cautions that identity-protection services do not prevent identity theft. Before paying, compare what the service actually monitors with the free protections and routines available to you. Check:
- Which credit bureaus, records, or other data sources it monitors.
- How quickly it sends alerts and how you receive them.
- What recovery assistance is included and whether it is available when you need it.
- Any insurance limits, exclusions, and requirements for making a claim.
- The full cost, including the price after a trial, renewal terms, and cancellation requirements.
Free weekly credit report checks, security freezes, and fraud alerts may be enough for your needs. A paid plan is an optional convenience or added service, not a substitute for protecting accounts and responding to suspicious activity.
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