Security Freeze

Consumers may place “credit freezes” or “security freezes” on their credit reports with consumer reporting agencies. A freeze restricts access to the credit report, which in turn makes it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts with businesses that check credit history. By law, placing or lifting a freeze with a consumer reporting agency is free.

How does a consumer request a freeze?

You must contact each consumer reporting agency with which you want to place or lift a freeze. Placing or lifting a freeze with one agency will not necessarily place or lift a freeze at any other agency.

Information about placing or lifting freezes with each of the three largest consumer reporting agencies can be found at:

Equifax
www.Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
800-685-1111

Experian
www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)

Transunion
www.TransUnion.com/credit-freeze
888-909-8872

Consumers can also place a credit freeze with the National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE), which is a consumer reporting agency used by many telecom companies and utilities to check credit history before opening new accounts. Information about placing a freeze with the NCTUE can be found at www.nctue.com/Consumers.  

How long does a security freeze last?

A security freeze remains in place unless and until you choose to lift it.

Does a credit freeze affect my credit score?

No. A credit freeze does not affect your credit score.

A credit freeze also does not:

• prevent you from getting your free annual credit report;
• keep you from opening a new account, applying for a job, renting an apartment, or buying insurance (but, if you’re doing any of these, you’ll need to lift the freeze temporarily, either for a specific time or for a specific party); or
• prevent you (or an identity thief) from making charges to your existing accounts (which means that you still need to monitor all financial statements for fraudulent transactions).