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How to Freeze Your Credit (and Why It Helps)

A freeze is one of the strongest steps you can take against identity theft. You can lift it when you need credit.

Step by step

  1. Gather your details. Name, address, birth date, Social Security number.
  2. Visit each bureau. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion official sites.
  3. Create accounts. Save the PIN or password safely.
  4. Confirm the freeze. Check the status page.
  5. Lift it when needed. Temporarily.

What to expect

Expect to create a free account at each of the three major credit bureaus, receive a PIN or password, and switch the freeze on in minutes. Lenders cannot open new accounts while the freeze is on.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not click links in emails offering to freeze your credit. Do not lose the PIN. Do not forget to unfreeze before applying for credit, and refreeze after.

A good next step

Write down where you stored the PINs, tell a trusted family member, and review your free credit reports.

A prompt you can copy

Type this into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini

Explain in simple steps what a credit freeze is, who is it for, and the difference between a freeze and a fraud alert.

Good to know. Type each bureau's web address yourself. Do not click email links.

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Common questions

Does it cost money?

Freezes are free.

Will it hurt my score?

No.

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