If you haven’t already frozen your credit, what are you waiting for? Credit freezes are one of the most effective ways for consumers to protect themselves against identity theft — and this goes for anyone at any time — regardless of whether you were impacted by any one specific breach.

And it’s imperative that you freeze your credit with all three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Below is a quick reference guide on how to put a freeze in place with each bureau, followed by more information on the process, how to thaw your credit and more.

How to freeze your credit with the major agencies

TransUnion

• Online: Visit the Credit Freeze page here
• By phone: 1-888-909-8872
• TransUnion LLC
  P.O. Box 2000
  Chester, PA 19016
• TransUnion LLC
  P.O. Box 2000
  Chester, PA 19016

Equifax

• Online: Visit this page to freeze your credit with Equifax. Important note: With such high traffic to the website, if you can't get your request processed, just wait about a week and try again.
• By phone: 1-800-685-1111 (NY residents please call 1-800-349-9960)
• Equifax Security Freeze
  P.O. Box 105788
  Atlanta, GA 30348
• Equifax Security Freeze
  P.O. Box 105788
  Atlanta, GA 30348

Experian

• Online: Visit the Credit Freeze page here
• By phone: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742). When calling, press 2 and then follow prompts for security freeze.
• Experian Security Freeze
  P.O. Box 9554
  Allen, TX 75013
• Experian Security Freeze
  P.O. Box 9554
  Allen, TX 75013

What exactly is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze allows you to seal your credit reports and use a personal identification number (PIN) that only you know and can use to temporarily “thaw” your credit when legitimate applications for credit and services need to be processed. The added layer of security means that thieves can’t establish new credit in your name even if they are able to obtain your personal information.

Freezing your credit files has no impact whatsoever on your existing lines of credit, such as credit cards. You can continue to use them as you regularly would even when your credit is frozen.

The cost ranges from about $3 to $10 per person per bureau to freeze a credit report; a couple of states have higher fees.

Freezes have been available for free to victims of identity theft for some years, but passage of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act means that credit-reporting bureaus must allow adult consumers to freeze their credit for free.

From September 21, 2018 onward, TransUnion, Equifax and Experian will all have a webpage on their respective websites for requesting fraud alerts and credit freezes. The FTC will also post links to those webpages at IdentityTheft.gov.

Additionally, active members of the U.S. military will be able to receive free electronic credit monitoring from the three major credit-reporting agencies no later than one year after the bill is enacted.

The new law will also allow parents or guardians to place credit freezes on their children under age 16. Until then, visit the National Conference of State Legislatures to see what the law is in your state pertaining to minors and credit freezes.

*When you do a credit freeze, it is imperative that you freeze your credit with all three bureaus.*

When shouldn’t you freeze your credit?

If your credit reports are accessed often for work or because you create new accounts with various financial institutions on a regular basis, it is not recommended that you freeze your accounts. The costs to regularly “thaw” your reports would tend to be excessive.

How/when to thaw your credit

The cost to “thaw” your reports for one creditor — or for a specific period of time — ranges from free to $10.

Four states remove your credit freeze automatically after seven years. These states are Kentucky, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.

In most states, your credit freeze remains permanently on your files until you request removal. But not so in the states listed above, according to the Consumers Union's guide to security freeze protection.

If you’re a resident of one of these states, pay close attention. You’ll need to set some kind of calendar reminder for seven years from the date of placement. That will serve as a reminder to refresh your credit freeze status before it drops off your radar completely and you go months or years without this key protection against identity theft!

Below you’ll find directions and links to assist you in obtaining your credit freeze or thaw from each major bureau.

Detailed instructions: How to freeze and thaw your credit with each agency

EQUIFAX CREDIT FREEZE

• Credit freezes may be done online or by certified mail – return receipt requested.
• Check your state's listing for the exact cost of your credit freeze and to see if there is a reduction in cost if you are a senior citizen.
• Request your credit freeze by certified mail using this sample letter. Please note the attachments you must include.
• If your PIN is late arriving, call 1-888-298-0045. They will ask you for some ID and arrange for your PIN to be sent to you in 4-7 days.
• Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your Equifax credit freeze by snail mail, online or by calling 1-800-685-1111 (N.Y. residents dial 1-800-349-9960).
• Info on freezing a child's credit with Equifax can be found here.
• Equifax Security Freeze
  P.O. Box 105788
  Atlanta, GA. 30348

EXPERIAN CREDIT FREEZE

• Credit freezes may be done online; by certified mail – return receipt requested; or by calling 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742). When calling, press 2 then follow prompts for security freeze.
• Check your state's listing for the exact cost of your credit freeze and to see if there is a reduction in cost if you are a senior citizen.
• Request your credit freeze by certified mail using this sample letter. Please note the attachments you must include.
• You can also freeze a child's credit report. The information contained at this link is applicable for all three credit bureaus. You must first write a letter to each bureau to learn if your minor child has a credit report and if so, then you can proceed to freeze it.
• Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your Experian credit freeze online or by calling 1-888-397-3742.
• Info on freezing a child's credit with Experian can be found here.
• Experian
  P.O. Box 9554
  Allen, TX. 75013

TRANSUNION CREDIT FREEZE

• Credit freezes may be done online, by phone (1-888-909-8872) or by certified mail – return receipt requested.
• Check your state's listing for the exact cost of your credit freeze and to see if there is a reduction in cost if you are a senior citizen.
• Request your credit freeze by certified mail using this sample letter. Please note the attachments you must include.
• Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your TransUnion credit freeze online (click "Manage An Existing Freeze") or by calling 1-888-909-8872.
• Info on freezing a child's credit with TransUnion can be found here.
• TransUnion LLC
  P.O. Box 2000
  Chester, PA 19016

One more credit freeze to consider

Another national credit-reporting agency, the National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities Exchange (NCTUE), has recently revealed itself to be powered by Equifax.

“In addition to the three big credit bureaus, there are a variety of special credit bureaus, including this one,” Clark says.

The NCTUE is a member-owned database where phone, utility and cable companies exchange source-anonymous information on service requests, payment history, and historical account status and/or fraudulent accounts. Because the NCTUE is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers can request their “disclosure reports” from the agency as well.

NATIONAL CONSUMER TELECOMMUNICATIONS & UTILITIES EXCHANGE

• You can obtain a credit freeze on your NCTUE Disclosure Report under state law or the Exchange Service Center voluntary security freeze program by calling 1-866-349-5355. You can also mail your request to:

NCTUE Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105561
Atlanta, GA 30348

• Unfreeze: Do a temporary thaw of your NCTUE credit freeze by calling 1-866-349-5355 or written to the address above

If you have specific questions about the Equifax data breach and how it may impact you, contact Clark’s Consumer Action Center — a FREE help line open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. EST and Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. with volunteers available to answer YOUR concerns! Call Team Clark @ 404-892-8227.

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