If your personal information was exposed, you can place a free credit freeze with each of the three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A freeze can make it harder for someone to open new credit in your name, but it does not stop fraud on existing bank or credit-card accounts. If you suspect your information has already been misused, report it at IdentityTheft.gov and take steps to secure affected accounts.
How to freeze your credit with all three bureaus
A freeze must be placed separately at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Freezing one credit report does not freeze the other two. The FTC lists these contact 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.
Use each bureau’s freeze instructions and save its confirmation and any access details you receive. The process and credentials may differ by bureau, so do not assume that all three will issue the same kind of PIN or password. The FTC’s credit freeze and fraud alert guidance explains the options.
What a credit freeze does—and does not do
A freeze restricts access to your credit report for new-credit decisions. It is free, does not affect your credit score and remains in place until you lift it. You can still use existing credit and, according to the FTC, apply for jobs, rent housing and buy insurance without lifting the freeze.
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A freeze is not a lock on all your personal information. It does not prevent fraudulent charges or other misuse on existing bank, credit-card or insurance accounts. Review statements for unfamiliar activity and contact the relevant company promptly if you find it.
How to lift a freeze when applying for credit
Before applying, ask the lender which bureau it plans to check. Then request a temporary lift from that bureau; you do not necessarily need to lift all three. After the lender has accessed your report, you can let the temporary lift expire or restore the freeze.
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Under the FTC’s stated timing requirements, a freeze request made online or by phone must be placed within one business day, and an online or phone lift must take effect within one hour. Requests made by mail must be completed within three business days. These are procedural deadlines, not a guarantee that a lender will approve an application within that window. See the FTC’s Fair Credit Reporting Act information.
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Freeze or fraud alert: which should you use?
A freeze restricts report access; a fraud alert asks businesses to verify your identity before granting new credit. Both are free under FTC guidance, but they work differently:
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| Option | What it does | Who you contact | Duration | When applying for new credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit freeze | Restricts access to your credit report for new-credit decisions. | Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion separately. | Until you lift it. | You may need to arrange a temporary lift with the bureau the lender checks. |
| Initial fraud alert | Asks businesses to verify your identity before granting new credit; it does not block report access. | Contact one bureau; it must notify the other two. | One year; renewal is available. | Businesses are asked to verify your identity, but access to your report is not blocked. |
You can use a fraud alert along with a freeze. If you have experienced identity theft and have completed an FTC identity-theft report or filed a police report, an extended fraud alert may be available; FTC guidance says it lasts seven years. Qualifying service members can request an active-duty alert, which lasts one year and can be renewed in connection with deployment. These alerts are situational options, not required steps for everyone whose information was exposed.
For details, see the FTC’s comparison of freezes and fraud alerts.
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What to do if the exposed information has already been misused
Exposure does not by itself prove that identity theft has occurred. If you suspect or confirm misuse, file a report at IdentityTheft.gov to get an individualized recovery plan. Check your credit reports and look for accounts or changes you do not recognize. Review bank, credit-card and insurance statements as well; a credit freeze does not secure those accounts.
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- Contact the bank, card issuer, insurer or other company associated with any unfamiliar activity.
- Dispute unfamiliar credit-report entries and follow the recovery steps provided for your situation.
- Keep monitoring your reports and account statements for additional unrecognized activity.
A freeze is one useful measure after exposure, not a guarantee against every kind of identity misuse. The FTC says, “A credit freeze is something you can do anytime, for any reason.” See its September 2025 consumer alert.
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