How to Freeze Your Credit (2026): All 4 Bureaus + ChexSystems
Updated March 2026 · Silent Security Research Team
A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) is free, reversible, and the single most effective action you can take to prevent new-account identity theft. It takes about 15 minutes to freeze all four bureaus. You should do this today if you haven't already.
Identity thieves who have your Social Security number can open new credit cards, loans, and lines of credit in your name — ruining your credit and leaving you thousands of dollars in fraudulent debt. A credit freeze blocks all new credit checks, making it impossible for anyone (including you) to open new accounts until you lift the freeze.
What a Credit Freeze Does and Doesn't Do
New credit card applications, new loans, new utility accounts, new phone contracts requiring a credit check
Existing account fraud, employment checks, government agency access, insurance quotes (soft pulls), your own credit monitoring
Does NOT affect your existing credit score, existing credit card use, or existing loan payments
The 4 Credit Bureaus You Must Freeze
Most people know about the "big three" — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. But there's a fourth bureau (Innovis) that many lenders check, and you should freeze it too. All four are free.
Equifax
Equifax was the subject of the massive 2017 breach — your data may already be in criminal hands. Freezing here is especially important.
Online (fastest):
- Go to equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
- Create a myEquifax account (or log in)
- Select "Add a Security Freeze"
- Verify your identity with SSN, date of birth, and address
- Save your PIN or confirmation number
Phone: 1-800-349-9960 · Mail: PO Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348
Experian
Experian is checked by many credit card issuers. Freeze takes effect immediately online.
- Go to experian.com/freeze/center.html
- Click "Add a Security Freeze"
- Enter SSN, date of birth, address, and email
- Verify identity via email or knowledge-based questions
- Freeze is effective immediately — save the PIN provided
Phone: 1-888-397-3742 · Mail: PO Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
TransUnion allows you to manage your freeze via their website or app, including temporary lifts by date range.
- Go to transunion.com/credit-freeze
- Create a TransUnion account or log in
- Click "Add Freeze" under the credit freeze section
- Complete identity verification
- Confirm the freeze — effective within minutes
Phone: 1-888-909-8872 · Mail: PO Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094
Innovis (The 4th Bureau)
Innovis is less well-known but used by some lenders, mortgage companies, and utility providers. The freeze process is simpler than the big three.
- Go to innovis.com/personal/securityFreeze
- Complete the online form with your personal information
- No account creation required — it's a straightforward form
- You'll receive confirmation by mail within 3–5 days
Phone: 1-800-540-2505 · Mail: PO Box 1358, Columbus, OH 43216
ChexSystems — For Bank Accounts
ChexSystems is a separate reporting agency used by banks and credit unions when you apply to open a checking or savings account. It's not a credit bureau, but a ChexSystems freeze prevents identity thieves from opening bank accounts in your name.
ChexSystems Security Freeze
- Go to chexsystems.com and click "Security Freeze"
- Complete the online form with SSN, name, address, and date of birth
- You'll receive a confirmation number — save it for when you need to lift the freeze
- Alternatively, call 1-800-887-7652 to request a freeze by phone
NCTUE — For Telecom and Utility Accounts
The National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE) is used by phone carriers and utility companies. Freezing here prevents someone from opening a phone plan or utility account in your name.
- Go to nctue.com to request a freeze
- The process requires you to submit a written request by mail with a copy of your ID
- Less critical than the four bureaus but worth doing if you've been a victim of identity theft
When you need to apply for credit (car loan, mortgage, credit card), you'll temporarily lift the freeze. Log into each bureau's website and select "Lift Freeze." You can lift it for a specific lender or for a specific date range (e.g., the next 7 days). The lift takes effect within minutes online. Refreeze after you're done. This process takes less than 5 minutes per bureau once your accounts are set up.
Freeze Children's Credit Too
Children are prime targets for identity theft because their clean SSNs go undetected for years. All three major bureaus allow parents to freeze a minor child's credit. You'll need to send a written request by mail with a copy of the child's birth certificate, your ID, and proof of your authority to act on their behalf.
Freeze vs. Fraud Alert vs. Credit Lock
- Security Freeze (Recommended): Fully blocks new credit checks. Free. Must be done at each bureau separately. Requires active lift when you want new credit.
- Fraud Alert: Flags your file and requires lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity. Only needs to be requested at one bureau (they notify the others). Lasts 1 year (7 years if you're a confirmed victim). Weaker than a freeze.
- Credit Lock: Offered by individual bureaus (Equifax Lock & Alert, Experian CreditLock, TransUnion Credit Lock). Faster to lift than a freeze, but it's a contractual service, not a federally-guaranteed right. Use a freeze for stronger protection.