Please note: You cannot have both a freeze and lock on your Equifax credit report at the same time. There are no fees to lock or unlock your Equifax credit report if you are enrolled in Lock & Alert. A freeze may also need to be lifted to allow insurers, utility providers, or potential employers access to your credit file. With Lock & Alert, you can quickly lock or unlock your Equifax credit report online or via the mobile app. If you didnt set up an online account with Equifax when you placed your freeze, you can still do a temporary lift. If you want to apply for new credit, you must lift the freeze (which can take several days). To initiate a security freeze, you must contact all three credit reporting bureaus: Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax. A security freeze would be most appropriate for a consumer who is extremely concerned about identity theft and has little need for immediate credit. To determine if a security freeze is right for you, consider your current need for credit. You’ll need to provide information verifying your identity and will have the option to receive a one-time PIN by text message or answer questions based on information in your Equifax credit report for identity. All you have to do is call 1- (888) 298-0045 to start the process. A security freeze is a permanent measure until you choose to lift the freeze. You can also freeze your credit with Equifax over the phone. A PIN is no longer needed for online freezing or lifting an Equifax credit freeze, but you have the option to. A fraud alert is one example however, it’s a temporary measure that lasts for 90 days. You can unfreeze your Equifax credit report online by creating a 'myEquifax' account. Learn how to place or manage a security freeze on your Equifax credit report. Other options exist for limiting access to credit. There are no fees for placing, temporarily lifting, or permanently removing a security freeze on your credit reports. State laws control security freeze rights and fees, which tend to range from $3-20. Follow the instructions to place or manage your freeze. You can still check your credit report and score at any time.Ĭurrent creditors are exempt from the freeze, along with law enforcement and other governmental agencies. You can place, temporarily lift, or permanently remove a freeze on your Equifax credit report. Cancel at any time no partial month refunds. This prevents would-be identity thieves from establishing new credit in your name. We monitor your Equifax credit report, provide you with alerts, and help you recover from ID theft so you can focus on living your financial best. once the freeze is in place, potential creditors are unable to access both your credit report and score unless you “unlock” your file.
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How it WorksĪ security freeze works by the consumer requesting the freeze with each of the credit bureaus. While not for every consumer, the security freeze is considered the strongest measure one can take in protecting a credit file. With millions of identity theft cases reported each year, a security freeze can be a useful measure in preventing identity theft.